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“Thanks so much for helping, guys,” she said when they reached the vehicles. A pickup was towing a large trailer, and she and Mercer were going to be in an SUV.
“No problem,” Javan said.
August stared past them, rubbing his chest.
“You okay, man?” Mercer asked.
August blinked and shook his head. “Yeah, I guess? I just feel weird.”
“Are you coming down with something?” Rhomi asked.
“Nah,” he said. “I’m just…I don’t know. I’ll be fine, let’s get this show on the road.”
“Hey, didn’t I hear that you were going to take us out to eat for helping?” Lucius asked as he opened the truck door.
“Sure,” Mercer said, laughing.
“Score!” Javan said.
Rhomi got into the SUV with Mercer. “Your friends are nuts but sweet.”
“Definitely.”
She looked at him, thinking how serious he was since they’d seen that jackal in the shelter. “Are you okay?”
“Sure, why?”
He pulled out of the parking spot, the truck following close behind.
“I don’t know; you just seem kind of lost in thought.”
“Well, I’m wondering about the jackal and hoping it’ll be okay here. Hey, did I tell you I found the newspaper article? It’s on my phone, you can check it out.”
He gave her the code to his phone, and she opened it. The article was the first thing that appeared. She read the story from a local newspaper, detailing that nearly one hundred dogs and cats were taken from the home and how surprised the police were to find an exotic jackal among the domestic animals.
The couple had posted bail and were set to be arraigned in a few weeks.
“I hope they do time and aren’t ever allowed to have animals again,” she said, putting the phone in the cup holder.
“Me too.” He sighed. “You know what? I’m actually not okay. I mean, I am—I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life since I met you—but I’m bummed by what we saw today. People are cruel.”
She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, linking their hands and resting them on his leg. He was a sweet, tenderhearted guy.
“It’s eye-opening being at the shelter, so I know how you feel. I was really angry the first time I volunteered there. But we were there today and could help the jackal, and that’s what matters.”
“I’m glad Cael was able to get it here. I hope he can help it and we can find a place for it.”
“I’m sure it’ll all work out.” She peeked up at him, with his sexy stubble and casually messy hair. “I think you’re pretty awesome for wanting to help it out. And I hope they figure out if it’s a boy or girl soon; I’m tired of calling it an it.”
“Me too.” He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Sweetheart, you’re awesome. I love that you want to help out with the petting zoo too. Those little buggers need lots of love as well.”
She rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. “Mercer?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I’ve had the best time of my life since I met you too.”
She swore a purr rumbled in his chest. He coughed, though, and she once more wasn’t sure she’d heard what she thought she did. He’d probably think she was crazy if she asked if he purred, so she kept her mouth shut.
