I step out onto the back porch to see Gina walking with Spanky. She walks like a supermodel, the leash in one hand and the other extended like a ballerina.
She’s dressed in long, navy track pants and a short, white crop top that shows off her flat stomach in a sexy, casual way. Hell, everything she does is sexy to me.
Spanky clearly knows what he’s doing. His head is high, and he trots, lifting his legs like one of those show horses.
Maddie stands beside Ladybird. She’s wearing black leggings and a purple T-shirt that readsK-Pop DemonHunters, and her blonde hair is twisted up in little space buns on the top of her head.
She’s not a model, but I’d give her a ribbon for cutest handler. So what if I’m biased.
She watches Gina with all her might. Her little brow is tight over her brown eyes, and she lifts Ladybird’s leash in the air, doing her best to mimic Gina’s form.
Our droopy dog doesn’t budge.
“Come on, Ladybird!” She gives the leash a few tugs until finally the big bloodhound stands, then lifts her front legs and puts them on Maddie’s shoulders. “Oh, Ladybird… No!”
Maddie staggers back, and the dog lands on the ground again.
“She can’t jump on the judge or she’ll be disqualified,” Heather calls. “I learned that fromBest in Show.”
“Maybe I should start off with Ladybird,” Gigi returns to where my daughter stands with her hands on her hips beside the big dog. “You can get the feel of walking with Spanky. He’s done it so much, he doesn’t even need a handler.”
“Okay!” Maddie skips over and takes Spanky’s leash. “Like this?”
“That’s right,” Gina calls. “Now walk him around the backyard like Caitlyn does.”
Maddie takes off marching beside Spanky, and the two women stand back watching.
“That’s really good, Maddie!” Gina calls to her. “I think you’ve got it!”
“Now we just have to teach LB!” Maddie calls back, skipping with Spanky.
The white dog jumps beside her, and the women laugh.They’re quiet for a moment, and I’m about to walk up and join them when Heather speaks.
“I’ve been thinking about your reading.” Her tone is tentative. “When I’ve done them in the past, they’re usually about romantic relationships.”
“You’ve done that reading before?”
“Not that one exactly. It’s more about the feelings, the vibes. It’s all the same.” My sister tilts her head. “What’s making you cautious with love?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs, exhaling a huff. “Dumb Baxter, I guess.”
“The guy who texted? What did he do?”
I know this story, and I’m not looking to hear it again. Still, I want to know more about this reading my sister mentioned, and what it has to do with Gigi and love.
“Six dates is a lot,” my sister says.
“Yeah.” The dejection in Gina’s voice makes my jaw clench. “He said he wanted to be my doggy boy.”
“What does that even mean?” Heather’s tone is disgusted.
“I don’t know. He was always making references I didn’t get.”
“He sounds weird.”
“He didn’t seem weird to me,” Gigi sighs. “I thought he was kind of dorky, but in a cute way. He was just the last in a line of jerks… Or I don’t know, maybe I’m just bad at sex. I don’t seem to have what it takes to keep them coming back for more.”
I’m about to break through the hedge at that. Gigi isnotbad at sex, but my sister’s reply stops me.
