Page 10 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

“Poor little guy.”

“It’s my fault. I got excited to talk with you and—damn. Can you wait here with him? I’ll run back for his water.”

“No need.” I scooped Ginsberg into my arms.

“Oh. At least let me carry him.” James trotted alongside me.

“I got him.”

“But, Phin…”

“He’s heavy for a small dog. He share dinner with you last night or something?”

“Since I had spicy tamales, no.”

“You like spicy food?”

“Love it. One of the best things about moving to Arizona.”

I smiled. My dad would approve.

“But Ginsberg has a sensitive stomach.”

“I bet he could handle it.” I juggled Ginsberg a little.

“You don’t sleep with him,” James said. “He couldn’t handle it. Spicy gives him flatulence.”

Ginsberg’s tush was near my chest. I lowered him slightly. “Good thing he didn’t have any tamales.”

I carried Ginsberg all the way to the firehouse, with James nervously checking the dog. Once he was hydrated and in theback seat, however, Ginsberg suddenly had the energy to put his paws on the window and bark.

“Thank goodness,” James exclaimed.

“Yeah, he seems fine.”

“Just lazy and thirsty. Still, I’m calling my vet.”

I patted his head. “Bye, Ginsberg. Keep cool in that AC.”

Ginsberg opened his mouth wide in what looked like a goofy smile.

“Wow, no more stink eye. He likes me now. All it took was carrying him in my arms. Maybe I’ll do it each time we meet.”

“He wouldn’t fight that idea.” James grinned.

He settled Ginsberg and then came around the car and offered his hand. “Thanks for seeing me, and this time, I’ll ask you if we could be friends. After all, how can Inotbe friends with a guy who carried my dog?”

“Sure.” We shook on it.

“Today’s the first day of the new year, as far as I’m concerned. Considering my first day was awful and my resolution sucked.”

“What was the resolution?”

“To join a dating service and try again with all that. I almost convinced myself I wouldn’t be bad at it.” James made a face. “I’m a glass-half-full person, except about dating.”

“I’m a glass half-empty about everything else,” I joked. Only it wasn’t a joke.

“Did you know that the glass half-empty or half-full was first cited by Ronald Reagan in aNew York Timesarticle, although there’s a lack of consensus on it.” He frowned. “Sorry, nerd alert, as my brother would say. I have a thing for etymology.”

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