Page 24 of The Good Guy on My Porch

“Co-parent?”

“Sure. I’ve been thinking about getting a pet for a while and I love dogs. If we just planned for Buddy to stay with me three nights a week, you’d never have to feel like you were asking for a favor. Buddy would belong to both of us.”

Generally, I avoided commitment of any kind, but it made me feel better to know Buddy would be cared for, no matter what happened in my crazy life. “And I can give you a key to my place,” I said. “That way, if I have to be out at the last minute for any reason, you’d be able to come over and take Buddy.”

The oven beeped, and he got up and pulled out my dinner. He placed it in front of me. “Where are your forks?”

I pushed back my chair to stand, but he pushed me back into my seat with a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Sit. I want to help.”

I felt like crying again. I was the strong one and I was so convincing in that role, very few people offered me help anymore. It was kind of nice to have help. “Top drawer next to the fridge.”

He got a fork and placed it next to the plate. I dug in. “Oh. Oh, wow,” I said. “This is so good.”

“I’m glad you like it.” His smile was gentle. He was probably afraid I’d freak out and start sobbing all over him again.

I finished the meal in silence. Oscar petted Buddy and took him out to the front yard while I ate, so I didn’t feel weird eating in front of him, and I got to see that he’d be an excellent co-parent to Buddy.

“Thank you,” I said, when he came back inside. “I didn’t expect you to follow through on that silly bet. Dinner was delicious.”

He shook his head, dropping his chin like he was disappointed. “We spit-shook. I can’t back out.”

“Well, I’m letting you off the hook,” I said. “This was delicious, but you don’t need to cook any more meals for me. You’re doing enough by helping me out with Buddy.”

“A deal’s a deal. Do you have plans tonight?”

“I just have to pick up some supplies for Buddy. Lola gave me enough food for a couple days, but he needs a bed and…Well, whatever stuff dogs need.”

“Since I’m the co-parent, I’ll need some stuff, too,” he said. “And I should pay for half the food.”

Relief overwhelmed me. Relief that I wouldn’t be responsible for Buddy alone, relief that I’d be able to help my mother without abandoning my dog to isolation and solitude. Relief that Oscar was being so kind when he had no obligation to help me. The relief was followed quickly by guilt, about lying to him, and fear, that he’d be so much more likely to find out the truth about my mother if we co-parented Buddy. The kind thing to do, the smart thing to do, would be to come clean. “Oscar, I need—”

“We need all kinds of stuff,” he said. “I’ve been making a list in my head. Why don’t I run to the pet store while you keep Buddy company? I don’t want him to be alone in a strange place.”

He was already heading out of my place. I hurried after him and put a hand on his arm to stop him. “That would be great, but before you go, we should—”

“You got a dog?” a woman asked. I turned my head to see Oscar’s blond, beautiful girlfriend sitting on the stoop, looking past Oscar to Buddy by my feet. “He’s so handsome.” She held out her hand and made a kissy face and Buddy went right to her. “Hi, there.” She looked up at me and Oscar. “What’s his name?”

“Buddy,” I said. Oscar was looking down at the woman and he was smiling, a warm fondness in his expression. Damn it, he was in love with her.

“I’ll go to the pet store,” I said. “You two stay here and help Buddy get acclimated.”

I grabbed my purse from just inside the door and hurried past them and down the steps before either of them could say anything else. I was acting like a crazy person, I was aware of that. Of course, Oscar should have a girlfriend. I was happy for him. I didn’t feel the least bit jealous, because that would be stupid. I didn’t think of Oscar that way. I couldn’t think of Oscar that way or my stupid jealousy would ruin our co-parenting.

I sighed and climbed into my car. I dropped my head to the steering wheel and groaned. I had feelings for Oscar. I had to admit it, so I could get past them. I pulled in a deep breath. I had feelings for Oscar, but I was an adult with tons of dating experience. I would shove those feelings back into the box of denial where they belonged, and I would burn them to ashes.

Something banged on the window next to my head and I jerked upright and screamed with sheer terror. I gripped the wheel tight and slowly turned my head, expecting to see a werewolf or some other…No, a werewolf I wouldn’t mind, especially if he was a sexy alpha who was looking for a…It was Oscar bent over and peering through my window. Oddly, I didn’t feel disappointed not to see a werewolf. I liked Oscar’s messy hair and his crooked grin. I liked his face.

I hit the button to roll down the window and then I remembered the car needed to be running for the button to work. I opened the door and stepped out onto the street. Oscar stepped aside for me to get out, but he didn’t move far enough away.

He smelled good, like male deodorant and a hint of masculine cologne. Apparently, my box of denial was faulty. I pressed myself against the car to put more space between us.

“Are you okay?” He reached out and put a friendly hand on my shoulder. His touch burned through me, lighting me up with want. Holy shit, when I decided I had feelings for someone, my libido really took that information and ran with it.

“Fine,” I said. “I just…” I looked over his shoulder at the trees, trying to come up with a lie, but I didn’t want to lie to him. It didn’t feel right, not anymore. But I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth, either. I sighed. I’d been up until two the night before, I’d had to go to Mom’s because she’d heard scratching at the door and was sure someone was trying to break in and I wanted, more than anything else, to go to bed and start this day over. “I’m really tired. I just need to get Buddy’s stuff before it gets any later.”

The concern didn’t leave Oscar’s expression and I worried that he knew the truth, that he could somehow see the problem was that I had feelings for him and everything would become unbearably awkward between us.

“Really,” I said, anger at myself and my situation flooding me. I didn’t want to lie to him, but telling him the truth was impossible. “I was up until after two last night. I got caught up in a marathon of that new show, the one about the cowboy and the —”

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