I peered at the pictures on the wall and glanced at the notepad that was sitting on the table. I stuck my head through the open door of the office, then clasped my hands behind my back as I stepped in, studying a whole new room’s worth of artifacts, from the grandfather clock to the weird toys on the desk.
Marlene appeared in the doorway, then jumped around by my feet. I followed her out as she led me through the dining room, then to a small, ornate door off to the side.
She barked softly, then pressed her paw against the door.
“Aw, sweetie,” I said, dropping to my knees to pet her quickly. “Something special in here?”
Marlene licked my face, and I laughed as I stood back up. I tapped my finger against my lip. She was giving me a good excuse to look in that special room…
With a shrug, I tugged the door open and found myself face to face with the most surprising thing.
The yard.
Marlene yipped, then ran out between my legs.
“Asher, what the hell.”
I guess that explained why she was barking at the door. That’s usually what dogs did when they needed to go outside, after all.
My heart skipped when Marlene made a beeline for the street. Cursing, I sprinted out after her, my bare feet flapping on the grass as I called her name.
“Marlene! Marlene!” She jumped in the air a couple of times, then ran behind a bush in the front of their yard. I started to slide on the grass as I chased after her, and when I stumbled to a stop behind the bush, she was paused only a couple of feet away.
“Marlene, what are you doing?” I whispered, my hands folded over my crotch. “You’re killing me here, girl. Get back inside!”
I pointed to the house, then saw that the door was shut.
If that’s locked, I’m going to fucking lose my shit.
Marlene yipped again, then ran in a circle. She looked ready to sprint off, and I dropped into a squat to pounce after her.
“One of us has to make the first move,” I whispered.
At least I was the most aerodynamic. Slutty underwear definitely won out over poufy balls of fur.
A car rumbled down the street, and Marlene turned to look at it, giving me my opportunity. I dove forward, taking her in my arms with a hug. Instead of snapping or running away, though, she just made a happy little barking noise and licked my face as I tumbled to the grass.
“Thank god,” I muttered. Losing their poodle was not the move.
I shook my head, then stood up, Marlene in my arms. I turned back to the door, and then realized there was a new car in the driveway.
The doors opened. First, a woman in a pantsuit stepped out, and then a teenage girl followed.
Ava.
I dropped back to the ground, hiding behind the bush.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I cursed. “Marlene, look at what you got us into!”
Marlene licked my face.
I peered behind the bush. Rory came outside first. I couldn’t hear what anyone said, but I watched as they all hugged and exchanged a few words. Rory kept glancing around, clearly confused about where I had gotten off to.
“Honey,” he hollered into the house, his voice loud enough that I could hear it. “Ava and Colleen are back early!”
“No shit,” I muttered, although I appreciated that he was probably trying to give me a warning.
They all went into the house, and I stood back up. When I squatted, I could use Marlene to cover myself some, although I realized that probably just made me look like a naked guy with a dog. Hurrying across the lawn while she licked at my arm, I darted beneath the dining room window just before I saw them step through the hallway, then arrived at the side door.
