Page 55 of Sloane

“We prefer that actually. Tank tends to go bonkers at the sound of the doorbell.”

Tank, upon hearing his name, came to investigate the new arrival. Tammy had her hands full with her casserole dish of macaroni and cheese, and she held it up high when the pup sniffed her.

“Here, let me take that.”

I stood and came around the counter separating the kitchen and family room.

“The soda is still in the car,” she said as she handed me the dish then put her hand down so Tank could further his vetting of her.

Ryan told her, “Oh, we’ll send Josh to get it when he gets here. The fucker probably makes more than all of us combined, but odds are good that he’ll show up empty-handed. So, I don’t hesitate to put him to work.”

The golden retriever obviously approved of Tammy, or at least the food she’d just prepared, because he licked her hand. She took that as a greenlight to scratch his ears.

“Careful,” Sloane said with a laugh while he walked into the kitchen and opened up the fridge. “Once you start, he’ll bug you all day for more attention.”

My friend smiled and rubbed both the dog’s ears at the same time.

“I don’t mind.”

I lifted the lid to her dish.

“This looks delicious, Tam.”

“Thanks.”

“What can I get you to drink?” Sloane called out as he stood in front of the refrigerator with the door wide open. “There’s just about every brand of beer known to man in here,”

“Thanks to Tommy and Randy,” Ryan interjected. “Plus, there’s liquor at the bar in the TV room.”

“There’s also lemonade,” Grace called out.

Maddie approached Tammy with a wide smile. “And a pitcher of sangria.”

“And her soda,” Ryan added.

Tammy looked at all of them trying to accommodate her and smiled.

“I think I’ll just have lemonade.”

“I’ll get it for you,” Grace said as she handed Tammy a plate. “Get some appetizers before they’re gone.”

With a whine, Tank took off like a shot toward the front door. Sloane looked at Ryan with a quizzical brow.

“Josh is here. He knows the sound of his car.”

Shit.

I glanced nervously at Tammy preparing her plate and said, “There’s a spot right next to me,” as I pointed to where my plate sat with the food I hadn’t finished before she arrived.

Tank barked excitedly like he had when he’d seen Sloane on Ryan’s sidewalk on Thursday.

Sloane tossed his beer cap into the garbage and grumbled, “Am I going to have to fight your brother for my dog when I get back? I thought it was you I was going to have to duke it out with.”

“Between me or Josh, Tank would choose Josh any day of the week and twice on Sundays. But come on, he still loves you the most, and Josh and I both know he’s your dog. We’re just borrowing him until you come home.”

Sloane’s shoulders slumped. “And I appreciate how great you’re taking care of him. Really.”

“There’s my buddy!” Josh’s voice was high pitched as it echoed off the walls and ceiling in the foyer. Tank alternated between barking and whining in response, then he came tearing into the family room.

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