Page 10 of George’s Big Day

“Ohmygod, your dogs are insane! That’s why I told you they had to stay in the house.”

“C’mon let’s—let’s just go in. Javi will check you out.”

“He’s an ear, nose, and throat specialist, Kurt. What the hell is he going to do?”

“He’s still an MD, Bay. He can at least tell you if you should go to the ER.”

Go to the emergency room for what?

Baylor charged toward the sliding glass door that Vince and Carson had purposely not closed, leaving me and Kurt alone on the patio with the dogs.

I squinted at him, and he shook his head.

“Carson overreacted,” Kurt said. “It was nothing.”

“It was obviously something.”

“Baylor and I knew each in college—he actually played on the team with Carson back in the day.”

This was old news I already knew from Vince, but I said nothing.

“We were also in California at the same time, after my run-in with Wellesley.”

I remained quiet, listening.

“He moved here a couple of months ago and was happy to find out I did as well, and⁠—”

“This was before the dogs?”

“I’m sorry?”

“You didn’t have the dogs when you were both in California?”

“No, I had them.”

I nodded. “That’s interesting.”

“How so?”

“The dogs are really smart, yeah? They remember your friends.”

“But it’s been years since I last saw him.”

I shrugged. “Plus, they warm up fast to others.”

“I—”

“Take me, for instance.”

“You’re very⁠—”

“And Vince and Carson.”

Quick huff of air. “I get where you’re going with this.”

“Do you?”

“Listen––”