The Love Pug by J. J. Howard

Author:J. J. Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2019-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

By the time the Knights and I reached The Ravenous Ram, the Castillos were already seated at a big table in the back room. I saw that Mateo had brought someone—Annie! We both called each other’s name in delight.

“I see it’s going well,” I said in Annie’s ear as she hugged me.

“Yes!” she said. “Thanks to Cupid!”

There was a fireplace in the back of the room, already burning with a cheerful fire, and the table was set with wineglasses for the grown-ups. I smiled. I loved going out for a nice dinner—not just for the food, but the whole atmosphere. Maybe someday I’d host dinner parties of my own. The one and only drawback to a fancy restaurant, as far as I was concerned, is that they’re almost never dog-friendly. I felt a pang of missing Cupid, even though I knew he was safe at home playing with his favorite squeaky toy.

As I sat down, I looked across the table at Frankie, who looked very handsome in a white shirt and jacket. He grinned at me, and I felt my face turn pink. I pulled at my winter scarf, suddenly feeling way too hot to wear it a second longer, but managed to make it tighter somehow, and I made a strangled sound.

Theo chuckled beside me, then reached over to untangle the scarf.

“Thank you,” I said in a low voice. My face was even redder, I was sure, now that my best friend had needed to save me from my own scarf.

I felt the silk scarf at my throat and realized the careful tie job I’d done in my room was now all messed up. But without my mom’s scarf, I would feel underdressed, since Mrs. Knight, Mrs. Castillo, and Annie were all wearing skirts or dresses. Even Theo was wearing the nice charcoal-colored sweater I’d gotten him for Christmas, with a white button-down shirt underneath.

I excused myself to go to the restroom, even though we’d just arrived at the restaurant. Ignoring Theo’s questioning glance, I hurried off to the bathroom. Inside, facing the mirror, I pulled the twisted, and now wrinkled, scarf from my neck. I stared at my reflection for a few seconds, frowning. “Get it together, Emma.”

“Are you okay?” Annie had walked into the restroom just in time to see me fighting with yet another scarf.

“Yeah. I just … everything I’m wearing is wrong, and now I can’t figure out how to retie this stupid scarf.”

Annie came closer, took the two ends of the scarf from my hands, and started adjusting it. “I don’t think this scarf is stupid. I think you look stylish in it.” She stepped back as she finished tying. “There, now you’re all put together again.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Annie.” I followed her back to the table and we sat down.

I picked up the menu and began to read, although I pretty much knew everything on the Ram’s menu by heart by now. I always ordered the same thing: the wood-fire-grilled chicken,

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