1
“This is nice,” Owen said as we walked with Mudbug to the dog park. It was unseasonably warm the first day of March and I’d decided to use the opportunity to talk to him alone.
“It is,” I agreed.
“But you want to talk about something that has you knotted up,” he muttered, sounding worried.
I sighed, hating I was already busted. “I’m not sure how to bring this up and—I’m not picking on or one of you over the other.”
“Okay, now you’re scaring me like you only want to be with Evan or—”
“No,” I said firmly, grabbing his arm and making him stop walking even. “Owen, no, please. I could have discussed this with either of you, but it just lined up that we could talk today alone.”
He nodded but seemed worried… Which was the last thing I wanted.
“I’m not good at meddling and I think I’m going to overstep. That’s what you’re getting off of me and a bit of confusion because I don’t get how you guys don’t know how the other feels,” I blurted like a goober.
Understanding filled his eyes. “Okay, I get it now. You sensed something off between us. Wow, okay—yeah, I—sorry.” He blew out a harsh breath. “The truth is we don’t know. We’renot around other elves enough to know that answer or if it’s about our birth. We should know and we’ve missed huge things about each other before.”
I knew that and wasn’t going to poke at it, but it was hard not to wonder or be confused when they were so damn good at figuring things out about everyone else. Then again, nothing was easy. My powers weren’t always consistent, and sensing “desires” was way more complicated than people realized.
Again, like so much in life.
He leaned down and snuck a quick kiss to my cheek. “Please meddle. Don’t keep things inside and stress yourself out. If you—please do. I want us to have that type of relationship where we can’t stand by and watch the other struggle. I know Evan feels the same.”
That was what I needed to hear. I couldn’t even hide my relief and let out an awkward laugh as we reached the dog park. Evan opened the gate for us and I went to let Mudbug off the leash but picked him up instead when a deep growl hit my ears.
“Cato,” someone called off in the distance.
I handed Mudbug over to Evan and turned to square off with the threat… Only to find the most pompous looking dog I’d ever laid eyes on. It looked like it had stepped right out of an old-school cartoon.
Like it had pom-poms on its damn feet.
On. Purpose.
I really thought that was only for jokes or like mocking dog shows, but I was staring at a poodle who had one of those ridiculous cuts. It was mostly shaved besides a poofy chest, tail, hair, ears—and the damn feet.
“Are we in the 80s and a workout video?” I whispered as I stared at the shit still growling at me. I glanced at Owen when he snorted thinking to check this wasn’t just me, but then the dog made its move.
Except it wasn’t to attack.
No, it was to hump me.
My leg more specifically.
“Cato, no!” that same man yelled as a human walked towards us.
“At least the dog has good taste,” Owen drawled.
“Not helping,” I grumbled before focusing on the man not making enough haste. “Can you handle this mongrel?”
He seemed to trip over his feet. “Mongrel?Mongrel?”
“Yes, mongrel,” I snapped as I tried to push the dog off of me. “I can’t think of a better word for an ill-behaved dog that—could you call him off of me?”
“Cato is a purebred whose lineage dates backcenturiesand—”
“Are you for real?” I blasted, shoving his dog a bit rougher than I needed to. “You’re arguing that with me and not moving your ass while your dog isassaultingme. Fucking move and—”
