“Sure,” I snorted.
Both men chuckled at my sarcasm asthey headed out after setting the alarm. The house was suddenly quiet after theroar of Cole’s truck had disappeared.
“Well, just you and me, huh?” I askedChief, feeling suddenly idiotic for talking to a dog. I’d never had one before.I’d always wanted one, but I could never quite convince my dad that it was agood idea. Chief cocked his head at me as though he wanted to answer myquestion. I laughed out loud. I had to admit he was pretty cute.
“I guess the test to see if you’re agood family dog is going to come a little sooner than I’d intended,” Icontinued to babble to him. “That is, if Cole doesn’t go running for thehills,” I continued. Chief just watched me with warm brown eyes. “No advice,huh?” I asked him. “Didn’t think so,” I sighed.
After a few hours of having a new andvery large shadow, I had to admit that Chief had grown on me. He had such anexpressive face and such human looking big brown eyes. He followed meeverywhere in the house, even lying in the bathroom while I showered.
“Shit, that’s a big dog!” Katexclaimed comically taking a step back in surprise. She’d come over for girltalk that was being disguised asmani-pedis. The guyswere still taking care of “shit,” and Kat and I had learned how to use thattime wisely.
“I know, he’s sweet though,” I assuredher, patting Chief’s head affectionately.
“Is ‘kill’ one of his known commands?”she asked dryly as we settled onto the couch.
“Maybe.” I laughed. Truth be told, Ihad no idea what he was actually trained to do.
“Still haven’t told him yet, huh?” sheasked quietly.
“Nope,” I replied, my lips popping onthe “p” for emphasis.
“Why not?”
I sighed. “Because I’m terrified thathe’ll think I did it on purpose. I’m scared he’ll take off because of it. Or worseyet, that he’ll think he has to stay because of it.” I grimaced.
“Honey, yougottatell him,” she said softly.
“I know, I will. So, how’s theroommate search going?” I asked not only because I wanted to know but alsobecause I wanted to change the subject.
She shrugged. “Okay, I guess. HonestlyI haven’t been trying very hard to find someone,” she admitted.
“How are you going to pay the rent?” Iasked clearly confused.
She blushed a little and my eyesnarrowed. I knew a guilty face when I saw one. “Spill,” I demanded simply.
“I promised I wouldn’t,” she saidmeekly.
“Spill,” I demanded again.
She sighed in resignation. “Fine, butyou can’t get mad. It was super nice of him.”
“Nice of who?” I asked suspiciously.
“Well, Cole sort of um, paid your halfof the rent for three months,” she confided.
“He what?” I exclaimed.
She shrugged. “He didn’t want me tohave to worry about it. And I think he knew that if I was worried that you’d beless likely to shack up with him.”
“Sneaky bastard,” I mumbled. “It waskind of him to do that,” I admitted. “But I’m still far from comfortable withthe extent that he wants to take care of me financially, and I’m starting tohave an issue with how many decisions he makes without my input,” I sighedexasperated. “He just kind of railroads me into things. Granted, he ends upbeing right most of the time, but that’s not the point,” I ranted.
“You should talk to him about it. Ithink you’re also probably feeling particularly vulnerable at the moment withwhat’s going on, too,” she said. She was probably right about that.
“What’s the latest with our friendSal?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Same ole same ole,” she said sadly.“I’m in love with someone who is so closed off it’s a wonder I’m able to getanything out of him,” she told me, looking out the window forlornly. “I don’tknow Scar, something is going to have to give. I know everyone says he’s neverbeen like this before with anyone blah, blah. But it’s still not enough. Idon’t think I’m asking for too much, but it may be too much for him.”
I reached out to squeeze her hand.“What exactly is it that you feel like you’re not getting?”
