Page 5 of So Bleak

She got out of her car and quickly closed the navigation app. She sighed and started around to let Turk out, only to find he had jumped across the seats and left through her door already. He looked up at her, tail wagging, and she said, "Well, here's hoping David's right about this place allowing pets. It looks fancy."

Technically speaking, as a K9, Turk was a service animal and not subject to the normal restrictions regarding pets, but Faith didn’t like taking advantage of that exemption. She didn’t really like fancy restaurants in general. She hated having to worry about how she was sitting and if she was using the right fork or how to hold her wine glass. David always insisted it didn’t matter, but Faith couldn’t shake the feeling of being a bull in a China shop each time they went out to a high-end place.

Turk, of course, couldn’t care in the slightest. He trotted happily into the restaurant and barked greetings at the other dogs present. Well, there were other dogs present, so that was good. David was right about the place being pet-friendly. Other than the façade, it didn't look too fancy either, so that was nice.

“Faith!”

She turned toward the sound of the voice and grinned when she saw the handsome movie-star looks of Dr. David Friedman, Turk’s vet and the love of Faith’s life. She giggled and rushed into his arms, then sighed as she melted into his kiss. She didn’t feel like much of a “girly” girl, but something about David filled her with butterflies and rainbows and made her want to dance like a ballerina.

“Wow,” David said when he pulled away. “Someone’s in a good mood.”

“Why do you say that like you’re surprised?” Faith challenged.

"I'm not surprised; I'm just happy to see you. You know, I like stating the obvious."

“That’s true. You do have a knack for that.”

“Well, let me state something else that’s obvious. You’re beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes, but she felt her cheeks heat at the praise. “And you’re handsome. Any other gross things you want to say before we have dinner?” He grinned, and she cut him off. “No.”

“What? You asked.”

“Yeah, and I regret it. God, introducing you to Michael was the worst mistake of my life.”

David had only recently met Faith’s partner, Michael. Despite their initial meeting being somewhat less than ideal, the two had become fast friends, a fact that Faith both appreciated and… well, resented was the wrong word, but it was hard enough to handle Michael’s sense of humor without David showing a similar immature side.

“Oh, you know you love me.”

She sighed. “I do. Remind me why again?”

“Sure.” He grinned. “After dinner.”

She rolled her eyes and took her seat. “Is this the kind of place that sells food you can eat with your hands, or do I need to know what the different forks are for?”

“One for dinner, and one for dessert,” he replied. “That’s what I use them for anyway.”

“Good enough for me. Where’s the dog menu?”

“On the back. You’re just going to get him the steak, though, so no point in looking.”

“Hey, you don’t know that. I might decide to branch out and order him the… Vegan, gluten-free plant-based salmon."

Turk looked up at her in alarm, and David laughed and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, boy. I won’t let her order you that.”

Turk sighed with relief, and Faith giggled again. There was nothing like a meal with her two favorite boys to take her mind off of the case.

Unfortunately, one of her favorite boys, while handsome as hell and very sweet, was only smart when it came to pet health. “Have you been watching the case?”

Her smile faded. She shrugged and said, “Not really. I’m kind of over all of it, you know?”

David didn’t take the hint. “You hear they’re calling him the new Richard Ramirez?”

She forced another smile and said, “Let’s not talk about West right now. How are you doing? How’s work?”

It was more of an instruction than a hint, but at least David understood it this time. “Work’s good. I’m great. I’ll be better when my girlfriend of almost two years lives with me.”

She sighed, but her reticence was more of a ritual than something she actually felt anymore. With West in custody, she wasn’t afraid for David’s safety the way she used to be. She actually wanted to move in with him. But she couldn’t just come out and say that. She needed him to work for it a little.

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