“You're not,” I say, quieter than I mean to.
Eli glances over. “You’ve noticed it too, huh?”
I nod. “She’s smart. Quick. But yeah, some people don’t see that. They see sparkles and pink and assume she’s easy to fuck with.”
A beat.
“Thank fuck." Eli exhales, slow. "Someone else finally gets it.”
I hum my amused agreement, and then there’s a lull, the kind that begs to be filled.
“You’re not like those guys though, are you Pookie?” Eli asks, not accusing, just curious.
I meet his gaze. “Not even close.”
He studies me for a second, then he lifts his beer again. “Good, because I need you to continue keeping an eye out for me.”
I nod, probably too hard. He doesn’t know I’m replaying what happened on the porch last night, that I can still feel the heat of her stare when I came over, that I also want her safe for reasons that go deeper than they should. But for this moment, Eli and I are aligned. And I hope like hell he’s just happy to have an ally.
“So, uhh, what else has she got going on?” I keep my tone casual, eyes on the table. “You know if she’s busy?”
Eli doesn’t even blink. “Busy how?”
“Just for, y’know. Dates. Nights out.” I shrug like it’s small talk. “You said keep an eye, so I figured I should know what I’m watching for.”
He studies me, long enough I can feel it, then he nods. “Far as I know, she had one lined up earlier today. Canceled another tomorrow.” A pause. “Usually she stays in on school nights.”
I nod and swallow that down, pretend it’s enough. Pretend I’m not replaying the thin edge in her laugh. Shecanhandle herself, that much I know. But she shouldn’t have to.
And if she doesn’t like going out on nights before work, then that buys me some time, but not enough. Not nearly enough while we’re on the road for stretches of away games.
I try to think practically. Logic over gut. And that’s when it hits me: Dusty needs someone when I’m gone. She loves dogs, and Dusty loves her. She’s right across the street. It makes sense.
And if it means she texts me morning and night with photos of Dusty’s antics, if it keeps her tethered to me when I’m three time zones away, then that’s just a side effect. A good one.
“Hey, Lulu’s dog-sat for you and Tamara before, right?”
Eli takes a drink and nods. “Yeah. She’s a sucker for fur and bad attitudes. Why?”
“Thinking about asking her to take Dusty when we’re on the road.” I aim for neutral, the way you’d talk about trash day. “She’s right there. Beats paying a stranger across town.”
He snorts. “Beats Dusty eating your drywall, too. She’ll say yes.” There’s a pause, and his eyes narrow just a fraction. “You gonna pay her?”
“Cash,” I say, too fast.
He nods. “Maybe some cupcakes.”
Whatever she wants. Anything.
I force a shrug. “Okay, yeah, sure.”
“Just make sure they’re gl—”
“Gluten free, yeah. Of course.”
Eli laughs with another nod, already turning his head as Chase hollers about the juke box and what’s going on next. “Text her. She’ll be stoked.”
“Don’t have her number,” I toss out as casually as possible.
