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“No, of course not,” Anna sighed. “I’m glad he saved them. But, still, it scared Zak. He won’t admit it, but he loves the guy, you know? He’s pissed that Donovan took the risk without backup.”
“Really? He didn’t look mad.”
Anna released a soft huff of laughter. “He gets angry when he’s scared, and I’m sure he’s bitching Donovan out right now. But it’s fine. He’ll get over it when Donovan wakes up.”
The knot of dread that had been tying up Sasha’s stomach for the last three days tightened painfully. She pushed her salad aside. “If he wakes up.”
“He will.” Anna said it with absolute certainty and waved a hand, dismissing the idea that he wouldn’t. Then she deftly changed the subject: “How are the dogs? I haven’t had a chance to go to Dr. Richards’ and check on them.”
Did best friends get any better than Anna? Sasha seriously doubted it, because nobody else could’ve known she desperately needed the subject change. “They’re good. They all have burns, but nothing life-threatening. Spirit definitely got the worst of it, plus smoke inhalation, but she’s already healing.”
Better and faster than her owner.
Dammit, why wouldn’t he wake up?
She cleared her throat and forced her wandering thoughts back to the dogs: “Uh, Dante’s been a bit of a problem. He’s still in guard mode, not letting anyone close to his kennel. And, unfortunately, Matilda is back to cowering in the corner of her kennel.”
Anna groaned. “Dammit. All that work we’ve done with her…” She snapped her fingers. “Gone. I’ve really loved seeing her come out of her shell, and now she’s going to retreat even farther into it.”
“She’ll bounce back,” Sasha said, trying to inject as much certainty into her voice as Anna had about Donovan waking up. “She’s already proven she’s strong and resilient.”
“Yeah, it’ll just take a lot of work. And now I’ll have to disrupt her more and find a new place for her to live while we rebuild—”
“I’ll take her.” The words surprised Sasha even as they popped out of her mouth. She hadn’t had a pet since her fourteen-year-old black lab passed away from cancer last year, and she hadn’t planned on getting another one any time soon. But this felt right.
Anna looked at her, stunned. “You sure you’re ready for another pet? I thought you were still grieving for Roscoe.”
She nodded. “I’ll always grieve. He was my boy, and I miss him every day, but I think it’s time.”
Anna’s eyes welled up again. “Thank you so much. That’s such a relief. One less thing I have to worry about. Now I’ll just have to find someone who can handle Hurricane Dante.”
“Give him to Ash.”
Anna nearly choked on a sip of her milkshake. “Oh, yeah, he’d love that. I can hear him now…” She deepened her voice, mimicking her twin: “‘I don’t have time for one of your lost causes, AJ.’”
“He’ll take him, though, if you ask. He’ll do anything for you.”
“Yes, I know he would, but he has a lot going on with this fire. I can’t ask him to take Dante on, too. Not now, at least.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts. Tears dripped down Anna’s cheeks again, and Sasha was at a loss of what to say to comfort her.
“Okay, enough sad talk.” Anna swiped away her tears with both hands, then leaned forward conspiratorially. “Time to spill the tea. You and Donovan? Um, excuse me, ma’am, when did that happen? Was it at the fundraiser? And what about Ash?”
Sasha groaned inwardly. She’d expected the questions but had hoped recent events would put them off for a bit longer. Especially since she still wasn’t sure how she felt about the whole Donovan thing. It was easier to focus on his injuries than what came before and what could potentially happen after. “It… didn’t happen.”
“Sash, you were wearing the man’s shirt that morning over your ripped dress. Don’t you try to tell me it didn’t happen. C’mon, I thought we were friends!”
“Okay, okay.” Sasha laughed. “Don’t give me those puppy eyes. I can’t take it.”
Anna batted her lashes. “Then spill.”
“I mean, yeah. It happened, and it was…” She couldn’t even find words for it and made an exploding motion by her temples.
Anna smirked. “Yeah, I bet it was.”
“But we’re not a couple. It was a semi-drunken one-night thing.”
“Says the woman who has sat at his bedside for three days.”
