Page 71 of Take Me
“Annabelle says all dogs can swim.”I sought out her veterinary advice after my first failed attempts at teaching Scrumpy to keep himself afloat.“If he’s gonna go standup paddleboarding with me by summer, I need to make sure he can do it.”
“Can’t you just get him one of those doggy life vests?”
“He has one.It’s got a shark fin on top.”
“Of course it does.”
Scrumpy barks twice as I wade a bit deeper, grateful the sun keeps my top half warm.Unseasonal sunbursts are one thing I love about living here.It’s rainy right now in Salem and Portland, but Cherry Blossom Lake will hit sixty today.I know that doesn’t sound warm, but trust me, it’s toasty for the Oregon Coast.
“Speaking of Annabelle?—”
“We were?”I pivot to face my sister and dog.
“You said, and I quote, ‘Annabelle says all dogs can swim.’Ergo, you introduced the subject of the woman who broke your heart but gave you a dog.”
“In hindsight, it seems like a fair trade.”Scrumpy barks as I take a step back, not liking that I’m getting farther away.That’s how this plan is meant to work.I’ll summon my dog, and he’ll swim out to join me like the good, faithful boy he’s become.
Fishing a hand in my pocket, I pull out the Ziploc baggie filled with doggie-sized bites of top sirloin.
“Mmmm…” I peel open the bag and wave it around in the breeze.“Smell that, buddy?That can be all yours.”
My dog wags his tail and yips sharply.
Lucy untangles his leash from a shrub.“You want me to let him go now?”
“Not yet.”I fish his favorite tennis ball out of my other pocket, holding it up to show him.“Gotta get him good and excited.”
Scrumpy barks again, licking his chops as he surveys the bounty I’m holding.This is definitely going to work.
“Speaking of big life changes?—”
“Were we?”
Lucy ignores me and continues.“I’ve been wondering how you’re handling the fact that Annabelle moved in with Neil.”
“Why would I care where she lives?”
She doesn’t dignify that with a reply.Just stands on the shore with a judgmental stare while I wave my leftovers and a drool-matted ball.
“Fine,” I mutter.“It surprised me at first, but it’s cool.”
“For reals?”
“Yeah, for reals.”It’s none of my business where she sleeps.“Kinda helps that Erika moved in with me.”
“Hmmm.”My sister sounds skeptical.“Seems like you’re taking the fake-dating thing kinda far.”
“It’s just practical.”Even I hear how silly that sounds.
“I heard about what happened when you and Erika went to her house to grab her stuff.How you walked in on her dad getting busy with Ruby Brooks.”
Scrumpy yips while eyeing the tennis ball, his tongue lolling off to the side.I toss the ball high and catch it, keeping him nice and excited.
“Is it true?”Lucy asks, and I sigh.
“Yeah, it’s true.”And more graphic than Luce might imagine.“We walked in on Greg Gentry balls deep in Zoe and Cassidy’s mother.”
“Ooof.”Lucy winces.“There’s a Hallmark occasion for you.”
