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“Yeah.”I hit the button to end the call.

Phillip re-pocketed his phone and came toward me.His grim expression let me know we wouldn’t be sharing the bad news cold.Clearly, he knew.

Unless he’s stressed about something else.You still don’t know why he left.

I was really hating my inner voice tonight—mostly because they were right.

A step behind Phillip was Colin Reynolds.I’d recognize the bright auburn hair anywhere.His expression was also grim.

I moved to Phillip.“Hey.”

He managed a weary smile.“Hey.”

“The firefighter wants to talk to you.”

“I figured.Will you take Wally?”Without waiting for an answer, he handed me the dog’s leash and headed over toward Jayden and Kathleen.

Disappointed I wouldn’t be part of the conversation—because clearly he hadn’t wanted that—I crouched down to pet Wally.

The little guy didn’t seem the least bit perturbed.He kissed me enthusiastically and nudged against my thigh.

“He’s great.”

I glanced up to find Colin smiling.A little reservedly—which was appropriate, given the circumstances.“He’s the best.Uh, so’s Phillip.”I wasn’t jealous of Colin.Or worried he’d spent time with Phillip.The man was as happily married as I’d ever seen someone.Not that it mattered who Phillip chose to spend his time with.

“I’m sort of glad we were up in LA clearing out his stuff from his old place.”Colin scratched his chin.“I mean, maybe he might’ve been able to call for help earlier and the destruction wouldn’t have been…bad?”

I nodded as I stood.“Total.”

“But he and Wally might also have been hurt.”Colin bent over to scratch the dog’s ears.“If I’d known about Wally, I would’ve brought him to LA.Although maybe Phillip’s old landlady would’ve been mad.Except she gave him, like, less than a day to clear out his stuff.That was just mean.”

I blinked.

“But Wally stayed at Brooklyn’s.He’s new in town.Has just set up a doggie daycare out of his house.I only met him for a moment tonight, but he seems like good people.And here I am, rambling on.”He gazed over to Phillip and the assembled first responders.“He’s already gone through such upheaval.”He turned his attention to me.“Uh, crap.”

I cocked my head.

“I’ve probably already said too much.”

In my desperate opinion, he hadn’t said nearly enough.I wanted to know everything about Phillip, and that meant the dark stuff that he had, apparently, shared with Colin.I wasn’t jealous.More reassured Phillip had someone to talk to.Someone much closer in age.Colin was in his early thirties.Half a dozen years older than Phillip.I was more than a dozen years older.Not quite old enough to be his father—but damn close.He still had a baby face.I had gray in my beard.Maybe if I shaved it off?

And pull the gray hairs from your head?Or maybe dye everything?Where does it end?You’re not vain…so stop acting like you are.

All really good points.

Kathleen gave Phillip a pat on the shoulder.

He gave her a wan smile.

Then headed back to Colin and me.

“And?”I waited impatiently.

He held out his hand for Wally’s leash.“They can give me a spot at the emergency shelter, but they don’t have room for Wally.”He blinked rapidly.

Before I could even respond, Colin was there.“We can take him back to Brooklyn.He said he does overnight boarding?—”

“I can’t afford it.”