Page 15 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

“I don’t see any reason to. It doesn’t matter to me what you think.” I’m lying through her teeth. It matters. I just don’t understand why.

“Well, aren’t you enlightened?” Dylan rises from the chair with his soda in hand. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have a couple calls to make before we get back to work.”

I watch him walk out to the lobby and hear him greet Chloe before the door swings shut behind him. I release the pressure on my tongue. I literally had to bite it to keep from defending myself. But, of all people, I know nothing good ever comes from defending yourself. As a matter of fact, it usually just escalates whatever situation you are in.

It never bothers me at home to keep my mouth shut and let the conversation die out; why is it so tough now? I look down at the empty sandwich bag and the note “Say cheese, you ham” and let a small smile form.

“It doesn’t matter what he thinks. He’s a temporary blip in my world. I’ve got all I need with my friends.”

Chloe enters the room in a rush. “Do you know if we have any more leashes?”

“Cat or dog?”

“Dog.”

“There should be a box in the storage room, on the second shelf, to the left of the door,” I say.

She nods.

“Oh, and Chloe.”

She looks at me expectantly.

“Dylan has some strangely good chemistry going with Popeye. Maybe he should spend more time with him.”

She raises her eyebrows. “He does?”

“Yeah.” Seeing the hope in her eyes makes me glad I mentioned it. “Popeye loves him.”

She smiles and looks at nothing over my shoulder. “Imagine if we could get him adopted out after all.”

“I know.” It would make Dylan a fricking hero, and that would make me mad, but Popeye in a loving home would be great.

“Do you mind working it out to give him extra time with Popeye? He can play fetch and walk him on a leash if Popeye will let him.”

“No problem.”

Chloe gives me a thumbs up and disappears again. I sigh and pop a cracker in my mouth.

When I’m done with lunch, I return to the kennels to start the process again. Dylan isn’t back by the time I’m ready to clean Popeye’s kennel. I stand outside kennel C and stare at the empty dog run, contemplating what to do. With a shrug, I skip Popeye for the time being and let the next two dogs out first. Popeye deserves happy dog time, even if I don’t understand why anyone or any dog would choose to spend it with Dylan.

By the time Dylan finally arrives, I’m starting on the other kennel row.

“It’s not a lunch hour, you know. It’s just a half an hour,” I snap when he strolls around the corner, totally unapologetic, as usual.

Dylan stiffens and bites out his response. “I had something to take care of.”

“I saved Popeye for you.” I nod in the general direction. “As a matter of fact, I spoke with Chloe, and she’d appreciate it if you spend extra time with Popeye.”

His brow furrows. “Why?”

Shouldn’t this be obvious? “He’s been here for a long time. It’s hard to place dogs with behavior issues. Didn’t I already cover this?”

Dylan’s expression goes blank, which infuriates me more. He could at least have the decency to be annoyed by my reminder. “What does that have to do with me spending more time with him?”

My fist curls as I check my impatience. I remember it’s only his second day, and he doesn’t know a lot about animals. Taking the time, I explain how working with Popeye can help the dog learn to be around people again. I clarify the different things he can do with Popeye and suggest he stay with him while I take care of the cat cave.

Dylan smirks. “If it gets me out of working with those creepy cats, then I’m all for it.”

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