Baxter wiggles with barely contained excitement.
I hesitate for exactly three seconds before reaching into my pocket and handing over the treat like it isn’t the highlight of my damn day.
Baxter immediately sits, ears perked, waiting.
I keep my gaze on the street like this isn’t happening.Like I don’t keep Baxter’s favorite brand in my jacket pocket.
The dog finishes, then nudges my hand, looking for more.
Greedy little bastard.
I rub behind his ear just once.
His tail whips against my leg in gratitude.
“Yeah, yeah.” I step back, clearing my throat. “Go home.”
Baxter wags his tail one last time, then trots back toward his owner’s front porch.
I wait until he’s out of sight before shoving my hands back into my jacket and continuing down to the house.
Like none of that ever happened.
I shove the door open to our house, the wood rattling against the frame as I step inside. My jacket hits the floor. I don’t pick it up.
Troy and Ethan are sprawled across the living room couch. The TV’s muted on a basketball game neither of them is watching.
Troy looks up from his book, unimpressed. “You look like you killed someone.”
I grab a beer from the fridge. “Not yet.”
“Cool. Just don’t get blood on the couch.”
Ethan, lying upside down on the armchair, barely acknowledges me. “We’re out of eggs.”
I exhale sharply, pressing the cold bottle to my forehead. Anyone else would be clearing the room. These idiots don’t even flinch.
“Why do I live with you?” I mutter.
Ethan shrugs. “No one else would put up with you.”
I grunt. Fair.
“So?” Ethan sits up so fast he nearly drops his phone. “Any footage of me?”
I shake my head, dropping my keys in the bowl.
“Nah, you’re in the clear,”
“Wahoooo! Thank fuck.” He karate chops the air before he flops back down, grinning. “I knew those ninja moves would come in handy someday.”
“You’re welcome,” I comment on the fact we didn’t turn him in.
He looks at me sincerely, holding his hand on his chest before closing his eyes and bowing his head.
“I am forever indebted to you, my dear friend. I am your Samwise. You are my Frodo. I will give my life for yours when the time comes.”
Ignoring his monologue, Troy chimes in.
