Chapter Twenty-Five – Trouble
Nick held up his hands, trying to calm the joyous creature jumping up and down before him. "Now hold on," he tried to get through her victory pumps into the air, needing his council to be heard. "She's going to need patience on cold mornings, and you can't go fast on back roads—."
Violet eyes shown with delight so bright it blinded. "I promise!" Judy gushed, rushing forward, starting for his aloft arms. "Thank you! You saved her!" She caught herself before she made contact, and withdrew her fingers back to the safety of her chest. "You're the best!" Her beam rivaled the beautiful day at her back, and she glowed up at him. "A miracle worker."
Nick had considered this moment extensively in the last few weeks – far more than was healthy – imagining how Judy might be so overcome with gratitude for saving her horrible lemon of a car that she'd try another embrace, and knowing he would not react the same way he had in the Outback. "Finnick and Ben helped too," he said graciously, pleased as her smile grew.
Long, gray ears were tall and pert, a sure sign of happiness, and Judy clapped her hands. "You've all been wonderful."
Nick ducked his head, trying to quell the sway that had started in his tail. "We felt sorry for her. She was such a homely scrap…."
Unable to help herself, Judy reached out and took his hand, threading her fingers through his. Nick's tail instantly stilled, and he worked to remember the complicated process of breathing. Was this it? The second chance he wouldn't mess up?
Judy peeked up, catching his eye. "Thanks for seeing how much she meant to me," she said softly. "Blueberry was all I had in this city…," her grin grew shy. "Before I met you."
They stared at each other for a moment – Nick full of hope, Judy realizing he wasn't pulling his hand away – and both missing the pair of polar bears in gray and blue-striped tracksuits emerge from a parked car at the end of the lot.