Page 54 of The ABCs of You & Me

“We’ve got a couple boarders,” he says. “Temporary residents,” he amends forcefully, smiling down at Marley who’s looking at him like she doesn’t believe a word of it.

“Oh? You’ve learned what ‘temporary’ means?” I tease.

Foster looks from me to Bennett, confused.

“Believe it or not, Soph, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on the word.”

“He has,” Cass confirms. “The three temps are from Teddy’s place.”

“Teddy’s place? It’s official then?” I ask.

Cass’s former coworker Teddy and his partner Nellie had gone up to Marmot Point five years ago and had bounced between Bennett’s and Spencer Lake Rescue while the owners were dealing with some health issues. The bet had been that it wouldn’t be long before Teddy and Nellie would be permanently changing their address.

“It is. Spencer Lake Rescue is officially their home,” Marley says sadly. “I’m so happy for them, but I do miss seeing Nell more.” Bennett and my parents burst out laughing. “I know, I know, it’s a role reversal.” She rolls her eyes.

“Aren’t you two going up next week?” Dad asks.

“We are,” Bennett confirms.

“And weren’t they here two weeks ago, to bring the dogs down?”

Bennett nods, avoiding Marley’s glare.

“And before that…” my mom begins.

“Okay, I get it,” Marley huffs.

I feel the heat from Foster’s body before his arm brushes into mine. “I don’t get what’s happening,” he whispers.

“I’ll tell you later,” I assure him.

He nods and pulls away, making me wish we were pretending to be dating here too.

“Ya know,” Marley says as we begrudgingly take part in the annual “I’m too full for this shit” Easter walk, “for two people who aren’t pretending to be together, you kind of look like two people who are together.”

I slow my pace, putting some distance between everyone else and us. “We get along well. We always have.”

“No offense, but the vibes are more than two people who get along well. Is there something there?”

“No,” I say a bit too quickly.

“Do you want there to be?” she pries.

“When did you become such a romantic?” I ask.

“You’ve met my husband? Oh, and this slightly overbearing, if not well-meaning, incredibly meddlesome couple, the Hores? I had no choice. I had to conform or lose my mind. And conforming has way better benefits,” she says coyly.

“How’s the new book coming?”

Marley looks at me as we walk and I can see her wanting to push for more out of the corner of my eye, but she gives her head a small shake. “It’s going well. I’ve submitted everything I need to for the outline, and now it’s up to Simon to fill in all the blanks.”

“Well, I’m excited for it. Let me know when pre-orders are available.”

“I’m sure your mom will before I have a chance.” She chuckles. We ended up with nine copies of the first one between my parents and me because we all ordered a copy for ourselves and each other. A fact that thoroughly embarrassed Marley.

“Any new cravings or aversions?”

“Sadly, only your mom’s sauce still. I was hoping I’d start craving things that are super healthy, but so far nothing. I guess I should be happy I’m not craving really specific things that are hard to get.”

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