Page 6 of Micah

“What arewe doing at the animal shelter?” Avery asks when I park my truck.

“You’ll see.”

“Micah,” she says, my name a warning. I could wait to surprise her, but my gut tells me it might be better to spoil it now, before we’re inside with a bunch of witnesses. A couple of whom happen to be her closest friends.

“We’re taking a dog out for a day.”

“What?”

“It’s a new program Haley’s implementing. If approved—which I am—you can come sign a dog out of the shelter for the afternoon or day so they can have a small adventure outside of this place. Some of them have been here for months.”Including Henry. “This helps break up the monotony and maybe even gets them adopted by someone they meet while they’re out and about.”

“That’s actually a really great idea,” Avery says, her expression slowly lifting.

The way she looks at me, like I’m a hero who just rescued a box of kittens from the side of the road, tempts me to reach forher cheek and draw her in for a kiss neither one of us will ever forget. But I know my best friend. I need to stick to the plan, or I risk scaring her away.

“So why did I bring my camera?” she asks.

“I thought you could take some pictures that Haley can use on their website to announce the new program.”

But the moment we’re inside the shelter, and Haley greets us with Henry, I’m pretty certain Avery has seen right through my exaggerated truth. After a quick but firm glare in my direction, Avery drops down to a crouch to greet the senior golden.

“He’s allergic to chicken,” Haley warns, handing the leash to Avery. “And if you’re brave enough to get him a pup cup inside a vehicle, you might want to wear a gas mask. But he’s great on a leash until he gets bored.”

“What happens when he gets bored?” Avery asks, looking up at Haley. Henry has all but climbed into Avery’s lap.

“He goes into full blown stubborn old man dog mode.”

“You do?” Avery asks the dog, rubbing both hands on the side of his face. “But you’re too sweet to be stubborn.”

“Tell him that when he plops his butt down on the ground and refuses to move,” Haley adds with a laugh. “And good luck moving seventy pounds of dead weight.”

“You’re just set in your ways, aren’t you boy?” Avery presses her forehead to his. The golden eats up the attention. They’re perfect together. Why can’t she see it? With any luck, Henry won’t have to spend another day in the shelter. Hopefully, after today, there will be no more denying that they’re meant to be.

First the dog.

Then us.

“Please have him back by seven.”

It’s not as much time as I’d hoped if Plan A doesn’t work, but it’s enough for Malcom to inspect the water damage. If it’sminor, he and Declan should be able to knock out the repairs before we get home later. “You two ready?” I ask Avery.

“Let’s go, Henry!”

Haley shoots me a glance that feels both approving and skeptical at the same time. She’s not the only friend of Avery’s to call me out on my feelings for her. She’s also not the only friend who’s threatened to bury my body where no one will find it if I mess this up and hurt Avery. “We’ll be back by seven.”

I lift Henry into the backseat of my truck. But before either Avery or I can get in the front, he’s climbed into the passenger seat. Because the park is nearby, we allow Henry to sit in Avery’s lap on the quick drive over.

“Did you bring treats?” she asks me when I park.

“Two kinds.”

“Water?”

“And a travel bowl.”

“Poo bags?”

I reach around Henry for her hand and squeeze. “I’ve got it covered, sweetheart. Trust me.”

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