Page 46 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

He truly was adorable.“How old?”

“Eighteen months.I got him when he was six months old.Terrible situation.But now he’s with me and life is great.I didn’t plan to get a dog right as I was starting teacher’s college, but sometimes we don’t get to pick when our destiny comes along.”

“Buddy is your destiny?”

Ben nodded vigorously.His mahogany hair shone in the light and he had a bit of five o’clock shadow accumulating.He was also adorable.

“Well, why don’t we head downstairs?”I extended a hand to Buddy.

He cocked his head, glanced at Ben, looked back at me, and offered his paw.

“Good boy.”I petted him on the head.

As a group, we headed to the stairs.Two flights down and we were back in the lobby.Ben and Buddy followed my lead as I guided them to the Paw Express restaurant.We didn’t have a reservation, and in tourist season you definitely needed one, but we were okay tonight.The host pointed to the table by the huge plate-glass windows and I nodded.A perfect view out over the ocean.

We sat across from each other while Buddy tucked himself under the table.

Within moments, our server, Oana, appeared.“Hey, fancy seeing you here.”

I grinned.A little forced, though.I didn’t want to be here.I wanted to be over on the island.

“You landlocked?”

“Until the storms pass.”

“Fair enough.”She eyed Buddy and handed Ben a smaller menu.

His eyes lit as he reviewed all the options.He selected a serving of beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and peas.

“And for yourself?”

“Oh.”He blushed.“Like, a burger or something.Or do you have fish?”

“We specialize in fish.How about salmon?Grilled?”

He nodded.

“I’ll have the burger with extra tomatoes and no lettuce.”

She winked.“Back in a jiffy.”

“I thought you said I can’t feed Buddy.”

“From your plate,” I prompted.“They’ll feed him for you.Beef stew?”

“Oh, he loves it.He’s going to be so spoiled.”He said the last sentence in that cutesy way some owners spoke to their pets.

Usually I found it irritating.Today I found it adorable.

There was that word again.

Oana returned with a small dish of stew and two glasses of water.“You guys want anything stronger?”

I held up my hand.“I’m good.”

Ben hesitated before repeating the gesture.

“You can have a drink, Ben.”

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