10. Beach Bum
Chapter ten
Beach Bum
Sawyer
Walking next to Neil, the smell of the beach… my mood soared. This moment felt like it went on forever and yet was broken far too soon when a tiny whip-thin dog raced out of the glare of the sunset heading right for us. A spike of fear sent me stumbling backward.
In the distance, a man holding a leash yelled the dog’s name while running after the dog.
“I’ll handle this,” Neil said, handing me the bag with his book.
He lunged and grabbed the dog when it tried to jink around him, snagging its collar. The dog wiggled in his arms, and I don’t know how he kept hold of it, but I trusted that he wouldn’t drop it.
Neil shoved the dog into the owner’s arms. “Keep your dog leashed on the beach.”
“My hero,” I said, pretending to simper and fluttering my eyelashes at Neil as he returned.
Neil rolled his eyes at me as he took his book bag back. “You have no business volunteering at an animal shelter.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “I’m an adult; I can make my own bad decisions.”
“A bad decision—oh, wait, you said that already.” Neil stuck the book under one arm and fumbled for his phone. “I got a little distracted earlier with our conversation at dinner. I had something I wanted to show you. Our talk about you volunteering reminded me.”
I raised an eyebrow and stayed quiet, wondering what he wanted to show me.
“Remember those videos we shot of you with the cats? It’s been widely popular.”
YouTube stats filled the screen, and it took me a moment to figure out what I was looking at. When it clicked, I sucked in a breath. “That’s a lot of zeroes.”
“Yeah, that’s views. And here’s the average of the shelter’s previous posts.” He swiped over to another screen.
“Ouch.” I hissed.
“So i was thinking instead of working at the shelter feeding the cats and walking the dogs—”
I cut him off there with a shake of my head. “More cat videos?”
Grinning, he nodded. “Heck yeah.”
“No.” When Neil’s face fell, I felt compelled to explain my reasoning. “I’m not becoming the face of the shelter.”
“Oh. That makes sense.” Neil turned off his phone, his eyes distant.
“Stop. Stop thinking of work. All the lovely relaxation shouldn’t be wearing off already.” I swatted playfully at his leg.
Neil jumped. “How did you know I was thinking of work?”
“Just a feeling.” I sighed and threw Neil a bone. “If you need a face for the shelter, use Arthur. He’s cute and passionate. YouTubers will eat him up.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Neil tapped frantically at his phone. Probably making notes. I hoped he wouldn’t be up late working on an idea I now regretted giving him.
I groaned. I should have seen that coming. “No. Work.” I pretended to bop him on the head with each word.
“Thanks. I had fun today.” Neil said as I unlocked my car. I’d count that as progress.