Page 244 of Mountain Daddy

“The coffee.” Kendra points at the drinks with her other hand.

When Joe moves his attention to his lap, she slips her fingers free from mine.

I hand Kendra’s drink across to her, then take the one Joe hands me.

“I don’t know how longa little whileis. Maybe I should’ve brought dinner too.” Joe sets the empty carrier next to him.

“We can have something delivered,” I offer before he can suggest that I leave for food.

I’m not leaving Kendra.

Two hours later,with the empty pizza box jammed into the trash, we get permission to bring Buddy home.

I try to help pay for the procedure, but when Joe insists on covering it, I don’t press the issue. I’m already practically paying for Buddy’s college tuition.

But I do insist on helping Buddy get settled back at the house.

They decide they have plenty of food for the next couple days, so we all drive straight to the house, leaving the grocery trip for later.

Buddy does fine on the car ride and slowly hobbles into his doghouse after I carry his crate to the backyard.

Kendra brings him fresh water and a chicken breast with a pill hidden inside.

We all watch him eat it. And when we can’t stare at a sleeping fox any longer, we head inside.

“What if something comes after him?” Kendra asks, standing in the living room, wringing her hands together.

She’s changed out of her stained jeans into sweatpants. But she’s still wearing my flannel.

And she looks so fucking cute I want to sit her on my lap again.

“I’m going to sleep on the couch,” Joe states as he heads toward his room. “That way, I’ll hear him if he needs anything.”

He disappears from view.

“Well, shit,” I sigh.

I’d already accepted that Kendra wouldn’t be coming over tonight, but I was still holding out hope that I could sleep here.

But with Joe sleeping in the living room, that won’t be possible.

Even if I could sneak in and out through the window, I can’t risk running into him when I have to pee in the middle of the night. And tomorrow’s Saturday, so he won’t even be leaving in the morning.

“Sorry.” Kendra reaches for me, and she closes her fingers around my wrist.

I step closer and lift my other hand, cradling the side of her neck. “Don’t apologize, Baby.”

I drag my thumb along her jawline.

“I was looking forward to tonight,” she whispers up at me.

“Me too.” I bend down and press my lips to hers.

Footsteps sound, and I drop my hand.

Joe appears, arms filled with pillows and blankets.

I step to the side, toward the front door. “Keep me posted on the patient.”