Page 63 of Once Upon a Beast

“Anything would look good standing next to your beauty,” Dax replied.

I smiled at them and Ara made a face like she was going to throw up. We laughed at her look. She might pretend like she didn’t need or want a man in her life but I knew she was lonely. It didn’t help to see her friends who had been single with her for so long suddenly be in relationships.

“Are you enjoying having your place to yourself again?” I asked Ara. Ella had been her roommate when she had moved to the city but had moved out to live with Dax.

“I have decided that I want a dog. I need some sort of companion or at least someone or something in bed with me at night.”

“You don’t like dogs,” Ella said.

“I never had a chance to have a dog. My father said he was allergic.”

“Are you? It’s genetic,” I asked.

“No. My father just said that so he didn’t have a dog in the house,” Ara said

“What prompted you to want to get one?” Ella asked.

“I need something to keep me company. I got used to Ella being around and then she up and left me. I thought I would at least have Layla to come around and do movie night with me occasionally. Now it looks like I don’t even have that.”

Ara spoke in a teasing manner but I could see she felt slighted by Ella and me. We hadn’t meant it to happen. I thought I was doing good about spending time with her but apparently, I wasn’t.

“You’re welcome over at our place anytime,” Ella said.

“And we will totally do a movie night soon,” I added.

“You keep saying that and it hasn’t happened. I’ll just get the dog,” Ara said.

“Are you sure it would be a smart idea? You’re about to start your residence. You won’t have time to give to a dog.” Ella said.

“I know a good no-kill shelter that has some sweet dogs and is always looking for someone to foster them. You could try it out with a dog or two and see if you’re the right fit for them,” Dax suggested.

“Oh, you can do that? Like a rent to own kind of thing? Or you can just borrow them and then give them back?” Ara asked excitedly.

“Not exactly borrow. The shelter usually has too many dogs and they’re looking for people to watch the animals for a while until they can get them into a permanent home. It gives the animal a place to stay and frees up the shelter,” Dax said. “But it usually isn’t for too long.”

“I like this idea. Can you send me their number?” Ara asked.

“Sure thing,” Dax said.

I smiled at them and then felt my phone buzz that I had a message. Hoping it was Nic, I looked to see it was.

Where are you? His message read.

Ella eyed my phone as I looked up. “It’s Nic. He wants to know where I am.”

“Tell him to join us,” Ara said.

While my friends had been supportive of me getting together with Nic, I hadn’t pushed them hanging out with him. They still might be wary of him and I didn’t want to force him on them. But if they wanted to spend time with him, I was all for it.

“Okay, I’ll check with him.”

At Henry’s with Ara, Ella, and Dax. Do you want to join us? Or I could come home?

If he was having a bad day, I didn’t want to think he had to be social but I didn’t want him alone either. I kept my phone in my hand and waited for him to text me back. I wanted him to get to know my friends. I wanted them to get to know him but only if he wanted to. I tried to stay involved in the conversation with my friends but I kept wanting to look at my phone, as if I could will it vibrate.

After a few minutes, I got a message from Nic. I’ll be there in ten minutes.

Chapter 33