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“I…uh…” I clear my throat, cast a look inside at the incredibly plush living room. A woman with white streaks of hair framing her youthful face sits on a couch with a book in her lap titled How to Turn Your Husband into Your Book Boyfriend. Without smiling or lifting her attention off the pages, she laughs.
The man cocks his head against the doorjamb, blocking my view as he fully opens his eyes. One green. One blue.
They widen while I’m stuck in an inferiority complex. These people are stunning. What? Did I brush my hair today? I should have worn makeup. Does it look like I was just crying and lamenting my untimely demise in the woods?
I wet my lips. “I’m so sorry to bother you. I just found this puppy on a walk in the woods.” I present the chihuahua, even though now he is thrashing with vengeance in an effort to escape. “I thought he might belong to you.”
The man’s eyes home in on the puppy, and the little boy cowers, tucking his black-tipped tail.
The woman’s head pokes out from behind the man’s broad chest. “Pupp… Oh.”
The man nudges her, lifts his brows.
Her mouth drops open, then her gaze flies toward my face. “Oh.”
In unison, they flash brilliant smiles so white my head spins.
I take a hesitant step back and cradle the tiny dog against me. His limp body sags now, and his little head taps into my chest at a gentle, consistent rhythm. He whimpers.
“He’s not ours,” the woman says.
“You should absolutely give him a nice home,” the man notes—something in his voice so soothing I want to do exactly what he says.
“But never lock him in the bathroom with you accidentally while you’re changing or taking a shower.” The woman points a finger at me, suddenly intense. “Trust me.”
I don’t know why, but I do. I stammer, “So…he’s not yours?”
“He doesn’t have a home, and if you take him to the pound, they will kill him.” She folds her arms. “Then you’d be a murderer.”
“Darling…”
“He looks like the kind of dog who’d hold a grudge and haunt you for the rest of your life, too.”
“Okay, sweetheart. That—”
“Basically, take him home. Welcome him into your heart. And love him forever.” She gasps, pushing white strands of her hair over her ear. “Also, Thursdays.”
This is such an out-of-body experience. Normally, I’m the one confusing the people around me with my inappropriate dialogue and disconnected lines. In that way, it’s almost refreshing to be the one utterly lost. “Thursdays?”
“Thursdays are movie night. All Thursdays. And the invitation never expires.” She rests her head against the man’s arm, looking like a picture perfect match for his dark outfit in her white ensemble. “Every Thursday at eight, you’re welcome to come by with your puppy. There will always be popcorn and water. This household is not responsible for any other snacks, but many do appear.”
“Like…magically?” I ask.
The woman’s smile turns nearly feral. “Now, I said nothing about magic.”
The man clasps his long fingers over her mouth. “And she probably won’t say anything about magic. Because that would be overstepping into someone else’s story. And the likelihood we would do that is a percentage, right, my love?”
The woman makes direct eye contact with the man, then bites his hand.
Against all logic and reason, the man’s pale cheeks tint red.
I take a step back, clear my throat again. “Right. Well. It was lovely meeting you two. I’m going to buy some hummingbird feeders now. I mean, dog food. Well. Both. Sorry again about disturbing you.” Turning on my heel, I flee.
“You scared her off, starlight,” the man chastises.
“Oh, she’ll be fine.” The woman laughs. “And…you know…she’ll also be back. Eventually.”
The door closes as I retreat, clutching my puppy to my chest.
