Chapter Seven #2
“Yeah, we know,” one of the guys near them groused.
“I guess having a general for a father pays off eventually,” Dade quipped as they left the area.
“Though you could say it helps that I’ve played this before.
There was a place outside Amsterdam that had a great laser tag arena, and we used to go there whenever we were in the city.
If you think I’m competitive, you should see Maria.
She’d have wiped the floor with all of us.
” He grinned as they stepped out into the games area. “What do you want to play?”
“Do you think I can beat my high score?”
He should have known. “I’d like to see you try.
” He followed Cliff, and they had a ball the rest of the morning.
Now that he had the hang of the game, Cliff figured out how to rack up multiple bonuses and a huge number of tickets.
By the time they were done, Dade told Cliff he could pick out whatever prize he wanted.
He ended up leaving with a Yeti mug that he handed to Dade.
“Now, you can have coffee at school and think of me.”
“And the fact that you shot up every alien in sight.” He leaned against Cliff as they approached the main doors. It was lighter outside, and the sun was trying to peer through the clouds. “Maybe we could ride the go carts before we go.”
Cliff snickered. “I don’t think so. You’ll leave me in your dust, I know it. Besides, I’m getting hungry, and I don’t want to eat here.”
“Okay. And just for the record, I’d probably let you win.” He dodged a swipe and raced for the car, with Cliff right behind him. He got caught just before he opened the car door. Dade laughed as Cliff held him tightly, lifting him off his feet.
“You can’t win everything.”
“No?” Dade smiled.
“Yeah, I got you this time.”
Dade met Cliff’s gaze. “Yeah, you did, but who says I didn’t want to get caught.
” He drew closer. “I know what you want to do, but a couple of my students from last year just arrived, and they don’t need to see their old teacher getting kissed within an inch of his life in the parking lot.
” He lightly patted Cliff on the shoulder.
“But feel free to do exactly that once we get home.”
“Good idea.”
Dade climbed into the car before his former students could see him. They stopped in town for lunch at Miseno’s for their great pizza, then they continued back to Dade’s apartment, where his neighbor was just stepping away from his door.
“Hey, Emily. What’s going on?” She seemed frazzled.
“I have to go to my mother’s, and I was wondering if you could look after Grace for me. I’ll be back late and can pick her up in the morning before you go to work. I hate to take her with me. It’s a lot of time in the car, and she is not a good rider.” She really seemed worried.
“Of course. Just bring over her things. Cliff and I will be happy to watch her.” He smiled as he turned to Cliff.
“Thank you,” she said, hugging him before hurrying away.
“It looks like you’re going to get your wish,” Dade told him as he unlocked the door.
Emily returned with Grace, an older poodle mix.
Dade knew that Emily had had Grace since she was a teenager and that Grace was over ten.
Dade took the bag of food, treats, toys, and her leash, as well as Grace’s bed, and set them on the floor.
“I really need to get to Mom. She’s having one of her episodes.” She kissed his cheek and hurried off.
Dade closed the door and set about getting a dish for water and putting out Grace’s food. He also placed her bed on the floor near one of the registers so she would be warm. Cliff sat with Grace, and the two of them watched the proceedings.
Once everything was set up, Grace carefully went to inspect everything, nibbling on some of her food before taking a place on the sofa right next to Dade.
“I take it you’ve dog-sat before?”
“Yeah. Once for three days while she was on vacation with her sister. Emily works for one of the arts organizations in town, and she loves it. But her family is in Northern Virginia, so visits are quite a drive. She’ll get down there, see to her mother, and then start right back.
I could probably take Grace to school. The kids would love her, and she would stay behind my desk.
Last year it would not have been an issue.
But this year I have Tracey, and she is very allergic to dogs, so that isn’t a possibility. ”
“The nice thing is that if she isn’t back, I could take Grace to post with me.
She can sit under my desk while I make phone calls.
It’s not a problem. The general has said that it’s okay on occasion to bring dogs into work as long as they are well-behaved and we aren’t out in the field.
So, you can tell Emily that she doesn’t need to worry.
Grace will be well taken care of until she gets back.
” And just like that, Cliff’s kind generosity came through again.
“I’ll message Emily and tell her,” Dade said, and sent her a text right away. Then they settled on the sofa, with Grace finding a place next to him. “If we’re going to watch movies, we need popcorn and Cokes.” Dade hurried to get proper movie supplies.