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“I hope it’s okay for him to be in the house.” Derek scratches the back of his head. “He wouldn’t let me leave without him.”

My hand brushes behind Ace’s ear. “It’s fine. He probably has better manners then Lola.”

Our fingers brush against one another, and I can feel static electricity run between us. I move my hand quickly, burned by the touch of his warm hand.

“W-when did you get him?” I stutter, changing to the safer subject and increasing the distance between us.

“A while ago. I was going home from the practice when I found him abandoned in the park. He was in pretty bad shape, but he’s better now.”

“Poor thing.”

I’ve never understood how people can be mean to animals. They are so small and defenseless. It’s like trying to hurt a baby.

“You want to drink something?” I offer, standing at the doorway. “We have…”

“I’m fine,” he interrupts me. “Why are you standing there? I don’t bite.”

A nervous giggle escapes me. I enter the room and go sit in my dad’s armchair. It’s close enough to the sofa that I’m not being rude, but also a safe distance away from the couch.

He chuckles like he can read my mind, he but doesn’t comment. “So what were you doing before I came?”

I let Lola, who is still in my arms, go because she’s getting skittish again. Without even looking at me, she jumps off the armchair and goes to stand in front of Derek. She looks up at him with her big round eyes, expecting him to pick her up, but when he doesn’t, she jumps there herself, getting cozy in his lap. Ace, on the other hand, comes closer, and curls on the rug between the couch and the armchair.

Derek looks down at Lola disbelievingly. “Your dog sure is cozy.”

“She likes you.” I shrug. “If she’s bothering you, I can take her.”

Derek smiles and shakes his head. I’m not sure if it’s a ‘no’ or ‘I don’t believe she did that’ kind of shake.

“It’s okay. So, what did the two of you do?”

“Oh, we were watching a show.”

“Something in particular?”

“Gilmore Girls. You just showed up in the middle of it.” I laugh nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“We can watch it now if you want.” He looks up from his lap where he’s concentrating on scrubbing Lola behind her ears.

“It’s okay. I watched it a hundred times.”

“Come on, little one. Go to your room and bring the DVD or whatever down and we’ll watch it.” He smiles at me.

“Really?” I frown, still not believing he really wants to watch Gilmore girls with me.

“Why not?”

“Ohk—aay,” I agree and run upstairs to get my stuff.

In no time, I’m back, laptop under my arm, bag of chips in one hand, and sodas in other. While I was already up, I decided to bring some snacks.

“I’ve got us…” I start to tell him, but I stop at the door, looking at him.

He looks so happy and so homey. Derek took off his leather jacket, and now he’s sitting in the middle of the couch in just a plain t-shirt and sweats with Lola cuddled in his lap and Ace at his feet.

“What?” He turns around to look at me.

“No.” I shake my head. “Nothing. I’ll just…”

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