Page 94 of Can't Always Get What You Want

Nugget watches me from the couch as her footsteps hit the front step.

My hand is already on the knob.

I swing the door open before Nova’s finger presses the doorbell.

Hair messy from the wind, her lips part in surprise at the sight of me, wide and glittering as if she didn’t expect me to look quite so unhinged when I opened the door.

“Were you watching out the window for me?”

Close. “Pretty much.”

Her eyes flick over me—barefoot, freshly showered, clearly vibrating with leftover adrenaline—grinning as her eyes sweep over my coc?—

WHUMP.

The fucking dog launches himself off the couch like a furry cannonball, tail going full helicopter. Nugget skids across the hardwood floor, claws scrambling for traction as he barrels toward the new visitor like he’s been waiting his whole life for Nova to arrive.

She gasps and bursts out laughing just as the furball collides with her knees.

“Whoa!” Her voice goes full-on baby mode. “Who’s a handsome boy! Are you a handsome boy?”

“Uh. He’s excited.” I step back as Nugget folds himself into her legs, tongue out, whining dramatically so she won’t take her eyes off him.

Damn dog.

He’s a bigger attention whore than I am.

“Excited?” she says, crouching so she can kiss him on the face. “This dog is acting like I’m his soulmate.”

I frown, cause she hasn’t kissedmeyet. “You might be.”

Nova scratches behind his ears and Nugget melts, eyes sliding closed as her nails relieve his itch. In slow motion the dog lets his entire body melt into the ground like a pool of caramel, back legs out, belly exposed—total submission.

“You’re embarrassing yourself,” I tell him, enviously.

Nova grins without looking up. “Awww, but he’s such a good, handsome boy…!”

Nugget thumps his tail in agreement, sprawled out like he owns the place. Honestly? He kind of does.

“Come on, dude,” I groan. “You’ve known her five minutes and you ditch me?” I snap my fingers. “Just like that, huh?”

Nova finally stands, brushing golden fur off her legs with a laugh. “Five minutes with Nugget and I feel spiritually healed.”

“Didn’t realize I had competition.”

She scoffs. “You didn’t until you opened the door.”

She walks past me, smirking, and Nugget leaps up, trotting after her like a furry bodyguard.

“Come on in,” I grumble.

I watch them move through the living room, like they’ve already claimed it together. She glances over her shoulder and catches me staring.

“So, this is your place, yeah?” she asks, smile crooked.

“It is.” I gesture toward the kitchen, motioning for her to follow me so I can offer her something to drink and make us a snack.

“How long have you lived here?”

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