“Okay,another time—”
“Well,I wasgonnasay,” he brought his eyes back to mine,“I’m ordering Chinese. Hannah has never seenDonnie Darkoand I’mpretty surethat’s a must for any moody teen. So, if youwanted to swing by my place, there’s a spot on the couch between me and Tony,if you’re interested.”
“Tony?”I asked,smilingand already buzzing with nerves atthe thought of spending an evening with him, his daughter, and whoever Tonywas.
“Mydog,” he clarified, pointing behind him at a picture on the wall of a black andtan, scruffy-looking shepherd mutt. “He’s got a thing for the ladies, but he’sa good guy.”
Ilaughed, slowly drowning in the warmth surrounding my heart. “So, a night withyou, your daughter, and your dog, huh?”
“Don’tmake it sound so glamorous,” he mumbled with a chuckle.
“Yousure Hannah won’t mind?”
Gooselooked down the bar at his daughter and called, “Yo,Hannah, you mind if Kenny comes over tonight to hang for a bit?” Hannah turnedand shot a disgruntled look at her dad, before mumbling, “I don’t care.” Then,he looked at me, shrugged, and said, “See, she doesn’t care.”
“CanI bring my breast pump?” I laughed.
“Onlyif I can watch.”
“Oh,because it’s so hot,” I muttered sardonically.
“I’mjust kidding,” he replied. “But of course, you can bring it. Honestly though,I’m willing to agree to anything at this point, as long as you’ll say yes andnot leave me alone withGrumpelstiltskin.”
Ilaughed harder than I had in weeks, holding a hand over where my incision was.He grinned while apologizing, telling me not to bleed out on his floor, as Ileaned against the bar and caught my breath.
Then,when I looked back into his eyes, to see the hope and silent plea burningbrilliantly amid the brightest blue I’d ever seen, I couldn’t say yes fastenough.
***
I arrivedat Goose’s apartment a few minutes late, after spending some time at thehospital with Alexander. I stood there at his door, awkwardly holding a pieElle had insisted I bring, and waited for him to answer. But he never did.Instead, the door was thrown open by Hannah, with her eyes trained on herphone.
“Hi,”I greeted hesitantly, peering around her into the neat and tidy apartment.
“Dad’sin the kitchen,” she muttered, before walking away.
“Oh,”I muttered quietly, stepping in and closing the door behind me. “Because I knowexactly where that—”
“Hey,”Goose said jubilantly, rushing out of a doorway with a dish towel in his hands.“Sorry I let Wednesday Addams open the door. My hands were full and—”
“It’sfine,” I replied, smiling, while offering the bakery box. “I brought pie.”
Henodded, scrubbing his hands in the towel. “SoI see.I’ll just put it in the fridge, and you can join my spawn at the table. Foodonly just got here, so you’re just in time.”
Hetook the box and I walked down a hallway, aimlessly searching for where thetable might be, when a large, tail-wagging beast ran into my legs.
“Oh!”I exclaimed, startled as the mutt lifted on his hind legs and pressed hisforepaws against my shoulders. “You must be Tony,” I said, petting his headwhile frantically avoiding his wet, slobbering tongue.
“Tony!Jesus Christ, dude,” Goose groaned, hurryingoverandgrabbing the dog by the collar to pull him back down. “We like women, man, butwe don’twannascare them away, you got me?”
Helooked back at me, smiling sheepishly, while scrubbing his hands over thegrinning dog’s face. “Sorry. I forgot to mention he’s a big fan of hugs and kisses.”
“It’sokay. He’s really sweet.”
“I’msurprised you’d think so, considering you’re such a cat lady.”
“Imight be a cat lady, but that doesn’t mean I hate dogs,” I pointed outdefiantly.
“Myapologies for assuming,” he said with a chuckle, as he led me to the diningroom.
