Only ten minutes have passed since I started my new life and I'm already lost. If Mom could see me now she would purse her lips and shake her head. You would think she would be used to the fact that I'm a lost cause by now. I lost my job, my apartment, all my friends, so why not lose my way finding my new home ? The place where I'll be living isn't my house. It actually belongs to my older brother Nate(he was seventeen when I was born) and his wife Hayley, but it will be my home too, at least temporarily, until I get back on my feet and figure out what the hell I'm going to do with the rest of my life.

When I finally find Nate, unless he happens to find me first, he'll just roll his eyes and ruffle my messy, dark garnet curls and murmur, " Silly Quinn." Then he'll chastise me for not calling him to send an Uber to the train station, rather than wandering around in the freezing cold, dragging my suitcase with me. That's because Nate was more of a father to me than ours ever was. Not that I'm blaming our dad or anything. It wasn't his choice to die when a drunk driver struck his tractor trailer when I was only four years old.

Once Nate and Hayley moved back to her hometown of Cedar Point, Long Island to purchase their forever home, we grew apart a little, but I don't blame them because by that time I was in high school anyway. I had my own friends and my own interests. I had colleges to apply to. I miss those days when my future was full of promise. Now I have no clue what I'm going to do with myself.

The first thing I need to do is find my brother, who has come to my rescue once again by offering me both a job and a place to live, in exchange for being the full-time nanny to his kids. He claims it's not a big deal, having his little sister move in and paying her a salary. After all, he's making a fortune designing games for QuestStar, a company that produces virtual reality gaming headsets. He insists that Hayley wasn't satisfied with any of the people they interviewed for the position. Hopefully he isn't just saying that to make me feel better.

I chew on my bottom lip as I whip out my phone and groan at the time that blinks at me through the cracked screen. Just great, it's almost 4:30pm and way past the time I promised I would arrive. Also, my phone is about to die. Why did I think it was a great idea to walk the three miles from the train station to Nate's house?

At the time, walking seemed like a good way to get to know my new surroundings and save some money by avoiding one of the overpriced cabs that hang out by the station, preying on people desperate for a ride. Nate's place isn't far and the main street is lined with trendy restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. Coming from the city where I walked to work everyday, it didn't seem like much of a distance at the time.

Now the sun is sinking below the horizon, streaking the sky with bright orange, red, and gold hues, like a crazed artist flinging paint on a canvas. Soon it will be dark and I'm bound to become more lost than I already am. Hayley likes to serve dinner promptly at 5pm. There's no way I'm going to make it and she is a stickler for being on time, not to mention I won't be there to help the kids get ready for dinner. My first evening on the job and I'm already fucking it up. If that's not the story of my adult life, I don't know what is.

Hot tears sear the back of my eyes, blurring my vision, so I don't even see the ferocious, giant dog bounding towards me until it's too late. A scream erupts from my throat, as a pair of bear-like paws press their full weight against the Canada Goose winter coat Nate and Hayley sent me last Christmas. Hurling my suitcase to the pavement, I stumble backwards and land on my bottom. A wave of hot dog breath wafts across my icy cheeks. Gleaming fangs flash before my eyes, before I scrunch them shut and wait for my face to be sliced open. My heart slams against my ribcage. Something wet and rough, like sandpaper, leaves a slimy trail across my cheek.

Unharmed, I open my eyes and scoot away from the furry monster who has decided to spare my pathetic life. The cold has seeped into my body from falling on my ass, despite wearing the best coat Nate's money could buy. An Alaskan Malamute is sitting on his haunches, staring at me, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. He cocks his head to the side, panting like an old chainsmoker, before he whines and lays his heavy head in my lap. Drool drips onto the sleeve of my coat and I shudder in disgust.

Despite the lack of a leash, this big guy looks like a pampered pooch. He's wearing an expensive looking e-collar and a bright orange insulated dog jacket designed for serious hiking. One of the main reasons I accepted my brother's offer, other than the money and free living quarters, was that I would be surrounded by nature. Cedar Point is known for its hiking trails and parks. With the turn my life has taken lately, I can do with the fresh air and exercise.

" Clifford! " a gruff voice scolds, grabbing my attention. A man, presumably Clifford's owner, jogs over. " Clifford, that's no way to greet a lady." Despite his admonishing tone, he doesn't really look all that sorry that his beast of a dog knocked me down. He's young, most likely in his early twenties like me, with thick toffee colored hair that falls to his shoulders, and pale blue eyes that sparkle with mischief. Despite the Autumn chill, he seems comfortable in ripped jeans, a Buffalo Sabers hoodie, and a black beanie pulled over his head.

