I switch course too, following Daphne.
And when we circle the house and find Eddie, I actually gasp out loud.
His head whips up and he stares at me with the most comicaloh shit, I’m caughtexpression.
Simon’s son is attempting to dognap Digger.
He has the rear door of the SUV open, and he’s using grilled chicken to try to lure the dog inside.
Digger’s already halfway up.
“You are so busted, dude,” Daphne says.
“The dog opened the car,” Eddie blurts.
Digger does his part and finishes jumping his sturdy body up into the SUV.
I snicker. “Uh-huh.”
“He did. I’m trying to get him out. Here, boy. Here, Digger-Digger. Get out of the car.”
“Did you know Ryker lost one of his dogs a couple weeks ago?” Daphne says.
Eddie’s eyes get big.
It’s like looking at a mini-Simon.
A mini, not-smiling Simon.
And something melts in my heart.
It’s a little something, but it’s also not.
Because I know exactly what that feeling is.
Protectiveness.
And not for Ryker.
Not for the dog.
For Eddie.
Dammit.
“Lost him how?” Eddie asks.
“She ran away and didn’t come back,” I answer. “He used to have three dogs. Now he’s down to two. And the cat. He’d be sad if he only had one dog. And the cat.”
Someone shouts in the backyard, and I pull my phone out of my pocket—best dress ever—and send a quick note to Simon.Daph and I are with Eddie. He’s fine.
“Don’t tell my dad,” Eddie says.
I hold eye contact with him. “You’re going to tell your dad.”
“But—but then he’ll never get us a dog.”
“Have you asked him for a dog?”
