Page 26 of Five for Silver

A sweaty, mud-covered Romeo was a sight tobehold, and Chad leaned against the side of the house and watchedhis failed attempts at catching Merc. He stifled a laugh when Romeoslipped and ended up on his knees.

“I’m gonna kill you!”

Romeo staggered back to his feet, only toyell his outrage at his mud-covered jeans. Chad couldn’t catch hissecond chuckle behind his hand in time.

Merc heard and bounded over with his tailswishing and a stolen tea towel swinging from his teeth.

He skidded to a stop, abandoned his newfoundtoy, and pressed muddy paw prints all over Chad’s suittrousers.

“Having fun?” Chad asked him.

He reached down and gave Merc a generous paton the head.

Romeo stalked closer, still huffing andgrumbling under his breath. His dark eyes stayed fixed on Merc ashe came to a stop two meters from where Chad fussed their newcompanion.

“Yourdog stole my tea towel.”

“Ourdog.” Chad corrected, leaningover to grab the offending item. The magpie tea-towel Chaddespised. He snorted. “If anything, the mud and dog slobber hasimproved it.”

“He’s worse than vermin.”

Chad pouted and looked down at Merc, a bigsmile on his face, and staring up at Chad with huge eyes, obliviousto the insult from his new master.

“I’ve had to chase him for it for the lasttwenty minutes.”

“He thinks it’s a game,” Chad replied.

Romeo held his hand out for the towel. WhenChad didn’t immediately give it to him, he grunted and snapped hisfingers. “That particular design is no longer available.”

“What a shame.”

“Precisely.”

Chad smirked, taking a step closer to Romeo.He held the towel out. It trembled in his grip, and his heart beganracing. At the last second, he snatched it back then threw it overhis shoulder. Merc leaped off the ground to catch it and dashedaway with his tail moving in a blur. He bolted for the still openkitchen door.

Romeo’s expression darkened. Hisoutstretched hand fell back to his side. “I can’t believe you justdid that.”

Chad took a step away as Romeo took amenacing one forward.

He lifted his chin. “It makes a better dogtoy.”

“It’s my tea towel.”

“It’s Merc’s tug toy.”

Romeo’s nostrils flared. “You had hold ofit, and instead of giving it back to me, you threw it to him.”

Chad shrugged. “He’s … more adorable, 5letters.”

Romeo raised his eyebrow. “He’s not cuterthan me.”

“You don’t have a waggly tail.”

“I have other parts that you’re very fondof. I suggest you apologize if you want to see them again.”

Chad smiled. “Like you would keep them fromme.”

Romeo smirked. “Look,” he gestured to hisknees. “He ruined my jeans.”

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