Page 13 of Sloane
“I probably should put some comfy walking shoes on, too,” Maddie said.
Ashley glanced down at her boots at the same time I did.
Nudging her shoulder with mine, I suggested, “Why don’t I just change at your place so you can grab a different pair of shoes, and we’ll meet everyone there?” I glanced at my friends. “Does that work?”
Craig looked at his watch. “So, we’ll meet at the Aquatic Center in an hour and a half?”
Ryan agreed. “That should give us plenty of time.”
I turned to Ashley. “I know your address, since I’ve written it on enough envelopes, but I never actually looked at your location on GoogleMaps. Will that give us enough time?”
“Yes, I’m near Mission Bay.”
“Perfect.”
We stood from the table, carried our trays to dispose of our trash, and turned toward the parking lot. I reached for Ashley’s hand without a second thought once we stepped off the curb. Entwining my fingers with Ashley’s felt like the most natural thing in the world.
When we reached the Camry, a thought occurred to me when I opened the door for her.
“Shit! I need to grab my bag—be right back!”
I took off in a jog after Ryan, who was still walking with Craig, Maddie, and Grace, and caught up with them just as Ryan beeped the unlock button to his Audi. Tank saw me approaching and began to wiggle his butt in excitement, probably thinking he’d be sharing the backseat with his absentee owner.
A pang of guilt hit me in the chest, and I reached down to rub my dog’s face with both hands as I said, “Hey! I need my duffel bag.”
“That’d probably help you change, huh?” Ryan said with a laugh as he opened the trunk.
Tank pawed at me when I stopped petting him.
“I know, buddy. I’m sorry. But I’ll make it up to you. We’re going to go for a long walk.”
Ryan rolled his eyes.
“Don’t let him fool you like he’s been neglected. He stays with my brother on the nights I have to work, and Josh takes him everywhere with him. I’m pretty sure he even sleeps with him.”
I cocked my head at Ryan. “Are you saying he doesn’t sleep with you?”
“No. I bought him a ridiculous dog bed that cost almost as much as my mattress.”
“Don’t worry—Ryan is spoiling your dog,” Maddie threw out as she climbed into Craig’s SUV.
“I need someone to spoil,” Ryan grumbled as he watched Grace get in the backseat of the Land Rover behind Maddie.
“Wait, so you guys aren’t dating?”
“Nope,” Ryan replied, popping the “P” while rocking forward on his toes.
“Not from his lack of trying,” Craig said with a chuckle.
That surprised me.
“Huh. I thought for sure you were doing it this summer, just keeping it on the downlow.”
“Again, not from his lack of trying.” Craig gripped Ryan’s shoulder with a grin. “But at least your house looks great.”
I felt my brows furrow in confusion.
Ryan filled in the blanks. “I’ve been spending my free time working on the remodel.”