CHAPTER 24
“I was just surprised,” Myra said.
“I told you I wanted to get a dog,” Elisa replied.
They were standing at the back door, looking at Gwen in the backyard, who was playing with Buster by tossing him a stick. He ran after it, bounded around, didn’t give it back to her, and then dropped it about five feet away from her.
“I just didn’t know you’d be getting one today .”
“The kids went to their dad’s for some lunch thing with their grandparents.
It was all very last-minute and, I’m convinced, sponsored by their father somehow.
Anyway, they’re staying the night, and I thought about how it’s going to be just me soon.
I called Gwen, and we went to a shelter she’s familiar with.
I saw this little guy in the corner, and he was just sitting there, staring off into space.
He didn’t bark, and all the other dogs barked when we walked in.
They said they got him about six months ago and don’t know much about his life, but they don’t think he was abused or anything.
He might not have ever had a home. He was so sweet when we went to meet him.
He sniffed and licked my hand, and I was a goner. ”
Myra wrapped her arms around Elisa from behind, and Elisa rested back against her.
“We bought all the things they had for him and gave him a bath when we got back. That was an exercise in futility, but he dried off pretty fast, probably because he never seems to stop running.”
Myra chuckled and said, “He seems really happy.”
She kissed Elisa’s neck.
“Mmm. That’s really nice,” Elisa let out and closed her eyes, giving in to the touch.
“I need to get to work, babe,” Myra told her after she kissed her in the same spot again. “I want you to have a finished house soon. ”
“But you can just stand here and hold me for a little longer, right? Gwen is going to make drinks. We’re having a girls’ night tonight.”
“I told her I’d have a beer, but I do think I should get some work done first.”
“Can I watch you work?” she asked. “And maybe eat popcorn?”
“That means Gwen would probably be watching me work, too, which seems weird.”
Elisa laughed a little and said, “Fine. You work for an hour while Gwen and I fawn over Buster, and then, we’ll get you a beer.”
“Okay,” Myra replied and kissed her once more. “He is cute.”
“I know. I saw him, and I just knew. I can’t describe it. It was like he knew me and what I needed, and I knew what he needed.”
“To run, play with a stick, and probably get a lot of attention?”
“Yes, exactly.”
When Myra pulled back, Elisa turned and watched her walk over to the section of the kitchen and get to work.
She didn’t get to stare long because Gwen was back inside with Buster, who finally appeared to be at least somewhat tired.
His tongue was hanging out of his mouth as he panted, and he rushed over to his water bowl and lapped up most of the water she’d just poured him.
“I think I ran it all out of him,” Gwen said, watching him.
“I think so.”
“He’ll probably just go nap on that bed you got him.”
“Well, good. That’s why I got it.” Elisa looked back at Myra, who glanced at her and smiled. “She’s going to work for an hour and then join us. She’s a professional.”
“I thought she was the girlfriend tonight,” Gwen said.
Elisa’s eyes widened, and Myra looked over her.
“Gwen! ”
“What?” Gwen asked. “I didn’t mean official girlfriend. ‘The woman you’re dating’ is a mouthful.”
Elisa pointed at her and said, “Make the drinks.”
“Fine,” Gwen replied.
Elisa walked over to the refrigerator to get the limes and checked on Myra, who appeared to be focused on the task at hand and didn’t seem to mind Gwen’s use of the term.
Elisa hadn’t ever had a girlfriend, though, and that term had never been used before to refer to someone she was dating because she hadn’t dated since Archie.
She wondered about the word as she cut the limes up for Gwen.
Myra might be her girlfriend one day. She hoped it would be one day soon because she really liked her.
It wasn’t like she wanted to date anyone else, and Myra didn’t seem to want that, either.
Maybe they could just fall into exclusivity, and she would be introduced as the girlfriend when she met Myra’s friends.
Elisa smiled as she handed Gwen the limes and looked back at Myra again, wishing Myra hadn’t come here to work.
She just wanted this house done already so that Myra didn’t have to keep working on it and they could spend some normal time together.
“She’s hot,” Gwen whispered to her once they were in the living room. “I know I’ve said that before, but now, I’ve watched her work, and she’s hot, Elisa.”
“Hey, that’s my not-yet girlfriend ,” Elisa said softly as she sat on the sofa next to Gwen.
Their margaritas in hand, they both laughed and turned toward one another.
“She’s got some muscles under that shirt, doesn’t she?” Gwen asked.
