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“Shit.”Phillip hustled over to the side table, put his glass down, and hustled to the side of the house.

His cute butt jiggled in his khaki shorts when he did.He also wore a bright-blue T-shirt that sort of suited him.He still appeared reticent around me, but then why wouldn’t he?I was a total stranger to him.Just someone returning his wayward dog.

“I’m so sorry.”Phillip rounded the corner.“I completely forgot.”

“No worries.”A young man followed Phillip into the backyard.He was a couple of inches shorter than Phillip—who was a couple of inches shorter than my own six-one.

The guy appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties.

So, a couple of years older than Phillip.

The newcomer’s medium-blond hair was a shade lighter than Phillip’s.He spotted me and waved.“I’m Jordan.The dog trainer.”

I stepped over.“Jeremy.The neighbor.”

“Oh great.”His smile didn’t waver.

“I should get?—”

“Can you stay?”Phillip fidgeted, his hands clasping and unclasping.

What’s going on?Is he not comfortable with the guy?With strangers?Yet he’s comfortable with me…Except we’d met on neutral ground.And I’d just rescued his dog from being landed on…by me.Was I more familiar?Safer?“Of course I can stay.I’d love to observe, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, that would be great.”Phillip glanced over at Jordan.“Is that alright?”

“Naturally.The more people who know how to handle Wally, the better off we all are.”

I wasn’t certain why I needed to know how tohandleWally, but Jordan’s logic was sound.Plus, I wanted to see if Wally was going to give us any clue as to how he snuck over to my place.

Jordan crouched by Wally’s bed.

Huh.Dog hadn’t stirred when the man had come into the backyard.I’d assumed all dogs would, like, bark or something.Or at least be curious.

“Wally?”Jordan’s tone was soft.

The dog stretched but didn’t open his eyes.

Jordan gazed up at Phillip.

Phillip shrugged.“I’ve never had a dog.I assumed they all slept like the dead and never roused.I have to wake him up to go for a walk.Now, if you say the wordtreat?—”

Wally’s eyes snapped open, and he struggled to roll onto his belly so he could stand.

Jordan smiled.“Okay, so we know he’s okay.Maybe playing possum?”He held out his hand for Wally to sniff.

The dog did just that.Licked it.Then turned his attention to Phillip.

“He’s expecting, a…” Phillip winced.“But he doesn’t need them.”

“Well, he’s going to get them.”Jordan slowly rose.“Does he have any food allergies or sensitivities?”

“I don’t think so?Not that anyone told me.”

“Good.So you have two choices.You can cut his food to compensate for the, uh, things you’re going to give during training.Or you can take part of his kibble and use that.Training requires something to be given as a reward.At least for now.We need to give him all the positive reinforcement we can while not increasing his caloric intake.”

“He’s fat.”Phillip scratched his stubbled jaw.

“We can work on that.Your vet can give you a nutrition plan.”