Page 44 of Small-Town Secrets
"Eat up," I told Chris, trying to distract myself from thoughts of his daddy. "There's more if you're still hungry after that, and if you take a nap when you're done, you can meet the cutest puppy in all of Oceanport later."
Sarge looked up at that from where he lay in his basket at the foot of the couch. People tried telling me that my dog didn't understand English, but sometimes, I swear he understood every word. "Not cuter than you, of course," I said in his direction.
Chris shot me a funny look.
I ignored him and walked into the kitchen. Sarge jumped out of his basket and followed on my heel. I needed to let him out in the backyard later. After I'd cleaned up the kitchen.
Before I could fully load the dishwasher, though, I was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing.
I glanced at the caller ID before answering. It was Jake.
"What's up?" I asked, taking the call.
"Wanna walk the dogs together?"
"Can't. I got a sick kid at home." I glanced in the direction of the kitchen door, wondering if Chris could hear me on the phone. Probably. But I had to let Sarge out anyway. Motioning for my dog to follow, I walked out in the backyard.
"Laurence's kid?" Jake asked. "Shit, he's still living with you, right? How's that working out? I haven't heard from you in forever, neighbor."
"Sorry about that. It's been crazy." Some days I still couldn't believe that I had Laurence and his children living with me now. "I think it's going pretty well." Especially when I thought back to last night...
"So are you sleeping with him yet?" Jake asked as if he could read my thoughts. I was glad I hadn't taken my cup of coffee outside with me or I'd be spraying it everywhere now.
"What if I am?" I tried not to sound smug, but maybe I did.
"Wait, seriously?"
Did my friend have to sound so surprised? "You're making it sound like I'm not a great catch."
"What makes you think you are?"
"I can lift heavy things."
"Because that's everything an omega wants, right?"
"Isn't it?" I joked. "Not like you would know."
"Ouch." If Jake had been in the yard with me instead of on the phone, he would have punched my arm for that remark, I was pretty sure. "Anyway, good to know at least one of us is getting some."
"Still no luck on your end, huh?" As I spoke, I picked up a stick to throw for Sarge, silently wondering how lucky I really was. Sure, I'd gotten Laurence to sleep with me once, but I wasn't sure if that signified a victory on my part or a lapse of judgment on Laurence's.
"No luck," Jake confirmed. "It's fine, though. I know I have to show him that I can wait." He sighed. "Waiting sucks."
"I bet it does. When's the last time you even got laid?" I asked while my dog carried the stick back to me, dropped it at my feet and looked at me with an expression that said he didn't want to wait either and why was I talking on the phone when there was important stick-throwing to do?
"I don't even want to talk about it," Jake said.
"Because it's been so long that you can't remember?" I teased.
"Hey, we can't all have a hot omega living with us, okay?"
"You think Laurence is hot?"
"I know you think he is."
"Yeah, I'm not going to deny that," I said, picking the stick up and throwing it again, a little farther this time. Having a huge back yard was a blessing for any dog owner.
"Since you're staying home with a sick kid, I'm guessing that means you won't come to the tattoo studio with me either, huh?"
