Three Things I'd Never Do

by Remi Carrington

  Haley giggled. “I really wanted to be there when she heard the story.”

  I wasn’t quite ready to laugh about it. “I didn’t give her the play by play. Just the basic highlights.”

  “Why would you tell your mom? Does Adam know? If not, you should tell him because what if he bumps into your dad somewhere? That could be interesting.”

  “Adam knows. I lost my temper when she started in on me. She brought up the dog thing too.”

  “We aren’t talking about that anymore tonight.” Haley jumped up and pulled the leftover chocolate swirl cheesecake out of the fridge. “Let’s have dessert then do our nails.”

  “Sounds good.”

  I texted Adam as Haley pulled out of the driveway. Leaving now. Should be home in about an hour.

  You going to stop for dinner?

  No. We’re ready to be home.

  See you soon.

  Haley shot me a look. “Adam?”

  “Just letting him know we’re on our way. He’s probably ready to send Pookie home.”

  “Are you going to offer to dog-sit?”

  “Yes.” I wasn’t sure when, but I’d offer. And hopefully, I’d still be in love when Adam came to pick them up.

  “I’d offer to come help, but you need to do it on your own.” Haley turned up the radio. “This is a good song.”

  With music blaring, we drove home. I had lots to think about.

  When we pulled up to my place, Haley sighed. “Oh look, Adam’s here.”

  “You should come in for a bit.” I wasn’t sure I wanted her to, but it was polite to offer.

  “Just for a bit.”

  I pushed open the door and was greeted by a delicious aroma. “I’m home. It smells amazing.”

  Butch barreled toward me then stopped before jumping on me.

  “Hey, boy. This is Haley.”

  She dropped to her knees and loved on Butch. “You are a handsome doggie, aren’t you?”

  I left her with the dog. “Hey there. Thanks for cooking.”

  Adam winked. “It was a good excuse to spend a little time with you. But I made enough for Haley too. Did y’all have fun?”

  “Yeah.”

  He furrowed his brow. “That didn’t sound very convincing.”

  “I’m starved. How long until it’s ready?”

  “It needs another two minutes. And your avoidance skills leave a lot to be desired. Should I be worried?”

  “We’ll talk more later. I should check on Haley.” I found her rolling on the living room floor with Butch licking her face and Sundance waiting for her to pick up the rope toy.

  She looked perfectly comfortable.

  “Want to stay for dinner?” I crossed my arms, wishing I didn’t feel like crying.

  She grinned. “Sure. You’re right. These are great dogs. I’m jealous.”

  “It’ll be ready in a minute.” I walked back into the kitchen. “Where’s Pookie?”

  “She took off as soon as we got home. I’m not sure where she is.” Adam transferred food to a platter. “But she made it back here alive.”

  “I’m going to find her really quick.” I poked my head into some of her favorite hiding spots, but she wasn’t there. I finally found her curled up on my pillow. “Hello, sweet girl. Did you miss me?”

  She flipped the end of her tail and rolled onto her back, demanding belly scratches.

  “I missed you too.”

  Chapter 20

  I snuggled up next to Adam. “I don’t want to keep you. I know you have to be at the station early.”

  “Talk to me.” He threaded his fingers through my hair. “What happened this weekend?”

  As if sensing my thoughts, Butch climbed up next to me.

  “I don’t want to get into the details of it, but I’ll pet sit Butch and Sundance the next time you need me to.”

  Adam blinked and cocked his head. “I’m missing something. What does keeping the dogs have to do with your weekend?”

  “I just think it’s important that I do that.”

  “You mean Haley thinks it’s important.” He lifted my chin. “That’s what this is about?”

  “Everyone likes to remind me about my issues with dogs. But no one wants to believe that people can change.”

  “You don’t have to prove yourself to me, Eve.”

  “But I kind of need to prove myself to me.” I met his gaze, hoping the emotions bubbling in my heart were readable in my eyes. “So, if you trust me to take care of them, I’d like to.”

  “I work this coming Saturday and Sunday. Want to keep them this weekend?”

  “Yes. You’ll have to let me know what I need to get.”

  “About that raincheck . . .”

  I trailed a finger through his whiskers. “You didn’t shave all weekend, did you?”

  “All the better to burn your lips, my dear.”

  On Friday, I stood in the living room, scanning every visible surface. Was there anything else breakable that needed to be put up, far away from the dogs?

  “Pookie, are you ready for this?”

  Kitty tore around the room like something was chasing her. Or maybe she was just excited about having her friends come over. Adam had mentioned more than once about how well things had gone over the weekend with them all together.

  I was both nervous and excited about dog-sitting. And since Adam didn’t have to go to work until tomorrow morning, tonight would be easy. He’d be around to help with the transition. Well, not all night.

  A quick peek into the oven verified that I hadn’t made a disaster of dinner. And so far, I’d managed to keep Pookie out of the doggie treats I bought at a local pet boutique. They looked tempting even to me.

  Adam’s truck pulled into the driveway, and I ran for the door. Watching him carry those doggie beds was a treat all its own.

  He grinned as he walked toward the house, those arm muscles well defined. “You ready for this?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Put those wherever.”

