Chapter 11
Hank
Corey’s bagel popped up, and he grabbed it from the toaster.
“Ow, shit!” He tossed the bagel from hand to hand while wincing. “Hot!”
I held out a paper plate, one eyebrow raised. “Really?”
He tossed it onto the plate and blew on his hand. “They’re not always that hot when they get done,” he said defensively. He glanced at the settings on the toaster. “Did you change something?”
I chuckled. “Nope. You still have no common sense. Nothing has changed.”
Corey flipped me off before snatching the plate from my hand. I went back to eating my bagel in between gulps of dark roast coffee. “So, excited about the new job?”
Corey had gotten a call back on an application he’d put in to work in the kitchen at The Diner. He was starting on dishes, but he had the potential to move up to short-order cook.
He grimaced. “I guess.”
I eyed him over my bagel. “Get excited about paying your half of the rent, at least.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
My phone rang, and I held it up to show Corey the Caller ID. “And that I can tell Mom you’re gainfully employed.”
“I’m excited,” he said quickly. “Be sure to tell her how motivated I am.”
I smirked at his change of heart as I answered my cell. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Can’t a mother just call to say hello to her son?”
“Mm-hmm. You’ve got two of those. Are you sure I’m the one you want to say hello to?”
“Of course you are!” She paused. “But how is Corey doing? Is he still with that girl?”
I stuffed my wallet into my back pocket and grabbed my keys. “Yeah, Mom. He’s still dating Rachel.”
Corey pantomimed a dagger to his heart and twisted it. I shook my head, lips twitching, as I scooped up Bruno and went out the front door. At least Corey wouldn’t have to hear the rest of the inquisition.
“I’m on my way to work,” I told Mom.
“All you do is work,” she said.
I laughed. “You worry Corey doesn’t work enough. You worry I work too much. Maybe you need a Xanax.”
“Oh, hush! So I worry about my boys. That’s what mothers do.”
“We’re both fine, Mom. Don’t worry about Corey. I’ve got his back.”
“Yes, and what about your back?”
I strapped Bruno into his doggy harness, then buckled myself in and started the car. I switched the phone to hands-free so I could drive while we talked. This call had already set me behind schedule.
“My back is fine.”
“Honey, you never date anymore. All you talk about is work. You need a life. Friends—”
“I have friends,” I cut in.
“In Granville?” she challenged. “And not the four-legged kind!”
My mother knew me too well. I paused, my defenses going up, but then realized for once I had an answer she would like.
“Actually, yes. I made a friend. His name is Jamie.” I started up the car and reversed out of the driveway. “He’s actually bringing his dogs by BowWow today, so I don’t want to be late.”
“So, is he a friend or a customer?” she asked pointedly.
“Friend first,” I said. “I just think his dog could use a little play time to calm down.”
“Ahh, well, you’ve always had good instincts when it comes to animals.”
I heard the unspoken, I wish your instincts were that good with people.
Me too, Mom. Me too.
“I should go,” I said. “Don’t worry about Corey and me, okay? We take care of each other.”
She sighed. “I’m glad Corey has you, but you can’t fool your mother. You take care of him, not the other way around.”
I didn’t answer, because that would only incriminate me. She added, “I’m glad he has you, Hank. I just worry you’re using your brother to avoid living your own life.”
Ouch. Moms really knew where to poke and prod. She wasn’t trying to hurt me. She was genuinely worried. I wanted to tell her she was wrong, but I couldn’t get the words out, maybe because I had been avoiding life a little.
Ever since my messy breakup.
It had just seemed easier to focus on my job. On the dogs that I knew would never stop loving me.
“I’ll work on it,” I said gruffly.
“That’s all I ask,” she said, voice warm. “Give Corey my love and tell him he better not miss lunch this Sunday.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She chuckled. “You know I try to call him, but he never answers.”
“Kids these days. They’re all about the texting.”
“I hate texting,” she complained. “Luckily, I’ve got you to deliver my messages.”
Yeah, lucky me.
Sammi was already inside when I made it to work. I gave her a little wave as I headed into the playroom to deposit Bruno. “You be a good boy and show them how it’s done, okay? Daddy will be back to check on you soon.”
He chuffed at me, then turned and waddled toward the patch of fake turf he liked to snooze on.
He was used to being the first guy to arrive, but soon he’d have playmates for the whole day.
He wasn’t hyper like Jamie’s dog, but he was playful, and he got bored when left home and chewed up my shoes, so this was the best option for us both.
I let myself into the grooming area to set up the table for our first client, a large Labradoodle who would take up a good portion of my day. Barb Nichols came in to check in her two Border collies for day care, and TJ Matthews was right behind her with his German shepherd.
When the room had cleared, I peeked over Sammi’s shoulder to check the roster.
“We’ve got two more we need to add to the check-in list.”
“Who?”
“Jamie’s dogs.”
Sammi whipped her head to look at me. “Since when?”
“Ran into him at the festival planning yesterday. He’s got a hyper dog problem, so I offered him a free trial.”
Her brows rose. “Free?”
I winced. “He wasn’t sure about trying it. You can take it out of my check if needed, okay? I just…”
Sammi sat back in her seat, eyeing me speculatively. “This is surprising, Hank.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No, it’s not that.” She paused. “Well, not just that. I’d rather you didn’t offer our services for free. I just wouldn’t have thought you’d make an offer like that to Jamie. After the date fiasco, I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with him.”
