Whenhe was growing up, his uncle had owned a huge German Shepherd which, inhindsight, had been a very friendly dog. It had just been too big and too heavyfor his four-year-old self, and he’d never gotten over the automatic fear ofbeing close to a dog bigger than a terrier. He always expected them to knockhim to the ground, deep in the back of his mind.
“That’sChewie,” Charlie said, apparently noticing that Ash was staring at him. “Healready loves you, trust me.”
Ashappreciated the sentiment, but it wasn’t as comforting as Charlie clearlyintended it to be.
AllAsh could do was nod, words failing him.
“Uh,Ash gets a little nervous around big dogs,” Declan said, his voice calm andeven.
Ashbreathed a sigh of relief. He wasmuchhappier with Declan explaining forhim, since he wasn’t sure he could have spoken up for himself.
“Oh.”Charlie’s eyes widened. “He can totally go outside,” he said, curling hisfingers around the back of Chewie’s collar to hold him still.
Notthat he needed to. Chewie was just staring up at Ash, panting and wagging histail.
Maybenow was a good time to confront that particular fear? Chewie seemed like theworld’s safest big dog, and Ash trusted Charlie. And by extension, Scott,despite not having met him yet.
“No,”Ash said, his voice shakier than he would have liked. He cleared his throat totry again. “No, it’s fine. I mean, Declan’s right, I am nervous, but… he seems…fine?”
“He’sa good starter dog,” Charlie said. “He doesn’t jump. The worst he’ll do is puthis head in your lap in the hopes that you have food.”
Ashhesitated, but he knew he was safe. Between Declan and Charlie, he knew that hecould opt out of this at any moment.
“CanI, uh… pet him?”
Charlienodded, smiling encouragingly. “Maybe offer him your hand to sniff, first? Fairwarning, his nose is wet.”
Ashtook a deep breath, reaching out to offer Chewie the back of his hand. Asexpected, Chewie pressed his cold, wet nose to Ash’s skin, sniffingenthusiastically, but barely putting enough force on his hand to nudge it.
Hewasa good starter dog.
MaybeAsh could become a dog person. Or at least, someone who could be near dogs thatcame past his mid-calf without tensing up.
“Hisnoseiswet,” Ash confirmed. “But I guess he’s okay. I can handle onewell-behaved dog.”
“Ifhe gets too much for you at any point, just let me know, okay?” Charlie said.“Letting him out for a few hours won’t upset him at all, so your comfort is theonly thing we’re worried about here.”
Ashhadn’t realized he could feelthisrelieved and safe around anotherperson, aside from Declan. He intended to hang onto Charlie’s friendship withboth hands. He wasclearlya good man.
“Okay.Thank you.”
Charliegrinned at him, nudging Chewie back into the house to give Ash and Declan spaceto get inside. “Now come in before you freeze to death. Did you guys walk?”
“It’sa nice walk,” Declan said, even as he unwound his borrowed scarf from his neck.“You guys don’t live all that far away, seemed like a waste to start the car.”
Ashhanded over the bottle of wine he was still holding, feeling safe enough now tolet go of it.
“Thankyou,” Charlie said. “I hope you’re helping me drink this, because I doubt Scottwill.”
“Nota wine drinker?” Ash asked.
“No.I wasn’t until a while back, either, so I get it. I’m developing anappreciation, though. Anyway, hang up your coats and come through, dinner’s gotto be just about ready by now.”
Ashbeamed, shrugging his coat off and finding a hook for it next to Declan’s.
Hepaused for a moment to take that in, their two coats hung up beside each other.Like a real couple, really visiting their friends.
Itwas surreal, but he liked the way it felt.
