“She’ll be good as new soon. I have a good feeling.” She stood to leave. “I should get home.”
He stared at her with an unreadable expression. “Stay, please.”
“I…” At a loss for words, she stumbled over what to say. She was emotionally invested in Truffle’s welfare now, but time with Trey? When he was vulnerable, and they weren’t at odds? She wasn’t sure she could handle that.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” His eyes blinked, his own exhaustion showing. “You’ve been working all day and must be tired. Be safe going home.”
Compassion won over, or perhaps a memory of a brief time between them years ago. “If you don’t mind me staying, I would like to know what the doctor has to say.”
A tired smile reached his lips. “I don’t mind you staying.”
She sat down again. “Why the name Truffles?”
“That’s what the shelter had her named, and she’d already learned to answer to it.” He lowered himself to the bench beside her. “I didn’t see the point in changing it.”
“It’s cute.”
His throat constricted. “Did you see what happened to her?”
“No, it had already happened when I saw her.”
He rubbed his jaw. “I’m so mad at my contractor. Accidents happen, I know, but I specifically told him to make sure the gate was closed.”
“Getting mad won’t solve anything.” Funny how she couldn’t take her own advice. “A neighbor could have stopped by, a neighborhood kid, who knows.”
“I don’t have many neighbors, and I’ve never seen any of the children trespassing.” He sighed. “But you’re right. I’ll talk to him and ask him if he remembers leaving it open. I’ll try to be reasonable.”
She arched a brow. “Try?”
“I can’t make promises. Especially if Truffles doesn’t make it.”
“Don’t think like that. The doctor’s initial prognosis is positive.”
He clasped his hands in front of him. “You don’t understand.”
“Understand what?” She twisted on the bench so that she faced him.
“It’s hard to explain. You’ll think I’m pathetic if I tell you.”
“Try me.”
Absently, he ran a thumb against his other thumb. “Relationships don’t come easy for me. Personal, familial, romantic—all of them.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she thought of what he’d said. “You’ve always been Mr. Popular.”
“Being popular doesn’t mean having lots of friends. It means you always have people around you, even if you don’t want.” He frowned, and the corners of his eyes creased. “I know you think I’ve had everything in life handed to me, but here’s the deal. They come with strings, and that means never knowing who’s in your life for the right reasons.”
“I never thought of it that way,” she admitted.
“That’s why Truffles is so special to me. Dogs love you for who you are, not what they can gain from you. Stupid isn’t it?” He stared at the ground, refusing to make eye contact with her, as though the confession embarrassed him.
“It’s not stupid at all.” Reaching across the bench, she touched his arm lightly. “It’s important to know those around you value you as a person, not a means to achievement.”
Slowly, he raised his head to meet her gaze. “Exactly. I’ve had a good life, so I shouldn’t complain. Anyway, Truffles is my baby. Occasionally, she even comes with me on business trips.”
“Really?” She couldn’t stop smiling at that piece of information. It took her by surprise. “You’re father’s okay with that?”
“It’s good publicity for him, so he goes along with it.” His tensed facial muscles belied his smooth response.
