Page 98 of Wild Card 13

"What?" I asked.

Without answering, she slid the phone across the table.

Alois: Status report. How many dogs have you touched? Answer honestly.

I snicker despite myself. "I told you he was worried."

Bea typed quickly with an honest reply.

Alois: Three? It has been eleven minutes.

Naomi covered her mouth with her coffee cup, shoulders shaking. "I love him."

"You love making him panic," I corrected.

"I contain multitudes."

Another vibration. Bea opened the screen and set the phone in the middle of the table for us to eavesdrop.

Alois: Do not make eye contact with any of them.

I lost it. The laugh escaped quickly, bright and unexpected, pulling another one from Naomi and Bea until the three of us were chuckling hard enough that people at the next table glanced over smiling.

It had been...I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed like that.

Arlo returned balancing two enormous plates on one arm and another tucked against his hip. "What did I miss?"

"Bea is emotionally terrorizing her boyfriend."

Bea pointed a finger at her. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

Arlo set plates around the table with practiced ease. Blueberry pancakes landed in front of Naomi. Breakfast hash in front of Bea. An avocado toast with a side of fruit appeared in front of me.

I looked up. "I didn't order."

"You always get this."

"I haven't been here in weeks."

"So?" He shrugged. "I know what my sister likes."

It was such a little thing, but I softened a little at my baby brother. The kind of thing people who loved each other stopped noticing because it became ordinary.

"I also brought extra bacon," he added. He pointed toward the rescue pens. "You'll need bargaining chips."

Naomi beamed. "This is the best brunch ever."

Conversation drifted as naturally as the steam rising from our coffee.

Bea complained about the seating chart for the charity gala. "I swear they intentionally seat every board member beside me."

"They do," I said.

"They're all going to ask if we've finalized sponsorship numbers."

"They are."