I guess that also came with getting older, though.
Which literally felt like a shot straight to the heart.
I’d missed so much…
The drive to Hopps was filled with lots of kisses and cuddles. By the time I arrived in the parking lot of my favorite restaurant, I was covered in slobber and hair.
I got out and reached for Brawny’s leash, but he beat me to the punch and hopped out before I was ready.
I reached for his leash, but he walked right away from me to the man that seemed to be waiting for him.
“You’re gonna have to bar him next time.” The man bent over and picked up his leash. “I can’t say that I’ve trained him all that well. He gets excited when we get into the truck because he thinks we’re going to the store to get a beef bone.”
“Ahhh,” I said. “He’s gotten way bigger, too. When I last saw him, he was at least fifty pounds lighter.”
Which again, broke my freakin’ heart.
“All those steaks I cooked him.” The man winced.
“You cooked him steak?”
He shrugged. “Got the money.”
I sure didn’t.
“He’s going to hate living with me, because I definitely can’t afford steak dinners for the beast.”
“He eats canned dog food, too.”
Couldn’t afford that, either…
Subject change was necessary, and I didn’t want to have to explain my financial struggles to the man.
That would bring up Birdee, which in turn would make me irrationally pissed.
And when I had to deal with that woman, it gave me heartburn.
I wanted to enjoy my dinner.
“Hmm,” he said as he held out the leash. “He’ll adjust.”
That made me feel good that he didn’t comment.
He also didn’t make me feel like shit about it, either.
That wasn’t something my sister or mother would ever let slide…
“Wow, two of my best customers together,” the old man behind the counter called out when the man caught the door. “Meo, whatcha having today?”
“Meo” looked to me.
I ordered and then waited for him to place his.
We were both getting the same thing: the catch of the day.
Before I could pull out my wallet, though, the man waved me off. “On the house. Glad to see that you two are together. Couldn’t think of a better couple.”
I opened my mouth to correct him, but “Meo” jerked his chin and said, “What are you drinking?”
