Page 27 of You and Me, For Real
“That’d be the one.”
Her eyes widen. “I thought you were temporarily dog-sitting or something?”
I slip my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “I was. But now I’m not. I’ve decided to keep her.”
She turns her flabbergasted expression from me to outside.
Roxy hikes a tree, thinking she can scale it and capture the birds. Something inside me loosens at the sight. Her energy has already improved so much since yesterday.
“Have you ever had a dog? Do you know what to do with one?”
I laugh. “It’s not rocket science. Plenty of people have one. I think I can manage.”
A cough comes from the kitchen. I ignore Luke.
“But…how will you have time?”
I shrug. “Your father’s movie isn’t set to start filming for a few months. The only thing I have between now and then is theshow’s premiere party. I’ll have ample free time. I plan to help train her. Maybe she’ll even be able to come on set with me. I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.”
She nods, her full red lips pursed. “Okay, then I want to meet her.”
“Roxy?”
“Is that her name?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then, yeah. I’d like to meet Roxy.”
I look up and down at her perfectly pristine white dress. “You sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s just a dog. My father has several, if you recall. Besides, if she’s your dog, then she’s half my dog.”
I choke. “Whoa, Scar, let’s not go that far. After all, we’re?—”
She ignores my protests and marches toward the patio doors.
Luke comes to stand next to me. We both watch Scarlet exit the patio doors.
“Please tell me that was a joke.”
Luke grips my shoulder. “Afraid not, brother. This crazy cat seems to be one smitten kitten.”
I scoff, but he releases my shoulder and looks at me. His face is dead serious.
Can that be true? Surely not.
“Roxy, here, girl.” Scarlet pats her thighs.
I walk out to the patio and stand next to her. “I’m not so sure this is a good idea. She’s pretty timid.”
Roxy’s head darts in our direction, her floppy ears perking at the sound of Scarlet’s shouting. A second later, her attention is pulled once again to the tree at the back of my property. She plops her bottom onto the grass, her gaze unwavering.
“Why isn’t she coming?”
“Like I said, she’s timid. It’ll be a while before she warms up to people again. She looked pretty neglected when I found her.”
“Aw. That’s terrible.” Scarlet’s eyes are full of sympathy. “Was she injured? Is she okay?”
