Instead, Alex smiled. “Golden Retriever? Late spring shed. He’s blowing his coat.”
But the real test came on the second date. Alex suggested a hike. “Bring the boss,” he said, nodding at Gus’s leash by the door. animal dog dogsex woman
Gus was her anchor. He’d been there through the promotion, the pandemic, and the breakup with Mark, who had once complained that Gus “stared at him judgmentally.” (Gus had been staring because Mark ate the last slice of pizza without offering any crust.) Instead, Alex smiled
“Don’t be,” Alex laughed, kneeling down. He didn’t just tolerate the dog; he spoke to him. “Hey, buddy. Let’s see those paws.” He checked Gus’s pads for burrs, running a gentle thumb over a small cut Claire hadn’t even noticed. “He’s got a little tenderness here. Keep him on the soft ground.” He’s blowing his coat
The Third Wheel Who Steals the Show
So when she met Alex—a quiet, bespectacled veterinarian with a shy smile and dirt under his fingernails—Claire had a strict policy: Gus comes first.
On the trail, Gus did his usual routine: sprinting ahead, circling back, and attempting to eat a rotten apple core. Alex didn’t flinch. When Gus returned with muddy paws and tried to jump on Alex’s khakis, Claire winced. “I’m so sorry—”
