Scott liked the sound of that.
As soon as he stepped through the low gate at the front of his yard, the dogs started barking. It was a symphony ranging from high-pitched yapping to deep, booming barks, only slightly muffled by the front door.
They were usually pretty good dogs, but they got excited when Scott came home.
He kind of liked that, so he’d never really tried to discourage them.
“They sound excited to see you,” Charlie said, following Scott up to the front door.
“They think I have food. Plus, they know I cangetfood, since I’ve got thumbs and they don’t.”
“I think they love you,” Charlie responded.
A flood of dogs spilled out of the front door as soon as Scott got it open, milling around Charlie’s feet. The only one who stayed back was Chewie, sitting in the middle of the hall and crying softly, too afraid to run to the door.
Scott ducked past the other dogs, trusting Charlie to bring them inside and close the door, and scooped Chewie up, cuddling him close to his chest.
When he turned around, Charlie had closed the door and sat down on the hallway floor, letting the three other dogs climb on top of him and lick his face. Fluffy, a huge husky, had climbed into his lap and knocked his glasses askew, but Charlie was laughing his head off, trying to pet all three dogs at once.
Scott paused to watch him for a few seconds before whistling to catch the dogs’ attention. “Hey. Don’t eat him. Charlie is friend, not food.”
Charlie chuckled as he picked himself back up, straightening his glasses and pushing his hair back. His cheeks were red from laughter and his nose was red from the cold.
Scott looked away when he realized he was staring.
“So, uh, the big guy there is Fluffy. He’s normally a huge coward about new people, but I guess he likes you.” Scott nodded to the husky still hanging around Charlie’s legs, headbutting his knees for more pats. “The little terrier is called Tripod, on account of… well, y’know.”
Tripod was missing a leg, but she still managed to catch all manner of small animals in the yard. It was kind of gross, but that was what terriers were supposed to do, so Scott didn’t want to stop her. It wasn’t as though she was going after anything endangered, so he’d just chalked it up to the circle of life.
Besides, she’d taken Chewie on as her own puppy, so she wasn’t all bad.
“I get it. What about this one?”
“She’s called Biscuit,” Scott nodded to the elderly beagle Charlie was bending down to pet. “She’s pretty much totally blind, but she gets around okay. I think I’ve got her until she dies, but I’d like her to go to someone older who could give her tons of attention. She’d love to be a spoiled lapdog.”
“Maybe I could talk mom into taking her on. Not that mom is old. Not really. But she’d love another baby to spoil, I think.”
“I’d love to see her go to a good home,” Scott said. Especially one where he could maybe go and visit her, if he and Charlie were friends now.
“I can’t imagine doing this. I thought once that I wanted to foster children, but I couldn’t watch them go all the time. I get attached quickly.”
“So you wanna adopt instead?” Scott asked. Charlie seemed like he’d be a good dad.
Charlie shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know what I want, I guess. I should work on that first.”
“You and me both,” Scott said. He’d figured out what he wanted out of his career, but when it came to anything else? He’d never stopped to think about it. Never really had the chance.
Hell, he’d never even had a long-term relationship. Charlie was beating the crap out of him at knowing what he wanted, as far as Scott was concerned. At least he alreadyhadhis career.
Twenty-five wasn’t too old to still be figuring himself out, but he wished he was done with that.
“Can I get you coffee, or something?”
“I’m okay,” Charlie said. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble on my part.”
“It’s no trouble. Honestly.” Scott rubbed the back of his neck. He’d dragged Charlie all the way here, he felt like he needed to be a good host to him now.
“Coffee would be great, then. I’m not entirely sober.”
