Maxim took the barstool next to Jason.“I needed some rest.I hear you got the dog washed?Did that help with your head?Clement, something bloody for me and Raven, please.”
Jason pouted.“That’s not even funny.The groomer had to loan me earplugs.Oh, and he’s a fae groomer, so that was kind of cool.He said the dog has a good singing voice, and he said to tell you guys to give him a name.It’s not right to just call him ‘Dog,’ he says.Would be like calling me ‘Human.’”
Raven stood, making his way to the bar as well, the dog following at his heels.He took the seat on Maxim’s other side.“Doesn’t he have a name?From the shelter?”
“Hmm.”Maxim tapped the bar.“What an excellent question.Let’s find out.”He pulled out his phone, dialed, and put it on the bar.
“I’m busy.Didn’t I tell you I’m busy, old bat?”Heath said from the other end.
Maxim tutted.“Darling, you should join us at the bar, then, and get some food.I’m here with Raven and Jason.And with the dog, which is why I’m calling.”
“Jason is still here?Doesn’t he have a home to go back to?”
Maxim leaned closer to Jason.“Apologies.He doesn’t mean it.He also doesn’t realize he’s on speaker.”
“Motherfucking—sorry, Jason.”
Jason crunched down on a fry.“I do have a home, but your dad kind of ran off with my roomie, so here I am.Plus, I didn’t want to leave the dog alone.”
Clement clicked his tongue.“As if I couldn’t take care of a single dog.”
“He…didn’t run off with me,” Raven said, not even half as loud as he’d meant to.He wasn’t sure Jason even heard it, but Maxim turned to him and smiled, the expression still not reaching his eyes but feeling warmer all the same.
“Whatever.Look, I can’t control the old bat.Thanks for taking care of the dog.Okay, that it?Can I get back to work now, finally?”
“We’re trying to find out the dog’s name, darling,” Maxim said.“Did you reach out to the shelter?”
“Did I call every shelter in New Amsterdam and then abuse your name to get my way, you mean?Obviously I’m not answering that.”
“Aw, darling, I’m so proud of you for being creative.So what’s his name?”
“Didn’t have one.He was brought in after leading Animal Control on a wild chase for over two hours.They suggested Devil.They also suggested we might want to get something nice and obedient like a wolf dog instead.I think the person I was talking to had a personal grudge against him.”
Raven glanced at the dog.He didn’t react to “Devil” at all, instead curling up close to Raven’s feet.Then again, maybe he’s just ignoring the accusations against him.
Jason cocked his head.“How did you guys get that dog again?The fae groomer said—”
Clement squeezed more mayo onto Jason’s fries from a bottle that was near-empty and thus noisily farting out its contents.
“No one needs to hear any more about the fae groomer and how you made small talk with the fae groomer, human.Eat your food and attempt to be pleasant.”
Jason looked at his fries.“Uh, can I get some more chili flakes with all that mayo?”
“Mayo?”Heath said.“Sorry, was that it now?I really have to, you know.Go.”
“It was, darling.Sleep tight.”
Maxim ended the call and looked at Raven.“It’s official, then.The dog stole you.What should we call him?”
“Well.”Raven looked down.The dog looked like he was resting his eyes, but his ears were moving as if he were following this conversation closely.“The only word he really knows is ‘food.’”
The dog looked up at Raven, going for hard eye contact right away.
Clement brought over two tumblers, and Raven could smell what was in them.Blood.This is blood.It smells good.
“It’s selective deafness,” Clement said.“Normally, humans are prone to it, some more so than others.He only hears what he wants to hear.”
Maxim hummed.“Clement, that’s very insightful, but I don’t think that’s quite it.I think he only hears what he wants Raven to know he hears.”
