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“Just…” He gestured between Wally and me.

We stood outside my front door as I removed the sticky note and unlocked the door.

“Just…” I prompted him, hoping he’d open up.

“He was so happy with the kids.I can’t give him that.I mean, I can’t even crouch down, let alone locate multiple children who will want to play with him.”

He entered my house with Wally after I beckoned him in.He bent over to unclip Wally.

Who promptly made a beeline for the water bowl in the kitchen.

And I was willing to admit, only to myself, that I might’ve checked out Phillip’s ass.He looked at himself in the mirror and saw someone very different from whom I did.Clearly.Because where I saw plenty to hold on to and run my hands all over, he made it clear he saw only someone who didn’t meet society’s stupid standard of perfection.Of beauty.Or even acceptable.Fat shaming was one of the final acceptable prejudices.Some people liked looking down on overweight people and would congratulate themselves on not lookinglike that.That attitude made me so angry.

“Did you say something?”Phillip met my gaze.

“No.”I toed off my sandals.

“You…sort of growled.”

I chuckled.“That was my stomach—I’m hungry.I was going to grill up a couple of burgers.Can I convince you to join me?”

Uncertainty crossed his features as he squinted his nose.“I better not.”

“Because of the company or the food choice?Because I’ve got asparagus I plan to grill, bean salad, and fresh strawberries.”Laying it on too thick?Seeming to be judgmental?I just didn’t know.

“Well…maybe a small burger?”

“Great.I have ground beef, and you can tell me the size you want.It’s lean and I tend to mix it with an egg and garlic.Any problems with that?”

“Not great for my breath.”

No, you can’t make a kissing joke.

“Well, as long as you’re not a vampire, I think we’re good.”I gestured toward the kitchen.

He headed that way.

A clearly exhausted Wally had made his way to the solarium and flaked out on his bed.

Phillip finally grinned.“He did awesome, didn’t he?”

“Yes.Look, if you take him for a walk in the park during the day or early evening, I know he’ll meet kids and adults and other dogs.He’s got such a great smile and a clearly pleasant disposition.People can’t help but be drawn.”

“But I’m a stranger in town.”

I headed back into the kitchen.A low wall partitioned it from the solarium—my favorite room in the house.The dome of windows was lovely in every season.Nothing like sitting there reading a book on a stormy afternoon with the rain pelting the glass.“You’re a stranger today.Well, you were this morning.How many people met Wally?”I counted quickly.“We were there for almost an hour, so I’d say a good twenty or twenty-five.Some who just waved while others stopped to greet him.You’re right, he did awesome.Next time, some of those people will approach.They should ask permission before petting Wally, of course.And it’s always up to you whether you’re okay with it or not.”

“Why would I not be okay with it?”

I scrunched my nose as I considered his question.“In this town?I can’t imagine…but that doesn’t mean Wally might not react out of character for him.Not every dog loves every person.My Dalmatian had a guy she couldn’t stand.Turned out he was beating his wife.Did the dog know that?Of course not.Did they sense the menace?Possibly.If Wally ever shows and sign of discomfort, you just say it’s not a good day and you move on.You never owe someone an explanation.”I glanced at the dog who was fast asleep.“He’s really chill.The little kids poked his stomach a couple of times.I mean, we watched closely, of course, but a stray finger escaped.He would just lick them.”

Phillip chuckled.“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.”

I pulled everything I needed out of the fridge.Then I washed my hands and pulled out a separate cutting board and bowl to prepare the raw meat.“Are you okay with well-done burgers?”

“Yeah.”

I startled as he’d come up beside me.