  He stopped before going inside and leaned in for a kiss. “I brought you something.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Maybe I just like getting you things.” He winked before walking inside.

  Butch and Sundance jumped around the inside of the truck, ready to be let out.

  “Should I let them out of the truck?”

  Adam laughed. “Sure. They are very excited about coming back over here.”

  “Sundance is probably excited about seeing Pookie.” I glanced back as I walked to the truck.

  He leaned against the porch railing. “And Butch is not.”

  I yanked open the door, and the dogs climbed over each other to get out. Sundance licked my hand then bolted for the door. He could probably smell the cat. Butch sat, staring at me. His mouth moved like he was trying his best to not lick me.

  Both of the dogs were sweet, but Butch seemed determined to win me over.

  I leaned down and rested my forehead against his. “You’re going to make this easy on me, right?”

  His tail slapped the walkway. I think that was his version of a yes.

  Adam grabbed a gift bag out of the front seat then locked the truck. “Thanks for making dinner.”

  “You made it last night. Didn’t the manual say relationships were supposed to be a give and take?” I held his hand as we walked inside.

  “True.” He set the gift bag on the table. “Open it.”

  Before I had a chance, Sundance and Pookie tore through the kitchen.

  “Whoa! I hope that was a friendly chase.” I peeked into the living room.

  Adam called Pookie as he slipped the treat bag out of his back pocket. “Where’s my sweet girl?”

  It irritated me that she came running. When I called her, she didn’t budge.

  Pookie made it a few inches up his pant leg before Adam scooped her up. “Don’t climb my leg, darlin’.” He fed her a few treats.

  If he kept that up, she’d never
stop climbing his leg.

  I turned my focus back to the bag. “Survival kits two weekends in a row! We loved this wine.”

  “I figured you might need a glass.” He took the bottle and tucked it in the fridge. “That way it will be chilled when you need it.”

  “Thanks. And chocolate. Yum!” I continued pulling treats and snacks out of the bag. “Bubble bath, really?”

  “You still avoiding them?”

  I was, which was stupid. But soaking in a warm bubble bath seemed like inviting lightning to strike twice. “Maybe.”

  “Anything I can do to help with that?” His brown eyes twinkled.

  Shaking my head, I pulled dinner out of the oven. “No. There isn’t.”

  He let loose a chuckle as he set the table. “I didn’t think so, but I knew asking would turn your cheeks that beautiful shade of red.”

  “Have a seat and let’s eat.” I didn’t mind the teasing. But when he talked like that, it did make me want more than having dinner in the evening and spending weekends together when he wasn’t working.

  I needed this doggie sleepover to go well if Adam and I were going to move down that road. He hadn’t said that, but we both knew it was true.

  Adam loved on the dogs before walking to the door. He’d lingered later than normal, which I liked, but he was probably nervous about leaving them with me.

  He pulled me close. “I’ll leave my ringer on. If you need anything, call me. Okay?”

  I inched up on my toes and kissed him like the dogs weren’t looking. “What if I need that?”

  “I’ll violate traffic laws on my way over.” He gave me another kiss. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Once he was in the truck, I locked the door. “Okay boys, I’m going to get ready for bed, but first, I’ll let you go outside to do your business. Then it’s bedtime.”

  They cocked their heads like they were listening intently, but I doubted they understood a single word.

  I let them out, and while they did their business and barked at the moon, I filled Pookie’s bowl. I’d moved her bowl into the other room so that the dogs didn’t eat her food.

  “Shh. People are trying to sleep. Come back inside.” I stepped back as they barreled toward the door.

  When they made it inside, I pointed at their beds. “Go to bed.”

  Butch obeyed immediately. Sundance wandered down the hall, probably looking for Pookie.

  “Sundance, bed.”

  He trudged to his big, green doggie bed and climbed in.

  “Night. Be good.”

  I left my bedroom door open a crack. That way, I could hear if something went horribly wrong.

  But dogs weren’t like cats. They slept at night, right?

  Chapter 21

  I looked at my phone, sure that it had to be almost morning. But it wasn’t. Only ten minutes had passed since I’d last checked the time.

  The dogs had been very quiet. Were they too quiet?

  I pulled on a pair of leggings. As if the dogs would care if I was only in a t-shirt—Adam’s t-shirt. I tiptoed down the hall. If they were sleeping, I didn’t want to wake them.

  Pookie and Sundance were snuggled together. Butch’s tail started wagging when he spotted me.

  “Stay in your bed. I was just checking on you.” I hurried back down the hall. Sleep wasn’t optional. I flopped onto my back and squeezed my eyes closed. In my mind, I conjured up a green pasture and a white picket fence. Sleep-inducing, jumping sheep would send me to dreamland.

  The first little sheep launched himself over the little fence, and something big shook my bed.

  My imagination wasn’t that good. I had a guess about what sort of creature had joined me in bed.

  Butch stood over me, his nose right in my face.

  Apparently “stay in your bed” sounded like an invitation to him.

  Hesitantly, he licked my face.

  Slow breaths helped me control my panic. With him standing on the blankets, I was trapped.

