“Working with my new sponsor. Their headquarters are here. We lost our last game, so we’re out of the playoffs, and my cousin just moved into the city, so I’ve been helping him settle in.” He shrugs as if it’s public knowledge. As if I keep up to date on what he’s doing with his life.
Besides the fact that his team lost. I know all about that. And I smiled when I found out.
“The Salty Dog… why?”
Riley rolls his eyes. “It’s a quiet bar. It’s mostly filled with older people whose eyesight is so bad they can’t see who I am. Just because I love the limelight doesn't mean I want to shine all the time, Slater. A man can only take so much.”
“You have no idea what I’m talking about? You’re sure?”
Riley chuckles, slapping my back. “You get tackled too hard during your last game, Slater? I thought you were here to talk about the comments I’ve been making to the press.”
“I’m not. I don’t care about that.”
He pauses. “Yeah, you know what? I’m tired of our little feud. The fact that you came here to see me speaks volumes. I’m willing to forgive you.” He flashes his whitened teeth at me, and I huff in disbelief.
But in all seriousness, I don’t want Riley Donovan against me. I don’t need the trouble. He may be a dick, but I have bigger issues than him.
I hold out my hand.
Riley shakes it. “Friends?”
I cock an eyebrow at him. “I wouldn’t go that far, Donovan.”
30: Mae
“Hi, boy.” I grin as I ruffle up the tuft of hair on Radish’s head. He has a potential adopter coming today, and the shelter asked if I could be present to see if it helps. He comes out of his shell when around me. “Listen to me, buddy.” I crouch down in front of him. “Show them how amazing you are, okay? Give them a few kisses, sit on their lap, all the good stuff. Got it?”
Radish responds with a lick to my cheek, and I hop to my feet as the shelter doors are pushed open.
A short, middle-aged man walks in. He has a friendly face, and his eyes brighten as soon as they land on the dog by my feet.
“Hi, I’m Mae, a volunteer here. And this is Radish.” I gesture down. I know the smile I’m faking isn’t reaching my eyes. I haven’t been getting any sleep, and I must look haggard.
Every inch of my mind is filled with Nathan. I can’t even escape him in my dreams.
“Radish?” the man asks, cocking his head as he pets the dog. “Am I stuck with the name?”
My stomach drops. I’ve always known there’s a chance that an adopter wouldn’t keep the name, but I can’t think of Radish as anything else. He always comes running when I say it, but I need to disassociate myself from our connection.
“Not if you don't want to be,” I tell the man as I lead him into the adoption meeting room. It smells like dog shampoo and kibble, and the walls are lined with posters representing the responsibility of pet ownership and insurance costs.
Radish has been in a few times but tends to plop himself down in the corner and nap. I’m praying he picks up one of the toys and shows some personality today.
“Does he know any tricks?”
“Does ripping up root vegetables count?”
“What?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “He doesn't, but he’s a very smart boy. He’ll quickly pick up anything you teach him.”
The man nods and moves closer to Radish, who is sniffing at my feet. He gazes up at me with adoration, tongue loose and floppy. The man tries to gain his attention, but Radish doesn’t drag his eyes from me—not even when the man offers him a treat.
Minutes go by, and Radish doesn’t leave my side. Even when I move to the other side of the room and sit in the chipped plastic chair, I’m followed.
“It seems he has a favourite.”
I sigh, scratching under Radish’s chin. “I swear, he’s a great dog when you get to know him. And when he gets to know you.”
