“Come on, Elana.” Her grandmother cocked her head. “Life is so short. And it’s more than just work and being on a schedule. Believe me. I know.” She turned and grabbed a small bag out of the van. “Felicia said it would be fine for us to shower inside. They don’t normally allow it, but since I’ve been talking to her and Ethan online, they said we feel like they know us. Come on inside and get some coffee while I shower.”
Elana crossed her arms over her chest and followed her grandmother inside.
Grandmother Cecilia greeted Ethan and Felicia, who were in the kitchen drinking coffee. Elana glanced over to the corner where Jack was curled on his dog bed. The dog spotted her and lifted his head for a second.
“Looks like you could use this.” Felicia pressed a hot cup of coffee in her hand as Ethan escorted Grandmother Cecilia out of the room.
Elana looked at the beautiful woman. “Thank you.” She took a sip and blinked.
“I added cream, but not sugar. If you need some, there’s a container on the counter,” Felicia stated.
Elana shook her head. “No. It’s perfect.” She looked back at Jack. “Does he always do that?”
Felicia followed her gaze. “Jack? Yes, he tends to lie around all day.”
Elana shook her head. “No. Does he always wake people up in their tent?”
Felicia snorted. “Jack went into your tent?”
Elana nodded and sipped her coffee.
“Ethan, come here,” Felicia called out.
Ethan appeared in the living room. Elana could hear the water in the bathroom running.
“Jack went into Elana’s tent this morning.” Felicia looked at him.
Ethan wrapped his arm around his girlfriend’s waist and blinked. “He did?”
They were both staring at her.
Elana nodded. “He came into the tent and licked my face.”
Ethan stared at her for a minute. “He did?”
She nodded and took a sip of coffee. “Yeah. He licked my face, stared at me for a few seconds, and then walked out of the tent.”
Felicia snorted and looked up at Ethan.
“What?” Elana felt like there was something they were not telling her.
“Jack doesn’t normally do that,” Ethan stated. “Since we’ve gotten him, we’ve had over thirty overnight guests, and he won’t go near any of them.”
Elana shrugged. “Maybe he was curious.”
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t think that’s it.” He looked over at Jack, who raised his head. “I think he’s drawn to you.”
Elana frowned. “Me?”
Felicia studied her. “Do you have a pet at home?”
She shook her head. “No. I work too much to have a pet.”
Felicia arched a perfect brow. “So, you’re not opposed to a pet?”
Elana shifted her weight. “Well, I don’t…”
Grandma Cecilia appeared in the doorway with fresh clothes on and a towel wrapped around her head. “What are you guys talking about? What did I miss?”
