AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nope. I already had my shot.” I snickered and killed the engine. “Besides, my hands are plenty full at home.”
“With what?”
I didn’t need to say a single word. As soon as we climbed out of the Mercedes, Johnny heard the howling coming from inside the house.“OW, OW, AWOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Johnny looked horrified. “Is thatMinkamaking all that noise?”
“Sure is.”
“Holy shit! She’s a real screamer, huh?”
“Oh, just you wait.” I unlocked the door and we stepped inside.
Minka greeted us at the door, prancing around with her tail whipping back and forth and her nails tip-tapping on the hardwood floor. She held her head high and howled,“AWOOOOO~WOOOOOO~OOOO!”
“Okay, sweetie, it’s okay. I’m home now.” I tried to soothe her with head pats, but this washerroutine, and how she liked to greet me. And woe to you if you dare break Minka’s routine.
“OW, OW, OOOOOOOOOOOOOW!”
Johnny gave her some pets, too. “So we meet again, little hellion. You’re a lot louder than I remember.”
“She gets louder and crankier every year,” I said.
“Don’t they all?” Johnny joked. “Hey, does she still do that thing? Where it sounds like she can speak?”
“Hey, Minka.” I snapped my fingers to get her attention. “Love you.”
“RUH-ROO!”she answered right back. It wasn’t perfect, but it was as close to “Love you” as you were ever going to get from a dog.
Johnny laughed. “There it is. Love you!”
“RUH-ROO!”
Minka followed us as I gave Johnny the tour of the house. In the living room, he saw the brand new leather couch Minka chewed up the other day. One armrest was completely missing, chewed entirely off, and she’d scratched the stuffing out of the base of the couch.
Johnny gasped and shook his finger at Minka. “Ooooh. You bad, bad girl.”
Minka told her side of the story with a warbling,“Owowowow!”
I took Johnny into the basement, where I keep my “man cave.” As soon as he spotted the mini-bar, he went right behind the counter to help himself. “You mind?”
“Go for it, fella,” I said, though I was surprised he was still drinking. I sat on the big, comfy, but ancient couch—the one IwishedMinka had chewed up instead—and put the game highlights on the big screen. Minka hopped up on the couch and sat next to me, resting her head on my thigh.
A minute later, Johnny joined us on the couch with a pint glass.
“What’d you make?” I asked.
“Lemon whiskey. Wanna sip?”
“No thanks. I’m gonna pass out soon.” I paused. “Hey, Johnny, have you been drinking more lately?”
He sighed. “Yeah, man, I guess I have.”
“Everything good?”
“I mean. You know. Work sucks. I’m so fucking sick of sales.”
“I bet,” I said, offering a frown.