"I'm really sorry, Miss," Clifford's daddy(as I think of him now) says ruefully, and he offers me his hand. I grasp it, noting how rough and calloused his palm is, possibly indicating he works outside, and allow myself to be hauled to my feet. His lips tilt into a crooked smile that I'm certain most women find charming, as he retrieves my scuffed up suitcase from the ground and hands it over. If Clifford, the big drooling menace, hadn't just barreled into me, I might've even found his papa charming myself. At this point I just want this entire day to be over.

" What the hell were you thinking, letting this beast run loose!" All the pent up frustration I've been feeling bursts out of me all at once.

Poor Clifford, who I didn't mean to be a recipient of my outburst (can't fault a pup for their owner's negligence) whines and licks my hands as if to say I'm not a beast.

As angry as I am, I have to admit Clifford's daddy is cute too, in a scruffy sort of way. He winces and the sparkle in his eyes dims. " Miss, look, I'm using an e-collar. It's practically a wireless leash. " He holds up a small remote, making me somewhat regret my harsh reaction. Thankfully this guy hasn't lost his cool because my frazzled nerves can't handle a confrontation right now.

I can almost hear Nate's teasing voice in my brain Making friends already, Quinn? Clifford's owner seems like he's trying to be a responsible pet parent, and he did apologize, so maybe I need to cut him a little slack. Just a little.

" Not a dog person, are you?" Clifford's daddy shuffles his feet, Timberland boots scuffing the pavement, as he pats his dog's massive head. " He won't bite, he's friendly, you know." As if to prove his master's point, Clifford butts his head against my hand. Of course, he's wrong, I'm a dog person. I miss my little old Shih Tzu more than anything, but I had to beg my mom to take him in because Hayley is severely allergic and I could never keep him in her house. Guilt squeezes my heart for having to leave Bamm Bamm behind and throwing a wrench in my mom's plans to travel.

" No, I don't actually know, " I reply cooly, squeezing the handle of my suitcase in a death-grip. I don't know much about e-collars because it would be impossible to use one with Bamm Bamm in a busy place like Manhattan.

" Why isn't Clifford the big hairy menace on a real leash? He ought to be if he gets this rambunctious." It doesn't seem like the wireless one is working out too well for these guys and I still don't appreciate being wrestled to the ground by such a mammoth.

Clifford's daddy chuckles and tugs on the brim of his hat. " Oh heck, don't tell me you're a lawyer or a cop or something."

Despite my ire, a smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. " Or something," I murmur. 

A sigh of relief whistles through his even white teeth. " Listen, Miss-"

" My name's Quinn," I interject, " Quinn Oswald." I stroke my fingers over Clifford's furry head, in spite of myself. Clifford's a huge mush and I can't resist him, unlike his arrogant owner, who really should've had him on an actual leash. Don't get me wrong—I love all dogs: big, small, yappy, slobbery, but who expects to be bum rushed by a giant one when you're already tired and lost?

" Nice to meet you Miss Oswald, I'm Isaac Steele and you already met this big lug, Clifford." Isaac scratches Clifford's ear affectionately and pulls a bacon-scented treat from his pocket. Clifford's ears perk up and he wags his tail vigorously, but sits obediently on his haunches. " Good boy, give Miss Quinn your paw. Say you're sorry for slobbering on her."

I stretch out my hand and Clifford places his weighty paw in my palm. Only then does Isaac toss him the treat, which he gobbles up in his massive jaws. Despite the lack of a leash, I have to admit Clifford is well trained.

" See how obedient he is," Isaac praises, as if he can read my mind. "Clifford really is a gentle giant, just like his name sake."

I shake my head. " Yeah, well it was hard to tell when he was barreling towards me like a bullet train." I slide my phone out of my pocket to quickly check the time, only to find the battery has gone dead. " Oh, shit," I swear.

Isaac looks down and jams his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. " I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" He offers hopefully. " I definitely owe you one."

I'm not the type to cash in on favors. Once my unemployment ran out, I refused to move in with my mom and ask for any more money, especially after I had run through the cash from my dad's accidental death lawsuit. Rather than take my best friend Kayla's offer to move in with her, I shut her and the rest of our friends out of my life, ashamed by my unemployment. Not once did I rely on anyone to help me find a new job, even when things got so bleak, I stopped getting interviews. Nate was the only one I had ever accepted help from. Right now, I'm out of options, and if I'm ever going to find my new home, and start my new life, I need this guy's help.

" Actually, Isaac, there is something you can do for me," I say, smiling slyly at the way Isaac's eyes widen like an eager puppy's. When the guy finds out what I'm going to ask of him, he might regret his offer.