Page 35 of Borrow My Heart

Oh, right, this was the main reason I was keeping up the charade—Dale’s suspicions. In all my stressing over D&D rules I hadn’t thought about the Kamala connection to our first meeting.

“I suggested the coffee shop,” I said. “Can’t be too safe when meeting strangers.”

Asher paused as though about to correct me, as though about to tell me thatheactually suggested the meeting place. But I was saved by a little Chihuahua that came tearing down the hall, yipping loudly as it did. It ended up at my feet, where it began to run circles around me.

“You must be Buffy,” I said over the noise.

“Sorry,” Asher said, scooping her up. She immediately quieted but stared at me with bulging eyes.

“It’s okay, Slayer,” I said. “We’ll be friends soon.” I wasn’t trying to be cocky, but I hadn’t met a dog I couldn’t win over. People were a different story.

“You don’t want that dog to like you,” Dale said. “It has a leg-humping problem.”

“I do have pretty irresistible legs.”

“No comment,” Dale said.

We paused for a few moments longer in the room with the nice couches, like we were all waiting for something to happen.

“Come on,” Asher said, holding Buffy in one arm and pointing the container of cookies toward the hall in front of us like it wasn’t the one and only option.

As we walked, noise—talking and laughter—filtered down the hall and my nerves flared again. We rounded the corner to a great room attached to the kitchen. Asher’s mom was at the island putting out food and chatting to the two people in the great room standing by the couch. I had expected a larger group.

His mom spotted me and said, “Welcome, welcome, Wren!” Then her eyes found Buffy, still in Asher’s arm. “Oh no, is she bugging you? She can be such a handful, but she’s sweet. I’m sure you’ve had to deal with lots of dogs that are much worse. Right?” she asked me like she needed reassurance that she didn’t own Satan’s dog.

“Much worse,” I said, because that was actually true. “Buffy is nothing. I mean, she’s very normal…doglike.”

“Wren brought cookies,” Asher said, saving me from whatever hole I seemed to be falling down.

Asher deposited Buffy outside the back door, then set the cookies on the counter. His mom oohed and aahed over them like they weren’t just a dozen store-bought cookies.

“They’re probably too crispy,” I said, because apparently I didn’t do well with praise.

“I love crispy,” Cori said. She rounded the island and came over to me. “I’m so glad you made it.” She squeezed my shoulders andbrought me in for a short hug. “And who’s this?” She turned to Kamala and hugged her as well.

“This is my friend Kami,” I said.

“Welcome, both of you. Eat and have fun and try not to die. May your rolls bring you luck tonight.” With that she left.

Kamala blinked. “She’s so mommy.”

“The mommiest,” I said.

I hadn’t meant for Asher to hear me, but he obviously had. “Sorry,” he said. “My mom is easily excitable.”

“She’s nice,” I assured him.

“Aggressively nice.”

I gave a laugh. “Is that where you get it from?”

“You think I’m aggressively nice?”

“Like the little puppies we get in at the shelter, climbing all over each other to give their love to the closest recipient.”

“Good thing puppies are your favorite.” He smirked as he walked toward the others.

A smile spread across my face.

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