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“Ahh!” I shove at his neck. The short fur so much softer than I expected.
He barks, just once. And it sounded…playful?
The dog backs up one step, lowering his front half to the ground, butt still in the air, stubby wagging tail on display.
“Oh my god,” I groan, lifting my head, then letting it drop back onto the rug. “You’re not mean, are you?”
As though he understood me, the dog gives another bark before bouncing up and trying to lick my face again.
He gets one more sloppy lick in, before I’m able to shove him back. “Alright, alright! You win.” I make enough room to sit up.
“Sit.”
He sits.
Curious, I hold out my palm. “Shake.”
The big boy slaps his big paw into my hand, and I can’t help but smile as I close my fingers around his furry digits and give it two firm shakes.
I let go of his paw and he lowers his head to nudge my hand. Taking the cue, I reach up and pat the top of his head.
I don’t know how he went from terrifying to cute, but he did. And that’s good, since sitting like this, the damn creature is taller than I am.
“Pretty sneaky that you made it in here before I shut that door,” I tell him, rubbing behind his short pointy ears while my other hand presses against my chest, my heart still beating wildly. I swear, next time I’m forced to run for my life, I’ll just sit on the ground instead. Whatever happens, happens. “It’s a good thing you don’t a have a long tail, huh. It probably would’ve gotten smashed in the door and that would’ve hurt.”
The dog snuffles his reply at the same time I hear heavy footfalls enter the bedroom.
“Savannah!” King’s voice booms through the space.
I press my lips together, staying quiet.
Let him worry that his monster dog ate me.
His stomping moves across the bedroom, and I picture him checking the bathroom.
“Savannah!”
The dog turns, like he’s gonna go scratch at the door. So, I lean forward and throw my arms around his neck, holding him in place.
Another round of stomps, and what I assume is the sound of the patio doors opening, before he shouts again.
The temptation to greet his master becomes too much for the demon dog in my arms because he lets out a deep woof.
This time I’m busy shushing the dog, so I don’t hear the steps until the closet door is slamming open.
I yelp, embarrassing myself, and the dog––if the look he gives me is any indication.
“What…” King’s gaze bounces between me and the dog. “Duke, what the hell are you doing in here?”
My mouth pops open. “I’m sorry, is that the dog’s name?”
King crosses his arms, his bulk blocking the entire doorway. “What happened?”
If he can ignore my question, I can ignore his. “Did you honestly name your dog Duke?”
Hearing his name, the dog turns his head in my direction. But I manage to avoid his attempted kiss when I fall back onto the rug, letting loose the laugh that’s been boiling inside me since waking up.
I sound insane. Completely unhinged. But I justcan’t.