"You feed him too!"
Allie smiled at their banter.
"Speaking of dogs, since you have nowhere to stay right now, do you think you could stay here and dog sit for the next few weeks?" Kate asked. "Grant and I are heading on a work trip. We’ll be in and out but mostly out."
"Of course," Allie said, surprised that they even asked.
"We were going to have Carter do it, and I suppose you guys can tag team, but it sounds like you're the more responsible one, to be honest."
"I’m responsible," Carter called out as he staggered into the kitchen.
"You aren't even dressed," Grant said. "Did you even shower?"
"I'll shower after breakfast," Carter said, stuffing his eggs into his mouth.
Allie took Gus and Margot for a quick walk, then she joined the three Holbrooks in a car and headed to the office.
"The lawyers are going to be dealing with the hotel. They’ll be in contact with you," Kate said. "I'm copying you on this email."
"Why?" Allie asked. "I thought it was all taken care of."
"They’re working out a settlement."
"A settlement!" Allie exclaimed as the car stopped.
The driver opened the door for them.
"Of course," Grant said, "and it will be very generous. You’ll keep the money minus the lawyer fees. Carter doesn’t really need it."
"Oh." Allie felt shocked. She wondered how much money it would be.
* * *
The days grewwarmer as the weeks went by. Allie still felt slightly on edge in the penthouse, alone with Carter. She would lie next to him at night and try not to silently freak out.
It did help that they had the dogs as a point of interest.
One late night, after Allie returned from her shift at the bar, Carter warmed up food for her. Gus immediately cried and whined for a snack.
"You are so spoiled," she told the fluffy corgi.
"Just give him something so he stops making that noise," Carter said.
"No," she said and picked up the dog and shut him in the bathroom.
Carter sucked air in through his teeth. "Grant's going to be upset."
"That dog needs some manners and training," Allie replied and sat back down to eat. "When he’s quiet, he can come out."
"I’m just so ashamed," she said to Liz over drinks as they planned the finishing touches on Brandy's engagement party that weekend. "It's such a trashy thing to do, sleep with a coworker. If anyone finds out, I'm finished."
"It's fine. It happens. Carter seems like he's pretty serious about you."
Allie grimaced. "I don't think he can be serious about anything."
"But you two are living together."
"Yes, in his family's penthouse."
