Chapter 1 #2
My disappointment fills the room, causing a somber silence to fall. Even the puppy has quieted down and is simply lying between us all, resting her head on her paws.
“Wait.”
I lift my head to see Kai staring at Rhett.
“Dude. Your building allows dogs. You could —”
“Stop right there, Yami,” Rhett interjects, his head shaking back and forth. “You know full well how much I’m gone, no way can I have a dog right now.”
“How can you say no to that sweet face?” My brother gestures down to the puppy who has lifted her head, tilting it to the side.
I’m holding my breath, not sure how I feel about this conversation; the one I’m apparently not a part of.
“Yami, no. I’m not taking the dog.”
“Not just the dog. Evie and the dog.”
“Wait, what?” I interject, certain I heard wrong. “Kai, no.”
He turns to me. “Hear me out. I hate that you were gonna be stuck on my couch. Rhett’s got a spare bedroom at his place, and he can have dogs in his building.
So why don’t you both stay there?” Then, turning to Rhett, he says, “What do you think, bro? It’s just for the summer, two months, tops.
Just ’til she finds a job and a place of her own, right, Evie? ”
Two sets of eyes turn back to me, looking for what, I don’t know. Confirmation that this idea is crazy? My mind immediately starts trying to come up with a good reason why this is a terrible idea. Even if it is currently the only idea that lets me keep the dog.
Before I can come up with anything, Kai continues.
“Besides, Darling’s like another brother to you anyway. It won’t be all that different from staying here except you get a bed, not a couch, and the dog can stay.”
My jaw clenches. There’s so much wrong with what he just said, but there’s also just enough right that I’m forced to consider my options.
Which amount to basically nothing.
I make myself turn my head to look at him, on purpose, for the first time since walking into Kai’s apartment.
“Don’t let Kai steamroll this, Rhett. It’s your home. I don’t want to invade your privacy.”
Rhett gives me a gentle smile, that large hand of his still rhythmically stroking the dog’s back. “I appreciate that, Evie, but my mama would slap me if she knew I turned away a friend who needed help. Especially one who’s basically like family, as Kai said.”
Ignoring the wince at his choice of words, I push on, needing to be certain he’s truly fine with this.
“Are you sure? You’d be okay with me and the puppy staying there?
As soon as I get a job, I’ll find an apartment of my own and be gone.
And while you’re traveling I can clean up, water your plants, whatever. ”
He just lifts his shoulder in an effortless shrug. “It’s not a problem, darlin’. Like Yami said, I’ve got the space.” He looks down at the dog, his smile deepening. “And this little lady deserves a second chance at life.”
Well, crap. When he says stuff like that, I’m tempted to take the lid off my years-old crush and swoon all over him again.
“Okay. If you’re sure, I guess I’ll move my stuff into your place tomorrow, not here,” I say quietly, still somewhat hoping he’ll laugh and say he was joking and there’s no way I can stay with him. Not that I have anywhere else to go, but still, the idea of living with Rhett is…slightly terrifying.
“Wait, where’s the puppy going to stay tonight? Are you even allowed a dog in campus housing?” Kai asks, and I swear it’s as if he’s intentionally adding fuel to my panic fire.
“Um, n-no,” I stammer out. “But I’ll sneak her in, it’s fine.
” After all, I’m technically finished with my master’s degree, all that’s missing from my graduation is the fancy piece of paper.
What’s the worst the university could do?
Kick me out of housing? Too late, the deadline to move out is in two days.
“Or I can take her home with me tonight,” Rhett says calmly.
“Oh no, I can’t ask you to do that,” I start to protest, my head shaking back and forth. “I have to go to the store and get her some food, and a bed, and well, everything. It’s fine. I’ll —”
“Let me take her.” His soothing, deep voice interrupts me, and a warm hand lands on my arm. “I can cook up some rice and chicken for her tonight, and tomorrow we’ll go together and get what she needs.”
“Dude, we have practice and a game tomorrow.”
Rhett looks at Kai and frowns. “Shit.”
“I’ll go to the store tomorrow and get what she needs. She’s my dog,” I interject, sharply pulling my arm away from Rhett.
Only to regret my tone. I do need his help for just tonight, and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I incline my head toward Rhett. “But thank you, if you’ll take her tonight, that would be great.”
He smiles and nods, as if everything is settled and done.
Kai stands up and claps his hands together, making the puppy squirm to stand up and shake as well. “Great. Problem solved. Rhett takes the dog tonight, and tomorrow Evie moves her shit into his spare bedroom.”
He reaches a hand out and pulls me up to stand before draping an arm around my neck and leading me into the kitchen. “Can we eat now? I’m fucking starving.”
My brother might be ready to move on to dinner, but I’m still three steps behind, trying to figure out how I went from crashing by myself on his couch to staying with the object of many late-night fantasies, with a puppy in tow.