Page 106 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

“Yes.”

“It was Christmas and I was busy and I kept coming home to messes. And he wants to play all the time.”

“Of course he does.”

“It was better when Karen and I were together. She helped look after him. Then I was so pissed off that she’d abandoned him, and I made such a big deal about making her find him and getting him back, I had to take him back.”

Sadness fills my chest and I nod slowly. “You don’t have to keep him,” I say quietly. “I volunteer at an animal shelter. We could find a home for him with someone who really wants him. But I’m pretty sure Easton would take him back.”

He makes a face and rubs his jaw. He stares across the lobby for a moment. “Yeah. That would probably be for the best.”

My heart leaps. “Really?”

“There’s a chance I’ll have to go to Hong Kong again in February. What would I do then? Do you look after dogs for months at a time?”

“No. Not for that long. I would tell someone who’s going to be gone for months at a time and has to leave their dog that they probably shouldn’t have a dog.” I say this kindly.

“Yeah. You’re probably right.”

“I expect Easton will be back tomorrow. You could talk to him then about taking Otis…er, Percy…back.”

“Would you take him?”

For a few seconds I’m confused. “Oh, you mean tonight?”

“Yeah. You could bring him to Easton tomorrow.”

My eyebrows raise. Is he that eager to get rid of Otis? “Okay. Sure. Uh, do you have his things?”

He rolls his eyes. “Oh yeah. He’s got a ton of stuff for a dog. I’ll…go pack it up and bring it down?”

“All right.” I frown. “You’ll come back, right?”

He huffs. “Yeah, I’ll come back.”

Holy shit. I’m going to have to see Easton. My heart is galloping. Tomorrow. I’ll see him tomorrow.

I play with Otis and talk to him for the time it takes Dennis to go up to his apartment and return with Otis’s bag. I recognize it from all the times I’ve taken him back to my place for overnight stays. Today, it’s packed full with every toy and treat he owns. Yeah, it’s a lot. Easton kind of spoiled him.

I stand and set Otis on the floor, gripping his leash. I take the bag from Dennis. “Thanks.”

“Thank you.” He appears relieved, and I’m glad, because I sure wouldn’t want to take Otis away from someone who loved him. “I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you. As a job, I mean.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I want what’s best for Otis. And it seems like it’s best for you too.” And maybe for Easton. “How did you get my name and number?”

“Easton gave it to me. In case I needed someone to walk him.”

My heart bursts into a glow and my lips tremble into a smile. My throat is thick as I swallow and turn to leave.

I walk home. The sun is out, glistening on the snow and ice, so I slide on my sunglasses. Otis prances on his leash, sniffing here and there.

I imagine the scene when Easton had to give back Otis and my heart hurts for him. I know he loves Otis even though he never wanted a dog and tried to get rid of him and had no idea how to look after a dog. At first. But the fact that he would give him up to return him to his rightful owner…oh man. That had to be so hard, to do the right thing.

I hope I’m doing the right thing too.

Easton

I roll out of bed and trudge into the bathroom for a shower. After getting back from Toronto last night, I came straight home and crashed. The last few days…hell, the last few weeks have been exhausting. It’s nearly noon and I had a good solid sleep, yet I still feel tired. Dragged out.

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