“I never said that. I just don’t want to date him.”
Her lips quirked. “Only offer him free doggy day care?”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop it.”
She chuckled. “You know, my wife’s ex was straight once too. Then he kissed her brother on a dare and fell hard.”
“Sounds like a good rom-com,” I said. “But I am not kissing Jamie. Just helping out a guy with a hyper dog.”
She opened her mouth, but the doorbells chimed.
Jamie came in with his two Labs, and I shot Sammi a warning glance.
She smiled brightly. “Well, who do we have here?”
“Hi,” Jamie said, coming up to the counter, while Tramp strained at his leash in the attempt to run around it and check the place out. “Hank said we could come in for a free trial? Is that okay?”
“Of course it is,” Sammi said. She grabbed two intake forms and set them on the counter between us.
“Just fill out these forms so we know your babies a little better. It helps us take better care of them and everyone else. Most importantly, are either of them aggressive toward other dogs or people they don’t know well? ”
“They’re both really friendly. Tramp, the yellow Lab, is hyper, but he plays well with other dogs at the park.”
“Okay, wonderful.” Sammi looked down on the black Lab. “And who is this beauty?”
Jamie stroked his dog’s head. “This is Lady. She’s very well-behaved.”
Sammi nodded. “Okay, I’ll take them into the day care while Hank gets you all checked in. Do you have any questions?”
“Um, well, you don’t physically discipline them, do you?”
“Never. We do have some doggy time-outs if someone causes a fight. You can read through our policies in the paperwork there,” Sammi said.
Jamie nodded, smiling tightly. “Okay.”
Sammie took Jamie’s dogs by the leash and led them to the playroom, setting them loose once they were inside.
“We’ll take good care of them,” I said. “I can show you around once you get the paperwork done.”
“Yeah, of course.” Jamie smiled. “I wouldn’t have brought them if I didn’t trust you.”
He spent the next few minutes filling out our waivers. Sammi stayed in the playroom with the dogs, and when I led Jamie to the doorway, Tramp and Bruno were already playing, each dodging behind play equipment, then out, a weird hybrid of hide-and-seek and chase.
Lady was half on Sammi’s lap, getting ear rubs and looking blissful.
“We’ve got the indoor space with some toys and play equipment, plus we take them outside, weather permitting. We’ve got a little pool out there for them to splash around in, but mostly we make sure they get potty breaks and a little space to run.”
Jamie followed me to the door to peek out at our yard containing a play set that looked a lot like it might belong in a child’s daycare, along with an above-ground pool.
“It’s a good setup,” Jamie said. “I just hope Tramp won’t get himself banned on the first day.”
He laughed nervously.
“Nah, he loves to play, and he’ll get all the playtime he can handle here.”
Jamie glanced over his shoulder to where Tramp was now running up a ramp and leaping onto a spongy landing pad, then scooting through a tunnel to find Bruno.
“It really seems great,” he said, sounding wistful. “I don’t know that I can ever bring him every day, though.”
“Well, just see if it helps his behaviors at home. Maybe once or twice a week would make a difference?”
Jamie nodded. “That’s doable.”
We retreated to the front lobby. Sammi had already beaten us there. She was checking in another of our clients. I walked Jamie to the door.
“You’ll be back at six?”
“Yes.” He licked his lips. “Um, thanks. I really appreciate this.”
I nodded. “Sure. What are friends for?”
“Friends,” he said softly. “Right. Thanks.”
He went out the door, and I turned to find Sammi watching us with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. “Shut up. So, I made a friend. What’s the big deal?”
“No big deal,” she said.
“You’re acting like—”
The door opened behind me and Jamie stepped back in and pushed a box into my hands. “A thank-you for today. See you!”
He whipped back out before I could say anything. I looked down at the little square cardboard box.
“What’s that?” Sammi asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, carrying it over to the counter.
“Well, open it!” She tried to grab it, and I held it out of her reach.
“Easy there! It’s my present.”
She huffed. “Fine. Open it then.”
I pulled open the flaps, unsure what to expect. Hopefully, it wasn’t some kind of love token. I was pretty sure Jamie understood I was only looking for friendship, but we did meet on a date.
The bone-shaped dog biscuits I found were not what I expected. I laughed. I really should have known.
I showed Sammi the box.
“Ooh.” She snatched it from me. “I’ve heard these are great.”
“Heard?”
“I never make it over to the dog park, but yeah, Jamie gives them out sometimes.”
“Yeah, he bakes them,” I said.
It was a bit weird to think of the night I’d texted him while he was baking, because at the time I’d been so sure he was a woman, and I’d had flutters in my gut as we’d flirted.
I cringed inside, feeling a little like I’d led him on now. Even though I’d been led on too.
Sammi was watching my face a little too closely.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She lifted a dog biscuit from the box. “This goes a long way to covering his free daycare hours. Looks like I won’t have to deduct anything from your check.”
“Oh. Well, thanks. But I think he meant them as a gift, so…”
Sammi shrugged. “Either way, we’re good.”
I smiled reluctantly. “You like his biscuits that much, huh?”
“Almost as much as you do,” she teased.
I tossed a biscuit at her head. “I’m not into guys! We’re just friends.”
She laughed. “Famous last words.”