“I guess it does.”
“Trust me. If your abs were on the cover of a book, it’d sell millions of copies.” My eyes widen. “Maybe you can be on the cover of my book when I’m done writing it.”
A tint of pink crawls up into his cheeks as he rises from the bed. “All right. I’m going to make you dinner.”
“Did you blush? The big bad cop just blushed?”
He walks toward the door. “Enjoy your books.”
11
Phoenix
Daily Affirmation: “I am doing my best.”
With the adoptionevent only a couple of weeks away, I have to finalize all the little details.
“How many tables do you think we’ll need?” I tap on my notepad. “I found a couple in my garage, and James said he has two.”
Sadie waves a hand. “That should be plenty.”
“Okay, and you’re handling the pet supplies. Do you need extra?”
“Oh, no. Your boyfriend really hooked us up the last time he came by.”
My pen freezes on the paper. “My boyfriend?”
“He didn’t tell you?” She gestures to the pile of boxes stacked behind her desk. “He and his cop friends donated all of this. He’s such a sweetheart. You really lucked out with that one.”
My lips part in surprise. “Wait, I’m sorry. He told you he was my boyfriend?”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, well, no. I just assumed. Are you two not dating?”
“No. He lives next door to me. We’re friends.”
She presses her hand against her cheek. “Oh, I feel so foolish.”
“It’s no big deal. It was an honest mistake.”
She leans in and lowers her voice, even though no one else is around. “Although I must tell you, he didn’t correct me when I called youhisgirlfriend.”
Heat creeps into my cheeks. “Really?”
She gives me an emphatic nod. “Really. And he spends time with that runt pup you love so much.”
“He goes in the back with the dogs?”
She nods again.
I’m about to press her for more information about what James said, but my phone dances across the countertop and the name on the screen stops me dead in my tracks.
“Excuse me, Sadie. I have to take this.”
I swipe my thumb across the screen and scurry outside into the parking lot. “Tyler, hi.”
My brother’s voice warms my heart. “Hey, Nix. How’s it going?”
I let out a long breath. “It’s going well. How are you?”