KDBookOnline
Share Us
“Dad says he’s going to come by with him at some point this afternoon.
“Shoot.”
“I know you didn’t want Uncle Sean to come back until the kitchen stuff was done, but I think Dad convinced him you had no choice about the floor. He still doesn’t know the details about how bad it was structurally.” She shrugged and then smiled. “But… we might not be back yet. Especially if we get lunch at Café Nola…”
“Uncle Sean still has his key, so they can let themselves in.” Dylan ruffled her bun. “You just want Café Nola so you can ogle that tattooed server lady.”
“You get to ogle your roommate. Don’t judge my ogle-choices.” She tapped on her phone a few times and then stuck the Specials Menu under his nose. “They have an avocado waffle thing this week ooonly.”
“Consider your ogle choices un-judged. They have outside seating, so if the Parakeet Karen calendar says it’s okay, we should just bring Gus along.”
“I’m sorry, the what?”
Dylan’s mom brought his phone outside. “This was buzzing, luv.”
Gus wasn’t allowed in the house because of Mom’s allergies, but the doggo had investigated the property, sniffing and peeing everywhere and appearing to be delighted to be off leash with wide open space. Dylan threw the tennis ball again, and Gus padded after it. He didn’t actually fetch, but he did run over to the ball and nudge it with his nose until Dylan ran over and picked it up and chucked it again. Maybe Gus was the one making Dylan fetch…
“A haircut before Saturday, right?” His mother pulled off his Orioles cap and untangled a few knots before he could get away. His mom had left Ireland at age six, but he still heard a bit of Derry on certain words. “Your aunt Edna’s gonna give me hell if my boys look like hooligans.”
“Aunt Edna’s a crotchety old bat, and if she comments on Felicity’s tattoos again, I’m going to personally escort her off the property.”
“Not sure your sister needs your protection.”
“I know she doesn’t. From anyone.” He gave his mother a pointed look.
A shadow of guilt hooded her eyes as she watched Felicity take off her work gloves and haul another refuse bucket to the compost pile. She patted the phone in his palm. “Check your messages, Dilly. I’m going to look in on Sean.”
Dylan’s eyes widened at the screen.
DEREK
Where are you? Do you have Gus? The door to the unit was open when I got here. I’m freaking out.
DEREK
Seriously, where are you? Going outside to look.
DEREK
I can’t find you or Gus. I’m going to start calling shelters to see if anyone picked him up.
DEREK
None of the shelters that were still open have him. Please, call me if he’s with you.
“Oh shit.” The message he’d typed for Derek about taking Gus on a field trip was unsent in the message field.
DYLAN
I’m so sorry. I texted you, but I forgot to send it. We brought Gus out to play on my parents’ property.
DEREK
Gus needs his medicines and dinner.
DYLAN
I brought his food and his meds with us. He’s already had everything. I really am so sorry.