Page 11 of Cash

“Yeah. Snots,” Dad says with a laugh.

I chuckle at the name and look back down to the dog. I’ve missed having one, but with Ava’s dog Loki and his pups around, it’s been easier. Watching the pups grow up and seeing their protective instincts kick in, I’ve been thinking more about getting one myself. I missed the boat on getting one of Loki’s, though. They were all spoken for long before they were even born.

“Snots. Come,” I instruct.

He doesn’t budge. Doesn’t even open an eye.

“Snots. Come,” I repeat in a deeper tone.

One eye opens briefly.

“Snots! Come!”

In a put-out manner, he lifts his head and stares at me. Two seconds, maybe three before he flops it back down.

“Snots!” I command in a firm tone.

The dog slowly pushes himself up to a sitting position. I click my fingers down low by my leg and wait.

After a few long seconds of contemplation, Snots stands, walks to my feet, and drops his ass to the deck.

“Good boy,” I tell him while rubbing his head as a reward.

The damn dog looks up, and I swear he’s smiling. Probably just looks that way since all his bottom teeth are showing, but he’s still pretty damn cute.

“That’s the most I’ve seen him move since he’s been here,” Dad states.

After another moment of wakefulness, Snots decides he’s had enough and drops back to his side. He’s snoring within a minute.

“Want a beer, Cash?” Dad asks.

I collect beers for the three of us and settle back in my chair. I listen in amusement as Dad and Terry banter back and forth while waiting patiently for Snots’ mom to get back from her run. A short while later, I see her coming down the street.

“Here comes Livi,” Terry announces as she hits the driveway and comes to a stop. “Hey, Livi! I’ll grab you a water. Come on up and grab a seat.”

As Terry enters the house, I watch as Livi eyes me with surprise as she steps onto the deck. Her face is somewhat red and sweaty, lungs struggling to replenish her body. She uses her forearm to wipe her forehead before taking the seat across from me. She’s not looking her best, but she’s still far from unattractive. I’m not sure she could be, even with effort. Beautiful, crystal blue eyes stare back at me as I take a long draw of beer. Our eyes remain locked as Dad does the introductions.

“Livi, this ugly man-child’s my son, Cash Larson. Cash, meet Livi, Snots’ mom. Told you she was beautiful, Cash.”

“Livi. Nice to finally have a name to go with your face,” I say.

She continues staring without saying a word as a deeper shade of red hits her cheekbones. I know she’s embarrassed and again probably wondering what her large friend said to me at the bar. I find this bothers me because I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable around me.

“You’ve met before?” Dad questions in surprise.

“I passed her on my way here,” I answer hoping she realizes I’m not going to mention the bar scene.

“Uh, yeah, that’s right. I remember seeing you on a Harley,” Livi says, finally speaking.

“No. No. No. No staring at Cash. He’s my future ex-husband,” Terry states as he plops down a water bottle on the table in front of Livi.

“Oh! I didn’t real—,” Livi starts to say before I cut her off.

“Not true. Not happening. Behave, Terry.”

“It may not happen, but you can’t stop me from fantasizing about it happening,” Terry says with a sniff as he steps over Snots and takes a seat.

“That’s an ongoing battle, Livi. Ignore it, like I do,” Dad advises.

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