He climbed out of his SUV and grinned when the cottage door opened.Rosa came out and Peanut and Butter followed.When she told them to wait, they sat on either side of her, ears straining toward Ollie, tails waving, sweeping back and forth behind them.
"Are you good?"she asked.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Go get him, then," she told them with a laugh.
The dogs came bounding to him, and he squatted down to greet them, hugging them and loving the feel of them licking his face.His heart sat like a heavy ball in his chest as he remembered the way they'd sniffed Callie's face, and she'd sniffed them right back.
He'd had such high hopes for what might happen between them.There were many times in the past when he'd joked with the guys that he'd never settle down because he'd never find a woman who the dogs approved of.They approved of Callie, but he might just have blown it anyway.
When he straightened up, Rosa gave him a puzzled look."Are you okay?You look down."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
She gave him a stern look.Of course he'd told her what had happened with Callie on Sunday.
"Give her some time.You messed up, but you're not all bad."
He let out a short laugh."Thanks."
She winked."You know I'm only joking with you.You're one of the best boys in the world, and you're my boy, and I love you.But you messed up, Ollie.I just hope it won't cost you something special."
"Yeah, me too."
Her expression gentled as she took pity on him."Do you want to stay for dinner?Luigi just got home."
"No, that's okay, thanks.I'm headed over to Charles's place.He invited me to dinner with Reaves this evening."
She smiled at that."Give him my best when you see him, will you?If anyone can straighten you out, Charles can."
"Okay, will do."
"Will I see you tomorrow?"
He rolled his eyes at her."If you mean, will I be staying home, hanging out and feeling sorry for myself, then yeah, probably."
She chuckled."That's exactly what I meant.I'll bring you a breakfast bake."
"Thanks, Rosa."He leaned in to hug her."I don't deserve you."
"Yes, you do.Don't go feeling sorry for yourself.This is just a bump in the road, not the end of it, okay?"
"Thanks, Rosa.I hope so.I'll see you tomorrow.Come on, guys."
He opened the back of the Cullinan, and the dogs jumped in."Do you want to go see Charles?"
Butter barked, and Peanut whined.They both wagged their tails eagerly.
~ ~ ~
Callie looked down at her phone when it beeped, realizing once more that she was still hoping it was Ollie.If she kept feeling that way, she should probably just get in touch with the guy, get over herself, and see how they could work things out.She wasn't trying to make him suffer; she just knew herself.She tended to get good and mad at first, but given a day or two to think about things, she usually calmed down and became more reasonable.It was just that in this case, she wanted to give herself a little more time to make sure that she wasn't allowing herself to be fooled by someone who didn't think she was worth telling the truth to.
Of course, it wasn't Ollie texting.It was her mom.She loved talking to her folks, but she tried to keep their phone calls to once a week, claiming that she was busy with work most of the time.
Mom:How are things going?I had to go into the bank today.That Sidney who took over your job isn't all that good, you know.I bet if you wanted to come home, they'd fit you right back in as assistant manager.Any chance you want to come home???:)
Callie had to smile at the three question marks and smiley face at the end of the text.
