It wasn’t my personality to be hateful, vengeful, or hold grudges. Letting my gaze settle over his shoulder to the firehouse and images of Miss Sophisticated waiting for him, I lifted a single shoulder. “What are you going to do?” Okay, apparently “why” wasn’t the only word on the tip of my tongue after all. Why was the only word that sat on the tip of my idle tongue? Why protect me? “Send him home when your friends get back.” His brow tensed a fraction, contemplation settling into a slight frown for a few seconds, before he whistled and Jericho came running. “If you have a job to do … Jerry can hang with me tonight. Jericho turned and headed to the back door. “Inside,” he said to Jericho while looking at me. “I know it’s hard for you to know he likes me more.” On a shrug, I bit my lips together to keep my shit-eating grin under control. “Sorry.” I stood, sliding a treat into Jericho’s mouth along the way. I opened my eyes-noticing his friend must have gone inside. “Oh, buddy … I love you too.” I closed my eyes and turned my face side to side while he showered me with kisses. “Hey, Jerry.” I squatted down to give him double the love Miss Sophisticated gave him … and I had a treat in my pocket because part of me anticipated-hoped for-a chance encounter. I continued my way up the sidewalk, feigning surprise when he trotted toward me in spite of Slade barking his own command. He smiled when he saw me-tongue out, tail in a low wag. A dog gave me more feels than any man had given me in a long time. My boy Jerry stopped abruptly and turned like he caught whiff of my scent. Yet, he made no attempt to acknowledge me.Until …

There was no way he passed me a few seconds earlier on the street and didn’t see me. After their kissy-huggy greeting ended, they walked toward the house with Jericho in tow.

Out of Love by Jewel E. Ann