  “I don’t like this. Please move.” Talking to him like he was a person did nothing to change the situation. I wriggled an arm free and shoved on him. “Get off of me.”

  The more I talked, the faster his tail wagged.

  “Down, Butch.”

  With his tail whooshing back and forth, he lay down on top of me.

  “Do you weigh two hundred pounds? Yikes, you’re heavy.” In an impulsive act of desperation, I patted the bed next to me. “Come over here.”

  Thankfully, he obeyed. Situating himself next to my hand, he licked it over and over.

  “I like you too. Please go to sleep.” I rolled onto my side.

  He inched closer until his head was against my shoulder.

  This doggie sleepover was going better than I’d expected. With Butch next to me, I finally slept.

  Growling woke me up. The room was still dark. But there was just enough light to see that Butch was staring at the window. A low growl rumbled in his chest.

  The logical side of my brain said that a raccoon or opossum was out for a nightly stroll, but the other part of my brain imagined a knife-wielding prowler, one who was looking for an unsecured entry point.

  “What is it, boy?”

  Butch jumped off the bed and positioned himself in front of the window. The blinds were moving, but he hadn’t touched them.

  I slid the covers back, trying to formulate a plan.

  What was I going to do if someone was in my house? That’s when I thought about the big dog in front of me. He was acting as my defender. I should let him.

  “Go get it, Butch.”

  He launched toward the window. The blinds rattled, and a very frizzed Pookie jumped out.

  I screamed.

  Butch and Pookie took off in opposite directions. And Sundance, who was late to the party, ran up the hall, barking.

  That was when I gave up on the idea of sleep. Coffee would have to suffice.

  While coffee brewed, I dug through the survival kit and grabbed a few chocolates. Adam had purchased the jumbo-size box. That added yet another item to the list of reasons I loved that man.

  With a steaming mug of coffee in hand, I settled on the sofa with a book.

  Reading did the trick. Even loaded with caffeine, I fell asleep.

  Sometime later, Butch’s tail knocked against the sofa, or was that someone knocking? I patted him without opening my eyes, and the knocking stopped.

  Keys jingled. It was either Adam or my parents. And I hoped beyond hope that it wasn’t my parents.

  “You okay? Can I come in?” Adam wasn’t using his calm soothing voice.

  “I’m in the living room.” I opened one eye. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

  “You said to call you first thing. I did, but you didn’t answer. So I took a detour on my way to work.” He greeted his ecstatic dogs.

  I wasn’t the only one who missed him when he wasn’t around. “Sorry. I left my phone in my room when I wandered out here. Things went okay.”

  He sat down beside me, and humor appeared as little creases near his eyes. “You’re wearing my shirt.”

  “You gave it to me. I sleep in it almost every night.” I stretched. “Want me to make you coffee?”

  “I need to run. Traffic was already getting bad.” He stepped closer.

  I slipped my arms around his waist. “I managed to keep them alive all night.”

  “Glad it went well.” He gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll be back here Monday as soon as I get off. Will you still be here?”

  “I leave for work about eight.”

  “Okay. Love you.” He raced back out to his truck.

  I laughed when I saw Sundance and Butch staring out the front window. “I know. I miss him too. But he’ll be back in a couple of days. Until then, you’re stuck with me.”

  Butch followed me to the couch and curled up next to me.

  “Tonight, you have to sleep in your own bed, okay?”

  He d
ropped his head onto the cushion and looked at me.

  I didn’t hold out high hopes.

  Sunday night, I crawled into bed, eager to tell Adam how well it had gone. We’d talked on the phone, but I wanted to see his reaction when I confessed that I sort of liked having the dogs around.

  Saturday night had gone so well, I expected Sunday night would be just as smooth.

  Of course that assumption was misguided.

  A dog crying woke me up about two-thirty. I trudged out to the living room and shook my head. Pookie lay curled up in the middle of Butch’s bed. That poor dog looked so forlorn. His whine grew louder when he saw me.

  “Pookie, get out of his bed. You know he doesn’t want you there.”

  Without lifting her head, she flicked her tail.

  “Go sleep with Sundance. He likes you. Butch is scared of you because you do things like this to him.”

  Her eyes drooped closed, and it was clear she had no intention of listening to me.

  I picked her up. “Come into my room and leave that doggie alone.”

  Butch happily curled up in his bed, and Pookie and I went back to my room. I was back to sleep in a matter of minutes, but then the whining started again.

  Since Pookie was no longer in my bed, I could guess why Butch was upset. I stopped in the kitchen and pulled the box of chocolates out of the bag. Being awakened in the middle of the night earned me a special treat.

  “Pookie, are you bothering him again?”

  Yes, she was. Back in the center of his bed, she was now sprawled on her back. What a tease.

  “Butch, just come sleep in my bed. I’ll close that menace out for the rest of the night.”

  Sundance lay there, still snoring. It amazed me what that dog could sleep through.

  Butch followed me back to bed and curled up beside me. Without a kitty to bother us, we drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 22

  Somehow, I slept through my alarm. I needed to be up and ready when Adam arrived. But the first thing I needed was coffee.