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I couldn’t argue with him there. “True.”

Asher came strutting over and immediately greeted Bean by dropping to the ground next to him. “Hey, Good Boy,” he said, scratching behind his ears. Bean’s tongue lolled out of his mouthand his tail went crazy. He placed his paws on Asher’s knees and licked his face several times. “Are you ready to beat these suckers in a coffee-drinking contest?”

Bean gave him a single bark.

“Well, aren’t you the dog whisperer,” Dale said, recording the exchange.

“Seriously,” Kamala said.

Asher climbed to his feet. “Hey,” he said to me. I thought he’d lean in for a hug. I even prepared myself for it, opening my arms a bit, but he didn’t. He turned to Chad. “You brought a recruit.”

“I did.” I dropped my arms and pretended to mess with Bean’sleash.

“Hopefully this video will make it so potential adopters will sign up for the next one,” Asher said.

“I hope,” I said.

“I don’t know,” Chad said. “People might be wary about something like this.”

“They might,” Asher said in his good-natured way. “Butnottrying definitely won’t work.”

An awkward silence fell over the group.

“Where should I put these?” Kamala asked, lifting the coffee carrier.

“Follow me,” Asher said.

Dale sniffed the dog coffee. “Is this going to be nasty?” he asked.

He was on his knees along with Asher, Brett, Chad, and me.Kamala held her camera phone, ready to film. Bean was next to me, sitting like the goodest boy. I had my hand over his coffee and mine. The plan was to let go after Kamala’s countdown and hope Bean looked fun and playful on camera. Which, for the right people, he was.

“It’s not bad,” Kamala said. “I’ve tasted it before.”

“Really? Why?” Dale asked.

“So that when people ask if it’s safe I can say, yes, it is. It’s made with all-natural ingredients.I’veeven tried it.”

“Do you say it just like that?” Brett asked.

“Pretty much.”

Asher looked down the line. His cup was on the table in front of him. “Is everyone ready?”

“Are we picking it up and drinking it?” Chad asked. “Or literally drinking it like a dog?” He was at the very end of the line, farthest away from me. I wondered if Asher had done that on purpose. That thought made a chuckle work its way up the back of my throat. I quickly squelched it.

“However you want to do it,” Asher said, “but you can’t use your hands.”

“Gross,” Chad muttered.

“Is everyone ready?” Kamala asked, her finger hovering over the Record button. She glanced my way.

“Are you ready, Bean?” I asked. He obviously had no idea what was going on, but he gave me a happy bark anyway.

“Three…two…”

I uncovered the cup and patted the table. Bean moved forward.

“One!”