Page 73 of The Problem with Dating

“Doing what?”

“Getting emotional.”

“Well, you just told me you lost your great-aunt. It’s called sympathy. I feel bad for you.”

“I didn’t ask you to feel bad for me.”

“Sympathy doesn’t only work on requests.”

“I didn’t even state if I liked my aunt. I could’ve despised her for all you know.”

“You’re right. It’s not my place to assume. Regardless, I’ve been called the dog whisperer before. All you need to do is get the sweet boy into his crate here, I’m guessing, yes? And then into your car?”

“Yes. My car is in the back. I have to pull it around.”

I nodded. “You go do that, and by the time you get back, I’ll have the dog in the crate for you and will help you load him into your vehicle.”

He was wary at first but then agreed. “I’ll just be a minute.”

“Take your time. I’ll be here getting to know…”

“Feliz.”

“Feliz.” I smiled. “Happy.”

“He’s the complete opposite of that,” he warned.

“So maybe you two do have something in common,” I joked.

“Hardy har har,” he muttered. “You’re so funny, Yara.”

I smirked a little, pleased with how I seemed to get under his skin a bit in a playful way. “Go get your car. We’ll be ready when you get back.”

It was very quiet, but I could’ve sworn he muttered a thank you before he headed off to grab his vehicle. To my surprise, Feliz and I had quite a quick turnaround. Once the dog realized I wasn’t going to hurt him, he allowed me to place him in his crate, and I gathered up his box of goods once Alex came back around the corner.

He parked his car and stepped out with a somewhat shocked expression. “How the heck did you do that?”

“I told you. Dog whisperer.”

He opened the backseat of his car. When he went to grab the crate from me, when Feliz began barking aggressively. He tossed his hands up in surrender and grumbled, “Stupid dog.”

“He’s scared of you. The same way you’re scared of him. Give it time. You’ll both grow to like one another. Here. Take the box of his goodies, and I’ll put him in the car.”

Alex did as I said and walked over to the other side of the vehicle. He opened the door and placed Feliz’s goods inside, then shut the door.

I put Feliz’s crate into the car and smiled down at the dog that was smiling my way. “Take it easy on Alex. It’s his first day being a parent.”

Feliz licked my hand one final time as a goodbye, and I gave him a scratch behind his ear through the crate doors, then stood and closed the car door. I turned to Alex. “Give Feliz time to warm up. He’s in a new place and scared. If I were you, I’d sign up for training sessions with him.”

“Why did he like you so much so soon?”

“I told you, everyone likes me.”

He brushed a thumb against his bottom lip. “Little Miss Goldie.”

I smiled. “Big Mr. Black.”

He smiled back, and I wanted my mind to get a mental photograph of the way his lips turned up.

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