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“Why do I think you wouldn’t be giving him away that easily?”
“I don’t think I could,” I admit softly. “That’s why I’ve been selfishly hoping he’d be up for working until I’m done with college, but we’ll have to wait and see. Won’t we, buddy? But either way, after everything we’ve been through, he’s stuck with me.”
And I meant it.
Henry deserved the best life he could have, and I’d do anything to give it to him. It might seem silly. After all, he’s just a dog, but to me, he’s so much more than that. He’s my eyes, sure, but he’s also my best friend and partner-in-crime, somebody who’s been a part of my life for longer than most people.
I pat the floor next to me. “Lie down.”
Henry does as I ask, and I slip him a treat out of my pocket before extending my hands. “It’s your turn, buddy. We’ll get you all dolled up.”
Sebastian hands the wiggling dog to me, my fingers brushing the back of his hand as I take it in my arms. “I’ll finish giving them food.”
Nodding, I grab the brush and start working on the dog. Some of the tension seems to have left the room, which I’m grateful for. I manage to brush three other dogs before my alarm goes off, signaling it’s time to go.
“Alarm? What’s up with that?”
I silence it, getting to my feet and putting the dog back in his kennel. “Helps me keep track of time and be better organized without having to constantly check the time.”
Putting everything back into place, I grab my bag and harness. “You done?”
“Yes.”
Together we make our way back to the front, where Angie is talking to somebody. After a quick update, we say our goodbyes and leave the shelter.
“You done with your classes for today?” I ask as I start walking back home, Sebastian following after me.
“Umm… I’m supposed to be in one right now.”
He didn’t go to his class for this?
“Ditching classes barely a few weeks into the semester?”
“I just didn’t feel like going to class.”
“But you felt like volunteering?”
“You trying to get rid of me, Birdy?”
“As if that’s even possible,” I huff, coming to a stop when we get back to our building.
“Is that what you want? For me to be gone?”
“I—” His question, the sincerity in his voice, catches me off guard. My tongue darts out, sliding over my lower lip.
Sebastian moves closer. He doesn’t try to touch me, but he’s close enough I can feel his body heat and smell that spicy scent of his cologne mixing with something that’s just him.
“Because if that’s what you really want, you just have to say the word.”
His low voice sends chills up my arms. My heart kicks up a notch as I try to come up with an answer, but I don’t have any.
On the one hand, my music has been mine for so long. I don’t want to share it with anybody, but on the other… On the other hand, I don’t think I can say no to him.
The door rattles open, startling us apart. There is a heartbeat of awkward silence, and I can feel the person’s eyes on me. They mumble something so quietly I can’t decipher what they’re saying before walking away.
I rub the back of my neck. “I think we should get out of the way.”
“Yeah, sure.”
