Page 94 of Wild Card 13

"You order the same thing every time."

"Still."

"Ready?" she asked.

"As I'll ever be."

We climbed into her SUV, the heater already humming against the cool October air.

As soon as she shifted into drive, her phone chimed through the dashboard.

She glanced at the screen.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

"What?"

"Alois."

She tapped the steering wheel to have the message read aloud.

"Please remember we do not currently own a farm."

I blinked. "...What?"

Bea grinned. "I may have mentioned where we're going."

"You haven't even seen the dogs yet."

"I know."

"You are unbelievable."

"I have a reputation to maintain."

Another notification chimed.

"You are not bringing home twelve dogs."

I laughed. "He seems genuinely concerned."

"He should be." Bea typed a response at the next red light before tossing the phone back into the center console.

"What did you say?"

"I told him not to worry."

"That seems responsible."

"I also told him statistically most of them will already have homes."

"...Bea."

"What?"

We both laughed as another chime rippled through the SUV. This time she didn't bother waiting for the dashboard to read it. She picked up the phone and burst out laughing.

"What?"