Page 24 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

I frown. “Are you saying I’m selfish?”

He shrugs, unoffended. “Naw, man. Just…closed off.”

I stare at Cookie. I haven’t known him that long, but we’ve gotten to be friends. “I’m not closed off.”

“Yeah, you are. You never care about any of the chicks you go out with. You bang women all the time and then dump them.”

“I don’t dump them! I’m clear about what we’re doing. No attachment.”

“Whatever. Also, you hang out with us, but you don’t share much.”

“There’s nothing to share,” I mutter. The guys all know my past but know better than to try to talk about it. “I hate dogs.”

Cookie laughs. Asshole. “You don’t hate dogs. You fucking love that mutt.” He nods at Otis.

“I do not! Jesus.”

“Whatever.” Cookie’s a laid-back dude. “Maybe if you had a pet, you wouldn’t get so pissed off all the time.”

My jaw slackens. “What the fuck?”

“Don’t get mad at me. You know it’s true.”

After a tense beat, I blow out a breath and let my shoulders sag. Everyone knows it’s true. “I don’t think a pet is going to help with that.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“I can’t just keep him, though. It’s like…stealing him.”

“You saved him. Someone abandoned him. You’ve tried to find where he belongs.” He shrugs. “Just keep him.”

Otis is asleep on the floor with the stuffed dog I bought him. He’s on his side, forehead furrowed, tongue hanging out of his mouth, a puddle of drool on the hardwood floor.

Charming.

Chapter 5

Lilly

I sit in my living room with my laptop on the table in front of me.

I got used to Otis’s presence over the last few days, and now this place feels empty. Quiet.

Normal.

This is how it should be.

Naw, dammit, I miss him. I miss his slobbery, sad face and his toenails clicking on the hardwood floor and his whines when he needs to go outside.

I focus on my computer.

I’ve set up a free website for my business. I paid a designer on Fiverr to come up with a logo for Walk ’n Wag. I’ve done research into scheduling and invoicing software. I’ve checked out other businesses in the area and what they charge. I may need insurance, especially if I go into people’s homes, and I’ll need a business license, but I don’t want to spend too much money up front until I know I’ll have some clients.

I tacked up a notice on the bulletin board in the lobby of Kent’s building, which is a big complex. I already walk Lola, but there are other dogs in the building, and I’ve put notices online as well. My phone’s not ringing off the hook. Wait, that’s a stupid expression. I don’t even know what a phone hook is. Anyway, no one’s calling me.

Yet. They will.

I keep thinking about Easton.

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