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Stella stops at our table. “Well, that was easy. You’ll need a better leash, but I have a food and water bowl in the car you can have.”
“Oh, I can’t have a dog.” I actually don’t even know where I live right now.
“Of course you can,” Nick says. “I don’t think I can break this up. He loves you.”
I smile at him. “My house-sitting gig is up.”
Stella pulls a chair to our table. “Hey, Nick. When did you get back?” she asks casually, but she’s watching us very carefully.
“Saturday. Katie was watching my house when Devon skipped town.”
“That’s how we know each other,” I say. I meant it to sound deflecting, but I’m pretty sure I just sounded guilty.
“How was China?” she asks, grabbing my hand and pulling my palm toward her to examine while she waits for his answer.
“It was great, but I’m glad to be home. What are you doing?”
“I’m reading Katie’s love line.”
I try to pull my hand back, but she’s pretty strong.
“Yeah?” Nick says. “Does her palm tell you how many kids she’ll have?”
Stella regards him shrewdly then lets go of my hand and grabs his. “Hmmm.”
“What does my palm tell you?”
“Your palm tells me that you’re not a dick like your brother, but if you’re not careful with my friend’s heart, I know where the deepest part of the Bay is. They’ll never find you.”
He smiles and I gasp. “Stella!” I can’t believe she just said that.
“What? If you guys think anybody looking at you wouldn’t be able to tell you’re sleeping together, you’re not very bright. And since I know both of you are very bright, I’m sure you are going to tell anyone who has a problem with it to go suck an egg.”
“The university—”
Nick answers, “If the university has a problem with it, I’ll find a new job.”
I gasp again. “Nick!”
The puppy starts snoring in my ear, and I bounce him a little like I’ve been doing with Madison. Stella drops Nick’s hand, satisfied.
He isn’t even paying attention to Stella. “You’re not one of my students. I’m not even teaching right now. If they have an issue with the one semester we’ll be there together, then I’ll do something else.”
“You can’t quit teaching for me.”
I can’t believe we are having this discussion in front of Stella. Make that Stella and Nash, who has brought Stella a beer but is clearly just trying to hear what’s going on.
“I don’t think I’ll have to. But if I do, it will be worth it. Stella, do I owe you for the dog?”
She shakes her head. “No, but feel free to make a donation to my FundMeNow page.”
“You’re taking the puppy?” I ask.
“Of course, I am. He loves you. And you want him.”
Well, good. I guess that means I can visit the puppy. I still need to find a place to live myself. Getting Lisa settled was enough for today, but I can’t just crash at Nick’s for the rest of the semester.
“Is Tru in the office, Nash?” Stella asks.