“Yes. I felt them earlier, and they’re perfect.
They just wrapped around me while you were outside with Buster and, God, Gwen, it’s so good.
” Elisa took a sip of her margarita and watched as the aforementioned dog moved to flop down on the plush bed with a huff that sounded like he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Do you think he’s happy?”
“What? Of course, he is. It’s obvious. ”
“Yeah?”
“I spend a lot of time with dogs. This guy is very happy you found him at the shelter today. Just look at him.” Gwen pointed at Buster, who was already asleep. “He looks totally at home here. It’s as if he was meant for you or something.”
Elisa smiled and said, “Maybe he was.”
An hour later, she found Myra still working, and when the woman paused long enough for Elisa to kiss her, Elisa managed to convince her to stop for the night and join them in the living room for a drink.
“Babe, I still have a lot to do. You do want things fixed around here, right?” Myra asked as she sat down next to her.
“Yes, but we’re dating, so I’d like to see you in that context, too,” Elisa said.
“At what point do your services become free since you two are dating? Elisa is paying for this, but if something else is wrong later, is that a free thing because you’re together?” Gwen asked.
“Gwen!” Elisa glared at her.
“Just asking. When she started working, you didn’t know each other. Now, you’re calling one another ‘babe’ and acting like you’ve been together for years.”
“We are not,” Elisa told her, laughing because she didn’t want to scare Myra.
“When Myra sat, she instantly put her arm around you and turned a little. You leaned into her, and your hand went on her knee. That’s a couple move,” Gwen noted. “And you’ve been on two dates as far as I know.”
“Gwendolyn, enough,” Elisa said.
“I got the full name treatment. I’m in trouble.”
“You’re in trouble when you get the middle name. The Gwendolyn was a warning.”
Myra laughed and took a sip of her beer.
“So, Gwen, what is it you do?”
“Oh, I’m a dog walker and a pet sitter. Although, I’ll walk other animals if asked, too. So far, I’ve walked an iguana, a duck, and a couple of ferrets. ”
“You’ve walked a duck?” Myra asked.
“The duck is what you took from that?” Gwen laughed.
“I’ve never walked a duck.”
“So, you’ve walked an iguana?” Gwen teased.
“No. I think I’ve only ever walked a dog.” Myra turned to look at Buster, who was still asleep. “He’s out like a light.”
“I ran it out of him for now, but he’ll be up and back at it soon. You really got an energetic one,” Gwen said.
“He was so sweet,” Elisa explained. “And didn’t seem high-energy when we got him. They didn’t even say anything about that.”
“He probably didn’t show much of that at the shelter,” Gwen offered.
“I’m just glad that the small yard is fenced-in. He can run out there all day.”
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Myra began, placing her beer on the table. “When I got here, Gwen told me you were on the phone with a company about your application.”
“Yeah, they want to interview me,” she said, burrowing back into Myra when she sat back.
Elisa met Gwen’s eyes as she did, and Gwen smiled at her, likely seeing how content Elisa felt right now.
She loved Myra’s strong body being attached to her in as many places as possible.
She loved having Myra next to her, touching her in any way she could get it.
Myra made her feel safe, but she also made her feel wanted, and she had never truly felt either of those things with Archie.
“That’s great,” Myra replied. “What’s the job? Are you excited about it?”
“Sort of. It’s just a temporary thing, a short-term contract.
They have someone out on an extended leave, so I’d be covering for them for a few months.
It’s a full-time job and is mostly filing and organizing.
Tedious and boring, I’m sure, but I don’t mind that.
It’s money and something to do.” She looked over at Buster.
“I’m worried about him, though. If I get it, he would be alone all day for a few months.
I probably should’ve thought about that, but I hadn’t heard back from anyone so far other than the receptionist job that went nowhere, so I figured it would be a while. ”
“Hi. My name is Gwen. I’m a professional dog walker.
” Gwen held up her hand. “I can stop by during the day and walk him for you. I’ll even play with him for a few until I have to go.
If you can walk him in the mornings before you go, I can take the midday, and then, he should be good until you get home. ”
“Really? That would be great. We’ll do it through the app, though, Gwen. I’m paying you.”
Gwen laughed and said, “Yeah, right.”
“I can help,” Myra offered.
Elisa turned to her and asked, “With what?”
“Buster.” Myra chuckled. “My office isn’t far from here. I can stop by during lunch if Gwen can’t get here or something. I can even do some of my paperwork stuff from home if he needs some company.”