Page 26 of Fish Out of Water

With a yawn and a heavy sigh, Cooper slipped back onto the garbage bags, which crinkled as he turned around and around before plopping down.

“Slow down,” Robbie said, leaning forward a bit. “The house is somewhere near here on the right.”

“You’ve been here before, haven’t you?” Jake asked.

“Uh, for a potluck once.”

“Christ. I thought youknewthese people.”

“I do: Erin and Kyle Jacoby, and their son Dylan—the puppy was Dylan’s tenth birthday gift.”

“Fantastic. So why does it feel like we’re intruding?”

“It doesn’t,” Robbie insisted. “Here.” He pointed out the window. “That’s the house right there.”

Jake pulled up to the curb and put the car in park before cutting the engine. Cooper stood up in the back again, his tail banging against the seat as he waited as patiently as he possibly could.

“I’ll stay in the car,” Jake told Robbie as Robbie unbuckled his seatbelt.

“You sure?” Robbie asked.

“Yeah. It’s probably for the best anyway. You know what to do, so it’ll go faster.”

“What about the gate?”

“What?”

“The gate,” Robbie repeated. “I have to carry the dog, and I don’t want him to jump out of my arms because I’m fumbling with a latch.”

“Ugh, fine, I’ll get out and help you.” Jake stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. He stomped his way over to the white metal gate and swung it open, stepping aside to make way for Robbie and Cooper.

Half-destroyed dog toys were strewn about the front yard, and a black wire crate sat open on the porch. The house was bright inside, and when Robbie nudged Jake forward to knock, the door was answered almost immediately. A woman with blonde hair tied back, a denim button-up shirt, and old, worn jeans appeared, her expression tightening when she saw the bedraggled stranger who had knocked.

“Can I help you?” she asked coolly.

“Um, hi,” Jake said, glancing down at his mess of an outfit. His cheeks burned, but he forced himself to meet the woman’s gaze again. At least he didn’t look quite as bad as Robbie. “We, uh, I think we found your son’s dog at the beach.”

Robbie stepped forward to present the dog, his smile a little stiffer than Jake was used to seeing. “Hi, Erin. Sorry to trouble you so late at night, but as my friend Jake said, poor Cooper was stuck in some rocks on the beach.”

“Oh, Mier.” Erin put her hand to her heart before turning back to the inside of the house and calling, “Dylan, honey, he’s back!” Turning back to the men, her face had relaxed immensely. “Thank Mier. We were out searching for him all afternoon. He took off when Dylan got home from school—just shot right out the gate. We called all the neighbors, but I guess he went straight to the beach. It’s his favorite spot, and?—”

“Cooper!” A boy with reddish hair and a freckle-smattered face pushed past his mother, holding his arms out for the dog. Robbie let Cooper go as he leapt toward his owner, whining and yipping.

Erin had finally gotten some of her composure back, and after sending Dylan and Cooper inside once Dylan thanked Robbie and Jake for their help, she looked back up at them. “Thanks, Robbie,” she said, her voice suddenly cool and detached again. “You should have called when you found him.”

Robbie’s smile faltered, and Jake felt an unfamiliar sense of defense and anger bubbling up inside him. “We brought you your dog back,” he said gruffly. “Weweren’t the ones who lost him in the first place.

“Jake,” Robbie said quietly, placing his hand on Jake’s arm. “Leave it be.”

Jake shook Robbie’s hand off. “No, not until we get proper recognition for the shit we just put ourselves through foryourdog. He could have died out there, y’know. If he got left there all night, the tide could’ve washed him away, a predator could’ve gotten to him, he could’ve snapped his neck?—”

“That’s enough,” Erin said harshly. “Like I said, we’re grateful for your help. It’s just that next time,Robbie, try to respond like us common folk do—call first so we can pick up the dog ourselves.”

“There won’t be a next time, I hope,” Jake snapped. “Not from us, anyway. Come on, Robbie, let’s go.”

Robbie forced a smile back onto his face and nodded at Erin. “Just glad we could help, Mrs. Jacoby. Sorry to bother you.” He followed Jake down the porch steps, grabbing the gate from him before Jake could slam it shut. “What was that about?” he hissed.

“Yeah, I’m wondering the same thing,” Jake said back, not bothering to keep his voice down. “That’s a real pissy family, isn’t it?”