Lila’s brows shoot up. “You’ll what?”
“Just temporarily,” I add quickly, trying to sound more thought-out than I feel. “I’ll foster him.”
Deputy Simmons studies me. “You sure? He’s been through a lot. Might have some issues.”
“I’m sure. I can take care of him for now.”
“Jonah,” Lila adds quietly, stepping closer. Her tone drops so only I can hear. “I get that you want to help, but storm chasing isn’t exactly dog-friendly.”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“I know,” I admit, meeting her gaze. “But I can’t just leave him here. Look at him.”
Max whines softly, as if understanding he's the subject of our conversation. His tail gives a tentative wag against my leg.
Lila's expression softens for a moment before she sighs. “One night. We find a pet-friendly motel, and tomorrow we figure something else out.”
“That works,” I say, relief flooding through me. I turn to Deputy Simmons. “Is there paperwork or something I need to sign?”
He scratches his chin thoughtfully. “Normally there would be, but given the circumstances...” He pulls out a notepad,scribbles something down, and tears off the page. “My contact information. Let me know what happens with the dog.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the paper and carefully folding it into my pocket.
As the deputy walks away, Lila crosses her arms, fixing me with an appraising look. “I want the record to state that this was your idea and he’s your responsibility. You do know how to take care of a dog, right?”
“Food. Water. Shelter. That’s the basics of animal husbandry I’ve been told,” I admit, looking down at Max, who's now sitting beside me, his body trembling . “Truthfully, I've never even had a pet.”
“And yet here you are, adopting a tornado survivor.”
“Temporary custody,” I correct her. “I know I should have discussed it with you first.”
Lila's eyes soften . “Well, it's done now. I’m not about to be the subject of a ‘Am I the Asshole? Reddit thread for dropping him off at Animal Control. I do not need Sarah McLachlan showing up and guilt tripping me.”
“Who is that?”
“Never mind,” Lila scoffs, surveying the darkening sky. “We should head out. There's nothing more we can do here, and I want to get to a motel before that next cell moves in.”
I nod, giving Max's head another awkward pat. “Come on, boy. Let's go.”
Max doesn't budge. He sits firmly in the mud, staring at the ruins of his home.
“Um...” I look helplessly at Lila. “He's not moving.”
She sighs, then crouches down to Max's level. “Hey, buddy. I know you want to stay. I know this is home. But it's not safe anymore, and we need to go.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small bag of jerky. “Look what I've got,” she says, tearing off a small piece and holding it out.
Max's nose twitches. His ears perk up . With obvious reluctance, he stands and takes a tentative step toward Lila's outstretched hand.
“There you go,” she encourages, letting him take the jerky from her fingers. “Good boy.”
I watch in amazement as she creates a trail of jerky pieces leading toward her truck. Max follows, hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence, until he's standing beside the passenger door.
“How did you know that would work?” I ask.
Lila shrugs, a small smile playing at her lips. “Everybody responds to food. Dogs, people...meteorologists.”
“I don't—” I start to protest, then remember how quickly I'd accepted the bag of Funyuns she'd offered earlier. Did I like them? No. Did they leave an ungodly mess on my lap? Yes. But, my stomach stopped trying to eat itself. “Fair point.”
She opens the back door of her truck, shifting things around to make a space for him. “He can ride back here. I've got some old blankets he can sit on.”
