Page 74 of In the Air Tonight

Blaise

NOW

In the morning, I’m awakened again by Fenway barking in the yard and Jack telling her to hush before she wakes their guest.

The dog just keeps barking like he didn’t say anything.

I’m smiling when I haul myself out of bed and make a beeline for coffee. Since I told my story to Houston, I already feel so much better than I have in years. I honestly don’t care what happens next. Anything—and I do meananything—is better than knowing about such a thing and not speaking up.

I pull on a zip-up sweatshirt and take my coffee out to watch the Jack and Fenway show.

“I’m sorry,” he says when I appear in the doorway. “She’s incorrigible.”

“Don’t worry about it. There are worse sounds to wake up to than puppy joy.”

“That’s a nice way of looking at it. I hope you don’t give me a crappy Yelp review.”

I laugh at the goofy face he makes to go along with the comment. “I’ve never written a Yelp review in my life, and I’m not going to start with you.”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

He’s so cute and funny, and I appreciate that he shared his painful past with me. Losing both his parents in a matter of weeks had to have been a devasting blow. That he turned lemons into lemonade by adding the cottages to help pay the expenses so he could keep his childhood home is also admirable.

But I have other questions.

“So what do you do with yourself other than walk around barefooted, play with your dog at the crack of dawn and manage your property?”

“Hello, nine o’clock isnotthe crack of dawn. It’s like noon for those of us who know how to make the most of a day.”

“I’m on vacation. Why do I feel judged?”

He laughs, and a little shiver of excitement travels down my spine. When was the last time that happened? How about never? I was a late bloomer in the boyfriend department, which is why what I witnessed at seventeen set me back even further. I’ve dated here and there, had some sex I kind of enjoyed, but nothing special.

My newfound sense of freedom from the terrible burden has created space inside me to imagine things such as dating a guy like Jack, who’s fun, funny, handsome, sexy and he has a very cute dog. That’s definitely a plus. I’ve always loved dogs but never had an apartment that allowed pets.

Fenway comes rushing over to where I’m seated on the front step, drops her spitty ball at my feet and gives me a wet kiss before I have a second to prepare for any of it. “Damn, she’s quick.”

“The tongue is like lightning. It’s a weapon of mass destruction.”

I can’t believe the way I giggle like a young girl as the dog accosts me while her sexy owner says funny stuff about her.

“Fenway! That’s enough. Leave Blaise alone. She’s our guest.”

Fenway responds to his sterner tone of voice, plopping her rump down as she continues to pant and smile at me.

“She’ssocute.”

“And she knows it. That’s what makes her a holy terror.”

“You love her.”

“Desperately. She’s my best girl.”

“How’s a guy like you calling his Golden Retriever his best girl? And granted, she’s an exceptional Golden Retriever.”

“Are you asking why a sexy devil like me is single?”

I sputter with pretend outrage. “I never said that!”

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