“Charlietells me you’re a vet,” Ash said to Scott, taking the opportunity to get someof the focus off Declan. He knew Charlie didn’t mean any harm, but Declan neededthe break.
“Didhe offer you a dog yet?” Scott asked, smiling wryly. “Because it’s kind of atradition.”
“I’mnot much of a dog person, and we’ve only got a little paved courtyard. I thinkit’d be nice for the store to have a cat someday, though,” Ash responded.
“Plentyof cats need homes,” Scott said. “Most people are good about getting themneutered, because there’s so much wildlife around here, but we still get straysand unexpected kittens. Anytime you wanna talk about adoption, I’m happy tobring them to you. You guys are on my way home, anyway. You’re living at thestore, right?”
“Right,”Ash said. “We’ll think about it.”
Scottsmiled at that. “No pressure, okay? It’s just an offer. Pets are a lifetimecommitment.”
Ashknew that, but he could tell from the way Scott said it that he was a genuinesweetheart who really cared about animals. Charlie was lucky.
Butthen, Scott was lucky to have Charlie, too. At a glance, they couldn’t havebeen more different, but they fit together.
Seeingthem together made Ash’s heart hurt with how badly he wanted that for himself.
Heknew he needed to give up on Declan if he was ever going to find someone else,but that was hard. Declan had been the most important person in his life fornearly a decade.
He’dmove on eventually. It just wasn’t going to be today.
ChapterThirteen
“Thanksfor speaking up for me about Chewie,” Ash said as he fell into step besideDeclan on the sidewalk. “I don’t think I could’ve brought myself to sayanything.”
“Well,that’s what husbands are for, right?” Declan asked.
“Iguess.” Ash tucked his hands deep into the pockets of his coat. “Still, I’mgrateful. It’s nice to be taken care of.”
“You’vetaken care of me plenty,” Declan said. “I figure it’s about time I returned the favor.Proud of you for petting him, by the way. Chewie, I mean.”
“Thanks,”Ash said, his jaw tight. A shiver ran through him as Declan watched.
Thetemperature had dropped a few degrees since they’d come out, and Ash’s coat wasn’tthe warmest. He looked like he was suffering from the cold.
Declanpaused, shrugging his coat off.
Ashraised an eyebrow at him from two steps ahead.
“Youcan’t be too hot,” he said.
Hewasn’t wrong. Without his coat, even with a sweater and a long-sleeved t-shirtunder it, Declan was already feeling the chill.
Buthe’d be fine. He ran a lot hotter than Ash did, and dealt with the cold better.Ash needed the coat more than he did.
“You’recold,” Declan said, holding the jacket out. “Put this on.”
“Whatis this, chivalry?” Ash asked.
“Putthe goddamn coat on.” Declan waved it at him. “Before webothdie ofexposure.”
Ashhuffed, but let Declan help him into the coat, putting it on over the one he wasalready wearing.
Onceit was on and buttoned up, Ash sighed happily. He was clearly more comfortablealready.
Thewalk home wasn’t long, but Declan didn’t want Ash to have to suffer.
“Ican’t be chivalrous?” Declan asked as they started walking again.
