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I sniffed.“I can’t afford all this.”I had nothing except the thirty dollars in my wallet, a debit card with a few dollars on it, and the boxes of stuff I’d retrieved with Colin.

Oh, and a dog who would need me more than ever.

“That’s okay.”Arthur smiled.“I get a discount.And we have benefactors who donate money for just such cases.”

“I can cover this.”Jeremy waved.“God knows, I earned my keep today.At my day job,” he quickly clarified.

For the first time, I glanced up at him.His dark-brown eyes were nearly black in the night, but I spotted lines of strain in his face.

“Are you okay?”

“Long day.”He offered his genuine smile.“We’ll get you settled, okay?Let all these good people head home?”

“Of course.”Colin hefted a box and headed into the house.

Arthur and James followed with all the dog paraphernalia.

Jeremy snagged my duffel and hefted it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing—and still kept his grip on the stairs Wally could use to get onto the spare bed to keep me company.

Jordan had discussed with me the pros and cons of letting Wally sleep with me.

Some nights my dog preferred his bed.Other nights, he preferred mine.

I, being magnanimous, let him choose.Tonight I really hoped he chose to cuddle with me.

After a deep breath—which only filled my lungs with acrid smoke—I grabbed the last box.The lightest one, of course.That didn’t surprise me.Colin was the guy who did more than his fair share.He’d assured me he was completely healed from his liver transplant, and hauling a few boxes would be good for his health.

I’d chosen to believe he was an adult and if he said this was okay, that it damn well was.I still didn’t know how to thank him.

When I stepped into Jeremy’s house, Colin himself was there to snag the box.“We’ve put all the boxes in the exercise room so you can sort them more easily.We’ll put the duffel in the spare bedroom?—”

Jeremy nodded and headed up with the bag and Wally’s stairs.

I met Colin’s gaze.“I don’t have the words.”

“Are you okay with a hug?”His hands shook even as he tried to settle them.

Ah, so not unaffected either.He’d had a moment’s panic when he’d heard about the fire.James had been the one telling him—so he’d known his husband was safe—but I’d been under the impression that assurance only carried so far.

“A hug would be nice.”All these embraces.A guy could get spoiled.Well, not really.But I could get used to them, and that would be bad.Eventually they’d come to an end.Eventually people would see the real me.The coward.The pathetic fool.

Except Colin knew a lot of the bad stuff…and he still wanted to comfort me.So I stepped into his arms.And realized quickly from the way he trembled that I was also offering him comfort as well.

“Wally, wait.”Jeremy’s command permeated my brain.

Colin chuckled as he released me.“There’s always a dog.”

“That’s absolutely true.”Arthur chuckled as he and James emerged from the kitchen.“We brought food in a container he can’t open.There’s a measuring scoop as well.We picked up a package of t-r-e-a?—”

“Don’t bother.”Jeremy winced as Wally started barking.“Damn dog can spell.”

All five of us laughed while Wally gazed around, then he narrowed his eyes at me.

“You’ve got kibble.”I turned to Arthur.“I’ll find a way to make this up?—”

“That’s not necessary—” Jeremy attempted to interject.

“We can always use walkers.”Arthur grinned.“We can find dogs docile enough to walk with you and Wally.Jordan says you’re good with training commands.”