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“But you’ve never had a pet.”
“I know, Dad.” He’d never wanted one, either. “And he’s not mine. I’m babysitting him.” He frowned. “Or dog sitting.” Whatever.
Ryan ran his finger along his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at Eddie. “What kind of dog is he?”
Jackson shrugged. “Some kind of crossbreed, I guess.”
“I hear they can be a handful.”
“Yeah, well he’s done nothing but eat and sleep since I brought him home. He’s not exactly hyperactive.” It had been two hours since Jackson dropped Lydia off at Griff and Autumn’s house. With Eddie in the back of the car, he hadn’t gone inside with her. Instead, he’d waved a hand and driven off, gritting his teeth together when he saw Eddie in his rear view mirror.
What the hell had he been thinking, agreeing to bring him home? Maybe he hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. He was too busy looking at Lydia and wanting to make her happy.
So he’d offered to take the dog home, and now he was regretting it, because dogs and his lifestyle didn’t mix. Brooke hadn’t been wrong about the inside of his refrigerator. It was like the Gobi Desert. He could barely feed himself, let alone a dog.
“He got a name?” his dad asked, leaning down to inspect Eddie closer.
“Eddie.” When his dad started to laugh, Jackson put his hands up. “I didn’t choose it.”
“Who did?” Ryan tipped his head to the side.
“Just a friend.”
“Hmmm.”
Eddie lifted his head up to look at them both, and let out the most enormous fart.
“Damn!” Ryan said, screwing his nose up. “That’ll teach me about getting too close.”
“You want a beer?” Jackson asked him, inclining his head at the kitchen of his ranch house. For the past two years he’d lived on the cliff top overlooking Angel Sands. His hou
se was small, but perfectly situated, with stairs carved into the rock leading down to the beach. On the rare occasion he got to spend any time here, he loved it.
“Sure.” His dad followed him in, resting his arms on the granite countertop.
The whole place had been remodeled before Jackson bought it, including the kitchen he never used. He pulled open the doublewide refrigerator, and took two bottles from the lonely box of beer on the shelf. Popping the caps, he passed one to his dad, and lifted the other to his lips.
Eddie idled in, his tail down, and looked up at Jackson balefully.
“Sorry, man,” he told the dog. “No beer for you.”
“Does he have water?” his dad asked.
“Yes, he has water.” Jackson pointed down at the bowl Brooke had so helpfully given him. “And he’s eaten, too.”
“No need to snap. I’m just asking.” Ryan lifted a grey eyebrow and took a mouthful of beer.
“Sorry. It’s been a hell of a day. And I’ve got work coming out of my ears. I have no idea how I’m gonna juggle this dog and my job.”
“The same way anybody does.” Ryan shrugged. “You’ll muddle through.”
Jackson eyed him carefully. “Maybe you can help,” he said, his voice hopeful. “You’re retired. You can take care of him for me.”
“Oh no.” His dad shook his head. “This one’s all yours, son.”
“Thanks,” Jackson muttered, looking down at Eddie again. His eyes were so large and shiny, they looked like pebbles. He was still staring up at Jackson like he had all the answers.
Truth was, he didn’t even know the questions.
