“She has an unhealthy obsession with true crime. Kind of obsessed with it, really,” I say as I turn back to the computer.
“I thought that was secretly all women?” He leans back into me to get a closer look at the screen.
I open up the folder with the dogs I know are going to be euthanized soon if they aren’t given a home.
It’s a practice I absolutely abhor, and I try so hard to save them all, but sometimes I’m not successful, and it’s not like I can just adopt them all. Even if I want to.
“I wouldn’t say all like it’s a gender inclusive thing. We just like the way it tests our intuitive skills, and we learn things.” I shrug and open up the first image.
She’s actually my favourite, and I’ve been on the fence about adopting her for a while now, but I’m never home enough to give her the special attention and love she needs in order to settle in.
She came from a very abusive home and finds it hard to trust anyone at first, so she’s going to need someone around the clock for the first little while until she can feel safe in her new surroundings.
“Who is that one?” He points to the screen, his eyes locked on her picture, and I smile.
“That’s Sadie,” I say wistfully. “She’s a rescue with a dark past. She’ll need a lot of love and attention with basically twenty-four seven care for a while. She’s a sweet girl, though.” I go to click on the arrow to show the next dog when he puts his hand over mine.
“You feel very strongly about her?” he asks, looking at my face for an answer, and I feel the tears starting.
Am I that transparent? Darn, that’s something I need to work on.
Clearing my throat, I nod. “I do. We’ve formed a bond over the past few months. She’s so sweet and gentle, but she’s scared,” I whisper.
“I would like to adopt her,” he says softly, lifting my chin this his finger. “She’s clearly very special and I think she’s exactly what I need.” He smiles down at me.
“You want to adopt Sadie?” I ask him because I can’t wrap my head around it.
He’d said he wanted a gentle and kind dog, and Sadie is definitely that. I just hadn’t imagined a man like Jonathan wanting to adopt a Cocker Spaniel.
“I do. She’s the perfect size, and it sounds like our schedules fit,” he says like it’s a no-brainer.
“Um…”
“Are you sure you’re alright, Olivia? You seem flustered.” He looks at me with concern, and I actually start to laugh.
Like full on belly laugh, because oh my God. If he can tell I’m flustered, that means he realizes it’s because of him.
It’s either laugh, or die of sheer embarrassment.