“There’s no room at these shelters.”
I dip my chin. “So, you’re saying…”
“They’ll put them down,” Leo finishes.
“Kill them?” My eyes bounce between James, his brother, and his father. “Why would they do that?”
“If nobody adopts them, they don’t have the room to house all these animals.” James looks down at his plate as if he can’t bear to look at me when he says, “So, they euthanize them.”
I balk. “That’s horrible. There has to be something we can do.”
Jim’s eyebrows lift. “We?”
“Put flyers around town, spread the word somehow.” I shrug. “Something other than just sit here and let innocent puppies get killed.”
Leo chuckles. “You’re passionate, Nixie. I’m in. Let’s save the puppies.”
My eyes widen. “Really? You’ll help?”
“We’ll all help you.” He pats James’s shoulder. “Isn’t that right, big brother?”
James’s eyes meet mine, and he holds my gaze for longer than he has since we met. “Sure.”
I squeal. “We can set up an adoption event and invite everyone in town. Once they see how adorable the dogs are, they won’t be able to leave without taking one home. We can get local businesses to contribute, and we’ll promote them there. We’ll need a dog grooming service to clean them up. Oh, and maybe we can get the local high school kids to volunteer to save money.”
By the time I finish rattling off ideas, the men are all staring at me. I avert my gaze and take a bite of bread. “Okay, someone say something. Is that a dumb idea?”
“Not at all.” Jim gives me a reassuring smile. “It’s a great idea, actually. Getting the community involved will raise awareness.”
Everyone returns to eating, but James’s eyes linger on me. He’s not checking me out the way his brother does, and his usual glare isn’t in place. It’s less like he’s staringatme, and more like he’swatchingme—a strange new animal he’s trying to study and figure out.
It’s unsettling.
After dessert, I slip on my jacket and thank the Russos for having me.
Leo walks me to the door. “Well, we’re both younger siblings, and we’re bonded by our commonality of our dead parents. I guess that makes us best friends.”
I chuckle. “As morbid as that is, I could use a best friend.”
“And if you want a brother instead, I’ll be your brother.” He pops a shoulder as if it’s the most nonchalant thing. “Either way, I got your back, Nixie.”
Emotion lodges in my throat as reality sinks in. If I didn’t go through the worst moment in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have met the Russos. They’ve shown me more help and kindness in the last week I’ve known them than my mother has shown me my whole life.
“Okay, but if you’re going to be my brother, then you have to stop making comments about how hot I am. Brothers don’t comment on their sister’s tits. It’s weird.”
Leo grins as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You got it, sis.”
“And I’m here for you too, you know.” I side-eye him. “If you ever feel like disappearing again, you call me first.”
His smile fades, and he nods. “I can do that.”
James takes tentative steps into the entryway, his eyes bouncing between the two of us.
Leo gives me a nod. “Night, Nix.”
James waits for his brother to get to the top of the stairs before he turns to me. “Be careful with him.”
I give him a dubious look. “We’re just friends. I’m not going to hurt him.”