“Al—-I swear I tried, I tried to get home to you!”

“I know—–I’ve always known.”

Reaching up and wiping the tears from her face, “I don’t know what’s going to happen between you and Clea or where you guys currently stand but if it doesn’t work out I was hoping maybe you could keep me in the back of your mind. I’d like another shot with you, but if not I hope we can be friends. I rather have you in my life as a friend than not have you in my life at all.”

Alice removing her gaze from Tasha looks down at her ring finger and removes the engagement ring Clea placed on her finger. She then gets up and walks out of the gazebo. Tasha not understanding what she is doing follows after her. She walks towards the end of the ramp, takes the ring in her right hand, steps back and throws it into the water as far as she could. Winterfell out of nowhere runs to her and playfully licks her in the face. Letting him know his affection was appreciated she hugs and playfully roughs up his face. Tasha was standing at the end of the ramp and when Alice reached her she wrapped her arms around her neck.

The rest of the day consisted of a nice canoe ride around the lake with Tasha paddling and Alice and Winterfell enjoying the ride. The entire canoe ride Winterfell never left Alice side. After the canoe ride both Alice and Tasha enjoyed a friendly game of catch with Winterfell. After Winterfell got tired, Tasha packed up their things, and all three of them make the journey back to the cottage. On the way back like he normally does Winterfell parts ways as the sun began to set. Once inside Tasha takes a shower and then Alice.

After they both showered and freshened up a bit. Alice sits in the living room and Tasha is in the kitchen preparing dinner. While in the kitchen Tasha could hear a noise at the door. The noise sounded like a scratching sound. When she looked through her peephole she didn’t see anyone. Thinking maybe she was over hearing things she begins to turn away and head back into the kitchen. As she turns around fully she hears the scratching noise again. This time she grabs her bat, unlocks the door, and opens the door slowly. When she did she felt something furry brush by her leg. Immediately panicking because it was dark she didn’t know what type of animal she had just let in. Her thoughts went immediately to Alice who was sitting on the couch. When she ran into the living room there on the couch was Alice sitting and Winterfell with his body stretched out on the couch with his head in her lap.