3
Iwokeup to something soft tickling me in the face. I sputtered and tried to whack it away, thinking maybe it was a spider or something. But when my fingers plunged into a whole bunch of softness, I abruptly satup.
“Bear!” Was I being attacked by a bear? I rubbed my eyes and opened them only to see Margo staring at me like I was anidiot.
I inhaled a gasp. “Margo! Get off thebed!”
She rolled over and lolled her tongue atme.
“Bad dog,” I grumbled and shoved her over a little bit. I looked over at the clock, surprised to see it was already 6:45. I headed out to make some coffee and called Margo, but she was completely uninterested. I got her food ready, set it on the floor, and realized I didn’t have a plan for what I was going to do with hertoday.
“Crap!” I measured out enough grounds to make an obscene amount of coffee, poured the water in, and started the pot. No one even knew I had a puppy besides Pepper and Hank. But she didn’t wake up before 10 and would gladly murder me if I called her before then. How she kept such weird hours while running a nursery I couldn’t say, but everyone in this town loved her. However, she was kind of inconvenient if you needed something beforenoon.
The only other person I might be able to call was the last person I wanted to ask for a favor, especially since he was coming over tonight at 6 anyway. But Margo lovedhim.
It would be totally irresponsible of me to leave her at home. She was too young. Plus...I didn’t have a dog door and I had no idea if she was prone to chewing on anythingyet.
I removed the pot from the coffee maker and shoved my mug underneath. This woman waited for no brew. As my cup began to fill, I resigned myself to my fate. I was either going to have to throw myself on Hank’s mercy or take my chances I’d still have a house when I got back today. It was only for a fewhours.
I slurped down my coffee, gasping as it burned my tongue, and grabbed my cellphone.
Hankat 7:30 in the morning was way hotter than Hank in the afternoon. It was almost like it was so early he’d forgotten to put on his grumpy face. He looked a little rumpled, a little bewildered, and a whole lot ofdelicious.
Margo agreed. Hank had barely gotten through my front door before the delighted golden retriever let out a delighted yap and jumped straight into his arms. Hank stumbled back with the effort to catch her, a startled “aaaagh” coming from his mouth before he started to laugh, a deep rumbling chuckle that had my bare toescurling.
Snap out of it. He was not the droid I was lookingfor.
Margo nestled in his arms like a furry baby, arms around his neck like he was the best human she’d everknown.
“Traitor,” Igrumbled.
Hank lightly shoved my door closed with his boot and came in. “I smellcoffee.”
I puttered into the kitchen and poured him a cup. When I tried to hand it to him, Margo glared at me. I never knew dogs couldglare.
Hank tried to set her down and her paws scrabbled against him like if he let go of here it would be the worst feeling ever. I kind of wanted to feel like that too. Once she was on the ground, he accepted the cup fromme.
“I’m so sorry to have to call you,” I told him. “She was kind of dropped in my lap and I haven’t yet really sat down and worked out all the dog ownershipkinks.”
He took a sip of coffee. His gaze was direct. “You need acrate.”
I nodded. “I know. It’s too early to go to the pet store.” And it was. Just about everything in this town opened late because of the undead population. I guess there was no need to open certain things when half your customers wouldn’t make it in until after6.
“I’ll pick you up one today,” Hankoffered.
I almost dropped my mug. “Uh. Okay. That would be wonderful. Text me the cost and I’ll make sure I have cash to payyou.”
Hank reached down to pat Margo. “You ready to go,girl?”
I gathered the bag of stuff I’d put together for her. “I already fed her this morning. There’s a bag of treats and two of her new toys.” I winced. “I’m not sure if she’s potty trained. She hasn’t had an accident in the houseyet.”
Hank shrugged. “I work in a nursery. It will befine.”
“Thank you so much,” I gushed. “I’ll be back no later than one to pick herup.”
Hank polished off the rest of his coffee, took the bag from me, and led Margo happily out the door without another word. His scowl must start around 8 a.m. or something because it was fully back into place by the time he’d gotten in to his truck. Margo stuck her head out the window immediately. I shook my head at her antics and went back inside to get ready for theday.
The Midnight CoveCounty Court was a small beige building with zero personality. The guards hired there had the sense of humor of a rotten apple and the decor could put a hospital to shame. It was ran with the brutal efficiency of a Swedish masseuse and the management or whoever it was who ran things there, hired judges with perpetual frowns and badhair.