“Yeah, if you’re tired, I can take Dottie in.” At the sound of her name, Dottie places her front paws on the console and goes in for another lick to the face. God, this dog could not be more opposite than her mother if she tried. I pet her head with a soft chuckle. “I don’t think she would mind either.”
“Yeah, fucking traitor,” Jensen grumbles barely above a whisper. “I’ll come. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize—it’s not a big deal.” This weird funk hangs over me and I have to flex my hand again at the mere mental image of her asleep. “Come on, let’s head up.”
Jensen nods, and what I’m grateful for now is the silence Jensen gives me. Whatever that was on the drive over here is not what we are. Friends with benefits is the most we could be, and the thing is, I think Jensen would agree with me.
I knock on Dex’s door and it takes about three seconds before we hear a squeal, then Miles is swinging the door open. “Beck is here with the doggie!”
“Miles, this is Jensen, you know her, she’s not a dog,” I joke, but it gets flipped around on me when Jensen backhands me in the stomach. “I was kidding,” I croak.
“Oh dear.” Lucie’s voice comes from behind Miles. “What happened?”
Miles places his little hand over his mouth to hide his snicker. “Jensen hit Beck because he was being a meanie.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right.” Lucie pulls the door open all the way. “Come on in.”
“Yeah, I wanna play with Dottie!” Miles cheers and reaches for her leash.
Lucie points to me. “You handle that. Dex is in the living room.” Lucie then turns to Jensen, but she stops her.
“Oh, we’re definitely about to go talk about your and Callie’s lack of communication.”
Lucie looks between us with a bright smile. “I actually have no qualms about how this worked out.”
“I do,” Jensen mutters.
I kind of do now.
I give Lucie a nod. “Good luck with that.”
Her smile doesn’t falter. “Oh, good luck with Dex.”
Yeah, fair.
Making my way to the living room where Miles’s laughter is absolutely heartwarming, I find Dex…who’s joy is the polar opposite.
“I can’t believe you brought the dog back to my house. You know I’ll be the bad guy for a week at least now, right?”
“Well, that’s because you’re a pushover. Miles asked for a sibling and you said no, but look at you now.”
Dex fights off a smile the best he can. “Fuck off. How are your folks doing?”
I fall onto the couch next to him. “Well, I’m home a week early…and not by my own free will, unfortunately.”
“Beck?” Dex says my name with caution toward Miles, and I know what he’s really asking.
The biggest lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it down. “My mom’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it, just be happy I’m here and brought a puppy over to play with your son.”
The look on Dex’s face is not at all amused, but given the response I just gave, he doesn’t push…on that topic, at least. “Alright, how’s the roommate situation working out?”
“It’s…something.”
Dex sits up a little straighter. “Listen, I’m giving you today, all things considered, but if you think I’m not about to bring this up every opportunity I get, then you have another thing coming.”
I should have known this was coming. “That was a completely different?—”
“No, don’t you fucking say different.”
