Page 123 of Hound Dog
Meryl arched her brow. “A session?”
I winced. “Sorry. I’m not really used to talking about that part of my business. Not with anyone other than Haylee, Enzo, and Chloe.”
Meryl’s eyes went wide at the mention of names. “Chloe and Enzo, too?”
Dammit. “You can keep a secret, right Meryl?”
She swatted a hand at me. “Oh honey. I’m a New Yorker. Secrets are what we do best. But you should tell your family sooner than later. If an ol’ bat like me figured it out, it’s only a matter of time before they do, too.”
Meryl turned and started limping back into the house, waving at me from over her shoulder to join her. “Well, come on, then. Let’s pack up Eleanor’s things.”
I entered the house, shutting the door behind me. “A hedgehog hasthings?”
“Please,” Meryl snorted. “Eleanor is a lady. And a ladyalwayshas things.”
I arrivedat my mom’s house a few minutes later with a slightly melted cheese board in my right hand, a room temperature salad in my left, and a hedgehog in a plastic bubble tucked under my arm.
Liam opened the door for me, his eyes going wide. “What isthat?”
“Haven’t you seen a cheese board before?”
He took the covered plate from me, and I was able to shift my items around to hold Eleanor better.
“I’m talking about that miniature porcupine you’ve got there.”
Out of nowhere, Chloe popped up behind Liam, resting her chin on his shoulder as she snaked her arms around his torso. “Awwww, he’s so cute! What’s his name?”
“Hername is Eleanor.”
Addy came down the hall, looking around Chloe and Liam to see what we were talking about.
Chloe smiled and gently tapped her finger against the plastic. Eleanor booped her nose against where Chloe’s finger was pressed. “Hey, Eleanor. You’re adorable, you know that?”
“Ugh, Eleanor? Meryl must have named her.” Addy bent, going nose to nose with the bubble. “You deserve a much better name than that with badass quills like you’ve got here. Something like Spike. Or Bandit. Or Harley.”
Liam’s face scrunched. “You know those things carry salmonella, don’t you? By just petting her you could catch some pretty nasty bacteria that could make you sick.”
Without missing a beat, Addy said, “So does your dick, but Chloe doesn’t seem to stop pettingit, now does she?”
Chloe snorted a laugh to which Liam shot her a playful glare.
Not one to be intimidated, Chloe pinched his cheeks. “Sorry babe, she’s probably got a point.”
Liam rolled his eyes. “My penis does not have salmonella!”
Mom came down the hall cackling. “Whose penis has salmonella?”
“Apparently a hedgehog’s,” I said, stepping in. God help me, but I’m not going to talk to my mother about Liam’s penis.
I paused to give Mom a kiss, then set Eleanor down. The ball immediately started rolling down the hallway like an oversized marble.
Addy chased after her, squealing with the same amount of joy as a toddler chasing a puppy. “Look at her go!”
I walked past Addy as she played with Eleanor and whispered, “Haylee’s looking for someone to adopt her. I know you said a dog is too much responsibility, but I bet a hedgehog is a hell of a lot easier to care for.”
Addy tilted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe. She is damn cute.”
The room grew quiet as we all took our time setting the table. From across the kitchen island, I caught Neil’s eyes.
