Page 47 of The Good Boy

“More sandwiches?” Rory says, perusing Susan’s selection with naked delight.

“So, what’s the inside scoop on the neighbors?” Amanda asks. “Who’s fun and who should we avoid?”

“We’ll, you’re clearly wonderful.” Susan nods at Rory.

“Yeah, I am,” Rory says.

“Yes, Rory here is my... lodger,” I say. That’s a concept that is taking quite some getting used to.

“Don’t you mind that, Miles?” Amanda asks.

“Mind what?” Miles asks.

“Your girlfriend having such a hunk of a lodger.” Amanda laughs, just as she catches Susan’s eye and realizes she’s made a faux pas.

“Oh, Genie and I are just friends,” Miles says with quite some emphasis. “Just old, old, old, old, old, old friends.”

“I think that was about five ‘olds’ too many,” I mutter.

“Oh,” Amanda says. “I’m sorry, I should be the last person to make assumptions, but it’s just that you came together and Rory is so vocal about you not being his girlfriend, Genie, and I”—Amanda catches Susan’s eye—“will just shut up now. Would you like a mini quiche?”

“No thanks,” Miles says. “It’s getting late so...”

“It’s eight-thirty,” I say.

“Still,” Miles says. “I think I’ll probably...”

“You’re tired,” I say, but before Miles can leave there is suddenly a burst of enthusiastic cheers from my neighbors, who are almost all gathered around Rory.

“Genie! Miles!” Rory calls to us. “We’re going to go in the yard and howl at the moon to get in touch with our inner wolves! Wanna come?”

I look at Miles.

“Rude not to,” he says.

“I think I’ll go home,” I say after the people from the street that backs onto ours call the police, fearing some kind of drug-fueled zombie attack. “Do you want to stay, Rory? I think the party is going to keep going, if a lot more quietly and lot less ferally than it was.”

“Without you?” Rory asks, looking suddenly worried.

“Yes, it’s allowed,” I tell him. “You are technically a grown-up, and it looks like you’re having a great time. You really are a people person.”

“I am,” he says. “Most dogs are. Still, I think I’ll come home with you, Genie. It’s nearly time for our TV series. And you did really well tonight. You probably need a sit-down and several uninterrupted hours of silence.”

“You get me,” I say, putting my hand on his arm, almost weepy with gratitude.

I hang around for another ten minutes while Rory says goodbye to all his friends. It’s almost ten as we head over the road.

“Our boy’s a natural,” I say to Miles as we pause outside our front doors.

“We make pretty great parents.” Miles chuckles.

I can feel the heat blooming in my cheeks, and a tug of sadness too.

“I didn’t mean like a... couple or anything,” Miles says hurriedly.

“Duh, obviously not,” I say, making a theatrical gagging noise.

“Just a good team.”

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