Page 10 of Finding Jeremy
“Dude.”
“What?”
Jeremy chuckled and wished he had a sketchbook handy. “I’m picturing a few faces imprinted in that dirt, too.”
“That’s fine as long as picturing is all you plan to do.”
“It is,” Jeremy replied, while Haven sat there smirking at him. “Seriously.”
“Alright. Just remember you said that when you run into Sampson again.”
“Oh, fuck him.”
“Been there, done that, remember? I’ll take a pass on a repeat performance.”
“Oh shit, I forgot you used to go out with him.”
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Haven said as he offered Loki-Bear another piece of the hamburger he’d carefully broken up for him. “I never went out with him. We fucked; that’s all it was, straight-up fucking. No dinner and a movie, no going to the amusement park, no talking on the phone for half the nightwhen we were supposed to be asleep. It was all sex and looking for a place to have sex where we wouldn’t get caught.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. Eww, damn, why would you ever want him to touch you?”
“Looking back, I don’t have a clue.”
They laughed at that and finished what was on their plates, with Haven feeding the last bite to Loki-Bear, who woofed happily when he’d finished and leaned in to lick Haven’s cheek, fluffy tail wagging a mile a minute, sending tufts of floof into the air.
Toys, a Frisbee, a bowl full of water, and even a tug-of-war rope lay on the blanket by Haven’s side, all designed to keep the big, energetic dog happy throughout the evening. Jeremy couldn’t have been happier for his friend. After his time in lockup, Haven could have come out mean and bitter. Instead, he’d turned his focus on making his business thrive, falling in love, and showering affection on the pets he and Maddox had adopted. Jeremy knew what Haven and Maddox would find when they went home tonight; he’d been with them often enough on sleepover nights.
The Notorious S.O.X., once a shop cat, now a pampered house kitty, would be sprawled on his back at the top of his big kitty condo, eyes narrowed at them for interrupting his nap time.
“Ready for the Frisbee, boy?” Haven asked, waving it at Loki-Bear, his voice jarring Jeremy out of his thoughts.
“Ohh, hell yeah,” Jeremy said, gathering his plate and Haven’s so he could toss them in the trash.
“I was talking to him, ya know,” Haven said as Loki-Bear pranced around him, begging Haven to throw the Frisbee.
His best friend was deliberately giving him shit, and Jeremy loved it. It was the best feeling in the world to be outhere together like this, with no interruptions, time limits, or restrictions on the things they could talk about.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jeremy muttered, walking several feet away to dispose of the plates and the empty bottle of tea Haven had polished off.
He turned around just in time to see the Frisbee fly across the field, Loki-Bear, ears back, tail streaming out behind it, rushing after it, only to leap and yank it out of the air. The big dog looked so proud of himself as he trotted back with it in his mouth. As Jeremy headed over to join them, he saw Loki-Bear sit and offer the Frisbee to Haven, who rubbed his ears, before firing the Frisbee Jeremy’s way. Of course, Loki-Bear didn’t get that it wasn’t for him this time; he chased, rushing at Jeremy, leaving him no choice but to leap out of the way and let him have it before the big dog barreled into him.
His landing was awkward, and he staggered only to feel solid arms wrap around him, steadying him even as Gray’s deep voice rumbled in his ear.
“Careful,” Gray cautioned. “He’s likely to knock you over to catch it and celebrate while prancing all over you.”
“I don’t mind,” Jeremy admitted. “He’s awesome. I miss having a dog.”
“You’re not the only one,” Gray admitted. “I might have to think about remedying that little issue for both of us, once I find a place of my own.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“Awe, I can’t wait to see what kind you get.”
“You could always help me pick one out.”
Jeremy leaned his head back and saw Gray grinning down at him. “Yeah? Seriously?”
