Whereas the other two had an easy, relaxed air seated in the front of the truck, Nadia had retreated back into her shell, mostly listening to the descriptions of the park and spending most of her attention staring out the window as the infamous place drew nearer. It had been a strangely tense ride for her despite the others' nonchalance and ease: knowing she was headed into territory that was, by all official accounts, deeply dangerous and filled with killers; part of her watching the casual, unthinking affection between Nate and Bunny, reminded once more of the hole gouged out in her own life; the awareness of the anxious meeting that was waiting for her; staring agog at the intimidating thirty-foot walls as they approached the park. Warily pacing sentries. An enormous snarling wolf’s head. All in all, a faintly terrifying start to the afternoon.
She followed the two Harlanites inside: lagging half a step behind them, clammed up and shy and silently taking in all of the details, her head craning around in irresistible curiosity. So this was the legendary Dog Park.
Again, there was the skittish awareness that she was out-of-place and possibly intruding, watching this reunion between old friends as Bunny threw herself into a hug. But when the man Nate introduced looked at her—this fierce, rugged fellow with the disheveled hair and placid eyes—she nodded, chin high and proud. “A pleasure,” she said, breaking into a smile. “Thank you so much for letting me come.”