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‘Then let us take him,’ Rob said. ‘We’ll find him a vet or a dog shelter or something. He needs food and proper care.’ He glanced at Hannah, who raised her eyebrows. Maybe this was mad, but he couldn’t just drive away and leave a dog like that. He’d grown up in a house full of dogs, and this one reminded him a bit of Muffin, the retriever cross he’d shared a bed with as a child.
The second boy translated, but his friend shook his head furiously. ‘He says he will fill a bag with rocks and throw Pendejo in theríobefore he gives him to you.’
Rob blew out his cheeks, thinking hard. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked.
‘Mario,’ said the second man, relaxing a little now he had the upper hand. ‘And this is Javier.’
‘OK, Mario. Ask your friend if he would like to play tennis.’
‘You want to play tennis with Javier?’ said Mario with a grin.
‘One set. If I lose, we give you one hundred euros so you can buy dog food and medicine. But if I win, we take Pendejo.’
Mario laughed heartily. ‘His mother is from Mallorca, her cousin is Rafa Nadal. He will kick your ass all the way to Rafa’s house in Manacor.’
‘Maybe,’ said Rob with a shrug.
‘Um, can I speak to you for a moment?’ asked Hannah.
Rob turned to look at her, realising with a wave of guilt that in the heat of the conversation he’d forgotten she was there. ‘Oh. Yeah, sure.’ They walked back towards the car, Rob casting glances back at the flailing dog as Mario brought Javier up to speed.
‘I’m really sorry,’ he said desperately. ‘I know it’s mad, but I can’t just leave that dog there. It needs help.’
‘I know,’ said Hannah quietly. ‘Just pretend we’re having a fight about it; they’ll assume I don’t think you can win and am annoyed about you betting our money. It will put them on the back foot when you play.’
Rob’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘Really? You don’t mind?’
‘Of course I don’t mind,’ she said, waving her arms around like she was furious. ‘I mean, obviously this wasn’texactlyhow I imagined the first day of my road trip panning out, but we can’t just drive away. Get the dog, then we’ll take it to the vet and find a shelter or something. Now look angry with me.’
‘You’re incredible.’ Rob thumped his fist on the roof of the car and pointed to the panting dog. ‘I’m going to show that little fucker how to play tennis, and then I’m going to buy you an amazing lunch.’
‘I’ll look forward to it,’ said Hannah, giving him a furious glare as she folded her arms and shouted, ‘You’re an IDIOT!’ Rob strode back to the two boys, who both now had a touch of swagger. The dog lay down on the roots of the tree, panting feebly, so Hannah went over to pet him.
‘We play doubles,’ said Mario with an evil grin. ‘Me and Javier against you and your girlfriend.’
Rob shook his head, his lips pressed firmly together. ‘That’s not an equal match,’ he said.
Mario shrugged. ‘You have big left arm, like Rafa,’ he said, nodding to Rob’s tanned bicep. ‘So we think maybe you can play, no?’ He looked Hannah up and down with a level of disdain only a teenage boy could muster. ‘But she is . . . just a woman. So this is more fair for us.’
Rob scowled at him and sighed, then looked at Hannah, wondering how she would react. ‘What do you think?’ he asked, eyeing her carefully. ‘I can lend you my spare racquet.’
‘I’m not sure,’ she said, chewing her lip and shaking her head.
‘Come on,’ said Rob pleadingly. ‘Please. For Pendejo.’
Hannah took a deep breath and nodded nervously. ‘OK. I’ll do my best,’ she said.
Rob nodded, then went back to the car to get their tennis racquets, leaving Hannah to scowl at the two boys and pet Pendejo.
‘You want warm up?’ asked Mario, when Rob and Hannah both strolled onto the court. Rob looked at Hannah and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
‘No,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m fine.’
‘OK,’ shrugged Mario, like he didn’t care either way. ‘You serve first? I give you choice.’
Hannah nodded and started tucking balls in her tennis skirt.
‘You are smart,’ said Mario with a grin. ‘Get your turn out of the way quickly, then leave it to the men.’
