Page 60 of Riot

She shoves me in the ribs. “No looking at other pretty women.”

“You’re prettier.” We kiss again but I’m interrupted by my phone buzzing in my back pocket.

I fish it out, reading the text from Nina.

Nina

He’s ready when you are, there’s a few things to go through before you can take him

I relay the text out loud to Halo and her shoulders sag in relief.

Me

Thanks for the update. We’ll be there in fifteen, just picking up some stuff for him

Nina

Roger that ??

Halo clamps her hands together as she bobs up and down on her toes like an excited kid. “Okay, so we’d better get to the checkout.”

“Let’s do it.”

Throw rugs and blankets are long forgotten, and so is our make out session as we head to the checkout. She picked up a few things including a fun size bag of tennis balls because she thinks he might like to play fetch when he’s better, and a giant crocodile stuffed toy. I drew the line at dog pajamas, but I’m sure this is just the beginning of my girl’s new obsession.

She’s got a spring in her step as I carry the bags to the parking lot and I try to keep my eyes off her ass in the jeans she’s wearing. It’s not hot out, but it’s humid enough, and I’d give my all to see her bare legs in a dress.

I take over the driving, shoving the chair back because Halo’s a shorty and I couldn’t even squeeze behind the wheel.

It doesn't take us long to get there, and Halo chats the entire way, telling me all about her hometown in St. Charles’ Parish and how she used to work in the family business.

“Antoine wasn’t happy when I moved away.” Oh yeah, I’ve heard a little bit about her brother, not that I’ve got a lot of dirt on him yet. “He kept telling me how disappointed he was in me, as if record keeping and answering phones was my life’s mission.”

“Why does he think he’s your keeper?” I prod. It seems like all the males in her family want to try and run her life. Her father. Her ex. Now her brother.

“Like I say, they’re a third generation company and my dad is like the J.R. Ewing of the parish.”

“Except he’s in construction and not oil rigs?”

“Wait, you know who J.R. Ewing is?”

“Netflix.”

She laughs. “You’re full of surprises.”

We pull up and I reach into one of the bags in the back and shove the new collar into my back pocket. Every dog needs a collar.

I swing an arm around Halo’s shoulder as we enter. The receptionist greets us and Nina ushers us into the back.

“He’s been a trooper.” She beams at us. “The most gentle boy. He’s medicated, and he’ll continue on this course of pain killers until it’s done. I’d like you to bring him back at the end of the week so we can check his progress.”

Halo wrings her hands nervously. “We bought him a whole bunch of stuff,” she says. “To make him comfortable while he recuperates.”

Nina nods. “That will all help, as will a calm environment. I don’t have to tell you how traumatic this has been for him, but he’s not showing signs of distress, and he’s been very affectionate.”

“We don’t deserve dogs,” I mutter. If that had been done to me, I’d be off humans for the rest of my goddamn life.

“Meanwhile, I’m on call if you need anything. Other than that, good luck.”

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