Page 14 of His Every Move

I was sandwiched between a college student who apparently wanted a career as a DJ and thought everyone in the building needed to be graced with his mixes and a couple who argued as if it were their full-time jobs. It wouldn’t be odd to hear a door slam in the middle of the night or a shouting match break out over breakfast.

So I wasn’t surprised that they were going at it again. Angry shouts drifted into the hallway as I walked past their door, which happened to be open.

“No! Fuck you! I’m done!”

Yes, please, Samantha, be done with this deadbeat. You deserve better.

“Go, then! Take your stupid dog with you!”

What an asshole.

“Fine! Fuck you!”

“Fuck you!”

Fuck this entire situation.

I unlocked my door and was about to step in when Samantha stormed out into the hallway. She had a small pink suitcase with her, their older Jack Russell terrier being dragged behind her on a matching pink leash. Tears streaked down her face, her eyes puffy and red. My heart went out to her. But maybe this was the fresh start she needed.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she spotted me, slamming her apartment door shut. “I’m sorry you had to hear any of that.”

“It’s okay,” I replied. I didn’t want to make her feel worse than she already did.

She looked down at the dog. Lucky was his name. I had walked him a couple of times in the past. He was friendly, cute, a little dopey.

I was going to miss him.

“I’m… fuck.” Samantha rubbed her face, moved a lock of light brown hair from her eyes. “Benji, I don’t know what to do. I… I don’t want to ask you this, but?—”

Shit.Where was this headed? Was she going to ask to crash in my place? I didn’t mind the small size, but having a practical stranger crammed in there with me would likely drive me crazy.

“I’m leaving to my parents’ place.”

Oh, thank God.

“They live in Australia. And I don’t think I can take Lucky with me. Their landlord doesn’t allow animals, and that flight alone, he’s older… I… I can’t take Lucky to a shelter, either. I can’t see him like that. And I can’t leave him here with Greg. Fuck.”

Ah, so that’s where this was headed.

I looked down at the innocent dog. He sat patiently at his mom’s feet. He was a cute pup, with coarse white-and-brown fur and a short tail that seemed to be permanently wagging.

“Can you… can you take him for me? I don’t want to dump him on you. I understand if you can’t take care of him, but can you at least get him a good home?”

This wasnothow I expected my evening to go.

I weighed out my choices. Be an asshole and let her figure it out herself? Take Lucky and head to the shelter on my way to pick up some dinner?

Keep Lucky myself and give him the good home she was seeking for him?

I held out my hand. It was an easy decision to make. “I’ll take him.”

“Oh, thank you, Benji. You’re a lifesaver. Seriously. Thank you.” Samantha crouched down and showered Lucky in kisses. He lapped at her cheek, getting up on his hind paws as if he wanted to be carried. Samantha started to cry.

Fuck… this was fucked.

“Just let me know what shelter you take him to. Please make sure it’s a no-kill shelter. He’s older. He probably won’t be adopted for a little bit.” She stood back up, wiping at her cheeks and handing me the leash.

“Don’t worry,” I said, reassuring her. “I’ll keep him. You can visit whenever you come back. And I’ll send you updates. Pictures.”

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