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“You’ll come with us?”Phillip gave me what I could only describe as a pleading look.

“Of course.”Again, no idea why he wanted me, but it made me feel like I’d done something right.I’d take that trust and run with it.So three adults and one clearly eager dog headed inside.

Chapter5

Phillip

“Areyou sure you don’t mind watching Wally?Jordan says he’ll be fine in his crate.”I eyed Jeremy.My gorgeous neighbor who hadn’t asked any questions when I’d practically begged him to stay with me yesterday during the training session now offered me the same reassuring smile today.

“I don’t mind.Honestly, Phillip.If I had a problem, then I wouldn’t have offered.”

“Okay, but…”But no one ever does nice things for me.No one does generous things without having ulterior motives.The shrink might decide to keep me in the hospital, and I’ll never come home…Yeah, that notion, of all three, was the least likely.

Still didn’t stop my mind from going there.

Jeremy held Wally’s leash as the dog tried to bolt past him and into his house.

The house I was very curious about.So not the time.Speaking of time… “Okay, well, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He offered that benevolent smile that wasn’t condescending.It could’ve been…but it wasn’t.“I literally have nothing to do all day.”

I arched an eyebrow.

He held up his hands.“Outside of the house.All my work today is virtual, and I don’t even have any meetings, so if Wally happens to bark, the noise won’t disturb me.”

“He won’t bark.”I rushed to reassure Jeremy.“He’s not a barker.He’s, like, the opposite of a barker.”I indicated the dog bed in the huge carryall I’d brought with me.Every conceivable thing Wally might need was in there.

I might’ve gone overboard.But this was going to be the first time we were apart.

“Phillip?”

“Mmm?”

“Go.”Jeremy indicated the cab that had just pulled up.

“Oh shit, right.”I dropped the bag, petted Wally quickly on the head, and sprinted to the cab.I was only a little out of breath as I slid into the back seat.“Uh, hi.”I glanced out the passenger window as Jeremy waved, picked up the huge bag, and coaxed Wally inside.

The dog didn’t even look back.

Not that he had any reason to.If I could pick between myself or Jeremy, I’d pretty much pick Jeremy every time.

“Where are you going?”

I met the cabby’s soft dark-brown eyes in the rearview mirror.“The hospital.”

He flipped on the meter and headed out.“I’ll have you there in no time.”

“It’s close.I should’ve walked.”

“In this heat?Nah.You want to be fresh as a daisy when you show up there.”The older man with tanned skin offered me a smile.“You okay?I mean, none of my business, and people have lots of reasons?—”

“I’m seeing Dr.Martin.”Realizing I hadn’t done up my seat belt, I did so now.I needed to be safe and healthy.Wally was counting on me.Then it struck me what I’d said, but the time to snatch the words back had passed.

“Oh, Dr.Martin is the best.My Juliana went through a rough time in high school.She had a bad breakup with her girlfriend.We thought she was just sad, but her social worker thought she needed to see a doctor.”

“Social worker?”What were the odds…?

“Anthony Rodrigues.Good man.”