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“Oh bullshit.”She snickered.“Do you even know if he’s gay?”

Oh holy hell.Did I?Had he said something or was I just inferring?Hoping?“I…uh…”

“Does he know you’re gay?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Not the question I asked.”She clucked her tongue.

In my mind, she wagged her finger at me.Which made me smile.“Look, I don’t know.He’s…easily spookable.You know?And I don’t want to spook him.I’m just being friendly.Upbeat and positive.Offering to help take care of Wally.”

“You adore that dog.”

“What’s not to adore?”

“You like the owner.”

“What’s not to like?”

She tsked.

“You don’t know him, Marcie.He’s the sweetest guy.”

“Which is catnip for you.”

“Not really seeing the problem.”I frowned.“Is this the age-gap thing?”

“You’re of two different generations.If Raphael was just finishing college, would you want them to date someone almost double their age?”

“Hey.”I frowned.“Fifteen years difference and twenty-four years separation are two totally different things.”Or so you tell yourself.Because no, I didn’t like the idea of my nibblet dating someone so much older.

“Right…because it might be two generations…?”

“What is this talk of generations?You’re making me sound ancient.I’m fit, healthy, and damn attractive.”

“You have gray hairs in your beard.”

“Do you think I should color it?”

“Not the point.”

“I could…” I scrounged for something to snap back with.“I might be a silver fox soon.Phillip might find that attractive.”

“Or you might remind him of his father.”

Which could be either a good thing or a bad thing.I was well-aware that not everyone had a father as amazing as mine was.Thinking back, I couldn’t remember Phillip mentioning his father at all.Time to change the subject around my nosey sister.

“How is Raphael doing?And Thaddeus?Did they get enough of a canine fix or?—”

“Begging me every other hour for a dog of their own?Like Uncle Jeremy’s new dog?”

“You did explain?—”

“Of course I explained.How you were just dog-sitting Wally.How maybe the next time you do it, wemightbe able to go over and visit, but that we were not, under any circumstances, getting a dog?”

“You’re always welcome?—”

“Not the point, Jeremy.”