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“Tell Lar and Mar hello.”
“Will do.”
Lucia follows me back inside the condo and when Jamison sets Delgado down, Delgado runs after me too. “Oh, you guys. You’re impossible to resist.”
I pet them both and Jamison holds onto them while I walk toward the front door.
“Careful, box to your right,” he says, saving me from bumping into a box.
I glance down and clench my teeth when I see an open box of books—novels, not just boring books on how to run businesses or how to watch the stock market.
Idid notneed to know that Jamison is an avid reader.
My shower is done in half the time I usually take, and there’s no time to blow-dry my hair, so I braid a small section in the front and pull it into a low ponytail, dividing it into two sections and then twisting them together before securing it into a bun.
It takes three minutes to do the bare minimum on my makeup, but with the updo, my short cream sweater dress, and camel-colored over-the-knee boots, I look like I’ve made way more of an effort than I really have.
I’m at Happy Cow five minutes earlier than usual and back at the lodge, unloading everything into the kitchen and managing to avoid seeing anyone as I take a coffee and chocolate croissant to my office. I take a big bite and call Theo, which is a mistake, because he answers right away and my mouth is too full to speak.
“Scar, you there?”
I gulp it down. “Sorry, yeah. I should’ve chewed before I called. Hey, got any dog supplies you could spare?”
“Sure. What’s up? Whatcha need?”
I tell him about finding Lucia and Delgado, avoiding the names because I’m trying to not even mention Jamison in this conversation. And the names are just the kind of thing my brother would latch onto…he knows me far too well and would be able to hear how stinking clever and endearing I found that whole story about Delgado.
“Text me their pictures and I’ll post them in a few groups and on the board at the co-op. I’ve got a stop to make this morning before work and could bring some stuff by.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
“Sure. How are you holding up? I’m sorry I haven’t been back over there before now.”
“It’s okay. It’s been busy and you know…it’s weird, but…just trying to get through it.”
“Grinny invited me to dinner Saturday night…”
“Yeah…she warmed right up to Jamison, let me tell you.”
He laughs. “She did call and talk him up pretty good.”
“Funny, she’s been awfully quiet with me since she made that dinner plan.”
He just laughs harder. “Honestly, you sound better than I thought you would.”
“Well, I still hate the situation, but it’s hard to be mad at Grinny. It was nice to see her excited about something. She’s been so sad.”
“I know. I thought that too.”
“I better let you go so you can get over here.”
“I’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up and turn my chair away from the window, facing the door. Jamison is standing in the doorway holding both dogs. The sight of him in a suit looking good enough to lick is already something I’m struggling with—add these two adorable dogs in his arms? I can’t take it.
I burst out laughing and rush over to at least take Delgado off of his hands. Jamison smiles, but he looks more serious than usual.
