Page 60 of My Ex-Best Friends

“Then you have a new dog.” She looked back at his back end again. “If that’s the case, you’ll need to bring him in for a complete exam. I’d suggest neutering him. It’ll be expensive, but I’d do it all for free if you’d do one of your murals for us.”

I stared down at the dog and felt panic growing. “I’m living with my mother. I can’t even take care of myself. I can’t take care of another living being.”

“Breathe. The best pet parents always panic a little when they get a new dog. It’s a lot of work. But you brought him here so I have faith in you.” She patted my shoulder. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“I didn’t get a new dog! He just started following me!” I looked down and realized he’d inched his way closer and closer, until he was practically leaning into me, and I was absently patting his head. “Oh, shit. I think I got a new dog.”

“Yep. Still, put up a notice. I’d hate to think of someone missing this big guy.” She slowly backed away. “Alright, come see me as soon as you decide he’s yours.”

I frowned. “What do I call him?”

She grinned. “That’s the fun part. Name him.”

On the walk home, I tried out different names to see if he’d answer to any certain name. I was still full of anxiety about him but he deserved a name.

Aunt Karlene was waiting for me at Mom’s house. “I knew you were going to rescue a handsome man today. His name’s Lucifer. Lucy for short.”

My mouth fell open when he barked and sat at my feet, tongue rolling out of his mouth with an exorbitant amount of drool. “You know his owner?”

“No. But I did see a couple of assholes kick him out of their car earlier. He ran off before I could get to him. I heard them calling him Lucy, though. Don’t worry, I cursed the shit out of them.” She reached out and rubbed his head. “You two are kindred spirits. And he’ll keep you company until you and your guys work it out.”

“They just kicked him out and left him?” I felt my heart crack for the big dog. Kneeling down, I scratched behind his ears and stared back into his big, brown eyes. “Oh, god. I’m keeping him.”

He licked my face and reached up to rest his paw on my arm. Aunt Karlene patted my head and smiled at us.

“Oh, god.” Mom came outside, her eyes wide. “Fine. He can stay but you’re doing the pooper scooping.”

I wiped my face off just to have Lucy lick me again. “Okay. Sure. Anything. I love him. That’s crazy, right? How can I already love him? But how could I not? Look at him. He’s an angel.”

“Come on, Daisy. Take me to dinner. These two need to get in Brooke’s car and go shopping. Brooke doesn’t know how expensive her new love is going to be. Let’s go before she does the math.”

I waved them off and decided shopping for Lucy would make me feel better about my life. Just because I was sad didn’t meanhe needed to be. “Come on, Lucy. Let’s go spoil you. I guess we can stop by the vet’s office again and go ahead and schedule your appointments.”

48

***Colt***

Banging on the front door woke me up from the shitty nap I was taking. I growled and stood up but Noah beat me to the door. I watched him yank it open and then shrink backwards.

“Ms. Daisy. Ms. Karlene.”

I climbed over the couch and was headed towards the back door but Karlene cleared her throat from somewhere very close behind me and I froze. Fuck. Brooke’s mom and aunt were the last two people I wanted to face.

“Sit down, Colt.” Daisy’s voice was hard as she walked around the couch and pointed at it. “We’re going to have a little discussion.”

Logan made the mistake of coming down the stairs before looking to see who’d come in. He swore as soon as he saw who it was.

“All of you are going to sit on this boring couch and listen to me. Right now.” Daisy made a face at the couch. “Honestly, does color offend you boys?”

I found myself sitting with Logan and Noah on the couch like we were children again, being called into the principal’s office. For a moment, I remembered I was a grown man and tried to stand up but Karlene pulled a stick from god only knew where and hit me over the shoulder with it.

“Sit down, Colt.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Or give me an excuse to hit you again.”

“I have been patient. I’ve waited on you three idiots to realize just how big of idiots you are but I just walked out of my house to find my daughter cuddling a dog that’s as big as she is. Do you know where that giant ass dog is going to be sleeping? My house. He’ll be chewing up my sex toys and waking me up with his barking. I’ve had a dog before. I know how it goes. So, you three need to wake up and fix this.”

Karlene put her hands on her hips and paced. “None of you deserve her. I don’t know why fate thinks you do. If I had it my way, you’d all be stranded on a deserted island for a few years, while you learned some manners. But Brooke loves you. I should curse you for hurting her. She told us what happened. Do you know how angry it makes me that she tried to tell you about losing her baby and you wouldn’t listen?”

“God, I could kick all of your asses. Of all the stupid, mean things you could’ve done to her, that was the worst.” Daisy shook her head, her disgust clear. “Are you all so stupid that you really believed she was cheating on you? People can fake messages, jackasses. Brooke isn’t a cheater. She gave herself to you three and she meant it. This has gone on for long enough now. You need to come to your senses and do some serious groveling.”

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