I rapped my knuckles on the door. “It’s me—your spawn.”
Crush answered while taking a bite from a hot dog. “Just in time for lunch,” he said. Then his eyes flicked down and his smile vanished. “What the fuck is that?”
“Your new best friend. Let us in.”
He narrowed his eyes at me and swallowed. “You got three seconds to tell me that’s a Shifter friend.”
I nudged him out of the way and went in, but the dog remained on the porch. “Happy birthday. This is your new best friend.”
“It’s not my birthday, and April Fools’ Day is over.”
The dog sat and cocked his head at the grumpy old man.
“What are you lookin’ at?” Crush barked.
Easing back to the doorway, I leaned against the doorjamb. “He’s a bullmastiff. I think the guy said it’s a crossbreed, like me. A bulldog and a mastiff. He might have a little mutt mixed in, but he was the best-looking boy in the kennel.”
“You need to take him back.”
“He was scheduled to be put down in a week.”
“Goddammit, Raven. Don’t put that shit on me. I didn’t ask for a dog. I got no room, no food, and no time. I work all day and like to watch my shows at night. He’ll be barking.”
“They said he’s not a big barker, but he’ll guard your property and make someone think twice about breaking in. Come on. Give him a test drive.”
“He’ll shit all over the lawn.”
“Fertilizer.”
A motorcycle engine throttled from the road as Christian steered into the driveway, his shades as dark as his clothes.
The dog shot down the steps and tore across the yard like a bolt of lightning. His rippling muscles were as impressive as his speed. Christian abruptly cut across the lawn to avoid him. The dog didn’t slow down his chase, and the next thing I knew, Christian steered onto the road and sped off.
The dog trotted back as if he were on a victory lap, and when he made it up the steps, he wagged his tail at my father.
Crush stroked his goatee. “Smart dog,” he muttered. “Come on in, and let’s see how smart you really are.”
We both sat at the table, and Crush set his half-eaten hot dog near the edge. “What am I going to do with a damn dog? I don’t have the space.”
“He was living in a cage, so this is an upgrade. You could even chain him in the yard when the weather’s nice. If you don’t keep him, I’m going to plan B, and you don’t want to know what plan B is.”
The dog sat next to the table and stared at Crush. The hot dog was a mere inch from his face, and his nose twitched. It was hard to tell if Crush was testing him or vice versa.
My father got that look on his face when he was about to give in to something he didn’t want to do. “My buddies ain’t gonna like it.”
“Since when the hell do you care what anyone thinks? They’re Shifters; you’re not. They can’t tell you how to live your life. Come on,” I said, sugaring him up. “He’s the bestest boy ever. Just look at that wrinkly old face. You two are practically twins.”
“You’re walkin’ a thin line with that sass talk.”
“Look, just keep him around long enough to see if you’re compatible. Give it a few weeks.”
“What if he tears up my house?”
A smile touched my lips. “Then I hope he starts with that recliner.”
My father knocked the hot dog on the floor and watched the dog’s reaction.
Drool leaked from one of his cheek flaps. He snorted and then looked back up at my father.
