Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Jeremy gave it some serious thought before turning toward Jean. “What do you think?”
“It is not my decision.”
“It’s your apartment,” Jeremy reminded him. “If you want to keep looking we will.”
“I do not care,” Jean said. That earned another world-weary sigh from Rex. Jean side-eyed him, idly wondering if dogs could understand English, and added, “It is a stupid name. It is not as bad as the last, but it is still unforgivable. He is not a dinosaur.”
“We can rename him,” Jeremy said, studying Jean’s face like the secret to the universe was just out of reach. “It might just take some work and time for him to get used to it, especially if he’s six. Here, hold him a sec.”
“Put him down. He has four legs to stand on,” Jean said, but Jeremy had already closed the short space between them.
Shifting Rex from his chest to Jean’s was easy work, and if Jean didn’t catch hold, it would be a long drop to a very hard floor. Jeremy ignored his muttered complaints in favor of fixing Jean’s grip, and he stepped back only when Rex appeared secure. The dog was oblivious to or unmoved by Jean’s disapproval and instead pressed a wet nose to the underside of his chin. Jean tipped his head away, earning a huff before Rex went still.
Jeremy studied the dog a minute longer, then said, “He’s asleep.”
“He’s faking it,” Jean said.
“He likes you,” Jeremy said, pleased. To Christian he said, “We want him.”
“We do not,” Jean corrected him, but both men ignored him.
Christian flipped his stack of papers to the last sheet so he could give Jeremy a rundown of Rex’s health as the shelter understood it. Jean tuned it out, keenly aware of the slow breaths puffing against the side of his throat, more aware of the small chest that rose and fell against his collarbone. Was it normal to feel a dog’s ribs like this? Christian had called him depressed; maybe he’d been doing the bare minimum to stay alive. Could dogs even be depressed? Jean knew next to nothing about animals. He almost asked, then decided he didn’t need to give the impression he cared. Maybe Renee knew more on the matter, but he didn’t think he could get his phone out without waking the beast.
“Great,” Jeremy said as Christian finished up. “Sounds great.”
“Then let’s get you back up front,” Christian said. “Audrey will take it from here.”
Jean would surely wake the dog up if he moved, but at least then Rex could walk. But Rex didn’t stir. The blind trust despite their unfamiliarity was bewildering, almost offensive. Did the creature have no survival instincts whatsoever? Something this small and fragile ought to have a bit more common sense. Jean was sure he’d carried bags of sugar that weighed more. He shifted his grip until his fingers lined up with the dog’s rib cage again. Like this he could feel Rex’s heartbeat, soft as a hum.
“Oh, Rex?” Audrey said, startled to indiscretion when she saw them. She hurriedly tried to redeem herself with an enthusiastic, “That’s fantastic. Did Christian go over his medical records? Good. Then I’ve just got a couple quick forms here, and there’s the matter of the fee.”
Jeremy passed over his bank card, and Jean didn’t miss the way his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Can I get a receipt for that? Thank you.” Maybe Jean was seeing things, because Jeremy set to work on the forms with unabashed enthusiasm. The only thing that tripped him up was their address. He got halfway through the old one before realizing what he was doing, and he crossed it out with a wince.
Audrey checked the form front and back to ensure Jeremy hadn’t missed anything, then returned his card with a receipt. Jeremy tucked both into his wallet, and Audrey snagged a reusable bag off a hook under her desk. She emptied its contents one at a time onto the desk in front of them: a simple black leash and matching collar, a tight roll of plastic something or other, and a few sample bags of dog kibble.
“Goodie bag for your new best friend,” Audrey said, repacking the food and green plastic. “Obviously you’ll want to stop and stock up if you haven’t already, but at least this way you don’t have to rush. You can take him home and get to know him without having to worry about what he’ll eat later today. You can also choose a toy for him,” she said, pointing to the shelf lining the wall behind her.
“Shark,” Jeremy said immediately, and she jumped to get it. Jeremy tucked it in the bag as Audrey passed it over, and finally Jeremy deigned to take Rex from Jean. He smothered the dog with apologies as he lowered Rex to the ground. The dog gave a full-body, noisy shake when Jeremy snapped the collar in place, but for the first time there was a hint of energy to the tip of his head.