Page 18 of Lawton

"Hilarious," Brittney said. She turned to give me another look. "What happened to the steaks?"

I was tired of the attitude. "Does it matter?"

Amber spoke up. "I know what happened. The dog ate them. Am I right?"

"That wasn't a dog," Brittney said. "It was amutt. I can tell the difference." She threw back her shoulders. "My mom–"

"Yeah," I said. "I know. She's a banker."

Brittney's mouth tightened. "That's not what I was going to say."

Again, Amber spoke up. "Was I right? Did the dog –" She glanced at Brittney. "– I mean themutt. Didheeat them?"

I shrugged. "Eh, hard to say."

"What doesthatmean?" Brittney asked. "Areallthe steaks gone?" She strode to the nearest window and looked outside. She paused. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" I asked.

She turned around to face me. "Something's burning."

I knew what was burning. The clock. I turned to Amber. "Sorry to bail, but I've gotta take the dog back. You know the way out, right?"

Amber bit her lip. She said nothing, and her silence said it all. They'd dressed up. They'd come all the way out here. They'd brought me a house-warming gift – some crystal wine-stopper that looked expensive as hell.

Amber's voice was very quiet. "Are you kicking us out?"

I wanted to. If it were just Brittney, it would be easy. But Amber, at least, deserved better than to be kicked to the curb just because I was dying to see another girl.

Damn it. "No," I finally said.

Amber gave me a shaky smile. "I knew you weren't." She turned to Brittney. "See?"

I reached into my pocket for my car keys. "But I've got to take the dog back."

Amber looked around. "Where'd he go, anyway?" She looked somewhere past me, and her face brightened. "Oh. There he is."

I turned to look. Just outside the neighboring room, Chucky skidded around a corner, dragging something behind him.

Brittney gasped. "My purse!"

Already, the dog and purse were long gone. I had to laugh.

Brittney whirled on me. "What's so funny?"

I shrugged. "If I've got to explain it—"

With a sound of annoyance, Brittney plowed past me, ready to chase after him.

I caught her elbow. "Hang on. I'll get it."

She glanced down at my hand. Her lips curved into a slow smile. "For me? Really?"

"No." I released the elbow. "For the dog."

I wasn't kidding. I didn't want her hurting him. Whatever she said in response, I had no idea. I was on a mission. Find the dog, get him into my car, and steal whatever time I could with Chloe.

Ten minutes. That's all I needed. I'd ask her out. Not for tonight. For some other time – a time when Brittney and Amber were long gone, a time when Chloe and I could talk, really talk.