Also, I have two jobs. I don’t have any time to make him like me. Mickey deserves so much. All the attention. All the love. I won’t be able to give that. What was Meena thinking? The poor pup is now stuck with me. Miranda could have found him a better home. Instead, he has a werewolf with no routine who juggles stalking while catching serial killers and murderers.
“Maybe you’re right. I shouldn’t have gotten Mickey. I don’t even know what he eats,” I blabber.
Elliot turns to look at me with a confused frown. That one is slightly less defined than his suspicious frown.
“Do you recommend home-cooked meals or store-bought? Also, how much exercise does he need? Will he hate me if I’m not with him at home? He would feel lonely, wouldn’t he?” I start pacing the little room.
Elliot folds his hands on his chest. The frown disappears.
“It can’t be easy to take care of an entire dog. Fuck, my house isn’t even childproof. Do you need to make a house childproof for grown dogs?”
Elliot leans back against the wall, and Mickey's head follows my movement.
“My house has so many breakable things. What if he slips and hurts himself? Oh, god, I don’t even remember what paint I used. What if he licks the wall and gets sick? I haveso many knives.” I finish.
Elliot is biting his lower lip. Is he laughing at me? Because I’ll be a bad dog dad?
“Are you done?” he asks, no longer trying to hide his laugh. So much for the patient treatment.
“No, Elliot.I have a dog and knives.So many knives.”
He huffs. “Why do you have so many knives at your house?”
“Because I like to cook.” That’s an exaggeration. Seriously,whydo I have so many? “That’snotthe point.” What were we talking about? Oh, yeah, I’m responsible for a life now, and I’ll suck at it.
“Sit,” Elliot says, and I sit my ass down. Mickey does too.
Oh.
Elliot smirks at me. It’s still a nice smile. Will it be sleazy to tell him to smile more? Okay, yeah, I heard it.
He turns back to Mickey, resuming his work. Mickey lolls his tongue out and pants, happy to have the attention back on him. “You’ll be fine. Dogs just need food, attention, and exercise. He won’t be able to reach the knives. Just don’t leave them lying around on the floor. Ashley will give you booklets with all the information you’ll need,” he says, calmly.
It soothes me a bit, but I still wonder if I made a mistake. Camilla and Bree could have adopted him instead. I could still hand him over to them.
I look at Mickey trying to lick Elliot’s hand as he tries to work. “Yeah, booklets will be great,” I murmur.
No, I can do this. Besides, Mickey’s going to help me catch my nemesis. We’re going to make the best team,damnit.
Chapter Four
Revelations and Relentless Pursuit
Nick
The café is crowded with the lunch rush, but Matt heads straight for my table without even looking around. Just werewolf things. “So what did you want to talk about?” he says as he sits down on the chair opposite mine. Then looks down. ”Oh my god, whose dog is that?”
Mickey takes the attention, like the showman he is, and springs up, demanding pats from Matt.
“Whose dog are you? Are you lost?” Matt coos, scratching behind Mickey’s ears.
“Ugh, what was that voice?” I blanch.
Matt turns to me. “Did you bring this dog?” He frowns in confusion.
“Oh, yeah, I have a dog now, Matt. Keep up,” I wave him off.
His eyebrows shoot up. “What do you mean you have a dog? How are you going to take care of it? When are you ever home?”
