“How about this—it’s probably about twenty degrees outside,” Link said.
“Pft. Fine.” I exaggerated the concession in a playful tone, and yanked on some sweats and a hoodie. “Link knows where everything is, if either or both of you want to shower or anything. I’ll be back in a few.”
It had been years since I had a dog. I hadn’t had one since I lost my childhood best friend and doggo, right after Dad tried to disown me for mypoor life decisions—going into software development with a brand-new start-up, instead of to college.
When I saw King last night though, something clicked in my head and I knew I needed to bring him home. That this puppy needed me.
It was a weird compulsion, and it might be Fallyn’s fault for messing with my head by being here.
No, that wasn’t fair. I was happy to blame some things on her, but this was on me, and I had no regrets about the impromptu adoption.
I yanked on my shoes so I could shovel a small path in the backyard, and tried to introduce King to it, as I had many timeslast night. He was happy to jump in the snow, but didn’t want anything to do with actually peeing. That was fine; I’d feed and water him and try again later.
I didn’t think I was outside that long, but when I came back in, Link was already downstairs, showered and dressed. He and I spent enough time at each other’s houses that we had clothes in both places. We weren’t a couple, but we’d been FWB for years. I appreciated the way he tempered me, and not many people knew he had a darker side. It rarely came out, but I was his buffer when it did.
I put King in his corner with his food and water and kennel, and kept him in my sight as I joined Link.
“So… Fallyn is in your house. What will the world say?” His tone was conversational. He’d made himself comfortable on the couch.
I settled into my own chair. “I’m thinking they won’t say anything, as in, let’s keep it between us. Privacy seems pretty important to her.”
“And you.”
I smirked. “And you.” I was the face of AcesPlayed development. Aside from Dustin, our Director of Marketing, I got more face time than anyone in the company. Link tended to avoid the camera whenever possible.
He shrugged. “Fair point.”
“Help me shovel a path out back to the guest house?” I asked.
“Are you really going to make Fallyn stay out there?”
“Make. It’s not a bad place.” Though, I was feeling a little guilty about it. Was I already getting soft about the situation? She hadn’t even been here a day, and if she was just Kittie, I’d still offer her the room across from mine.
Link winced. “But last night…”
“Really fucking incredible. I’d fuck you both again in a heartbeat.” It sounded cold, but I kept people out for a reason, and her…
“Why are you trying to pretend you don’t care?”
No. I wasn’t doing this today. Not even with him. I wasn’t putting up with some sort of armchair psychology. “Idon’tcare. Idowant to pretend she’s not Fallyn, and if she’s streaming in my dining room, I can’t do that.”
King backed away from his bowls, yipped, and ran across the room. When he reached the door, he whirled and ran in a different direction.
Link shook his head. “Go get dressed. I’ll take care of the shoveling.”
“That’s not what I was trying to do.” I didn’t shrug my work off on someone else.
“I know, and that’s why I don’t mind offering. Besides, I’m not going to get my arm reps in today if I don’t do this.”
I laughed. “Muscle-headed bear.” I knew he was anything but, and he would know I was teasing.
“Twink,” he countered.
I waved him off and pushed out of my seat. When I stepped on the bottom stair, King whined.
“Stay here with me, little guy.” Link scooped him up and carried him toward the back door again.
I watched him grab the leash we’d bought last night, and slip that onto King.