The Downside of Dachshunds (The Love & Pets Romantic Comedy Series Book 3) by A.G. Henley

Author:A.G. Henley [Henley, A.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Central Park Books
Published: 2019-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Isabel

“I wish he wasn’t coming,” I say for the third time. And for the third time, Addie nods. This time she sighs, too.

It’s Friday, our one night off a week, and we’re driving the ranch Jeep to the Lonely Buck Bar for Cory’s charity event.

“I know we’re friends now and everything.” I wave a hand. “But he makes me uncomfortable. He’s so judgy.”

“And you aren’t?” she says.

“Tobias deserves to be judged!”

“Isa, did you know you have a tendency to hold a grudge?”

“I’m Italian. Of course, I do!”

Addie laughs and pushes her Ray-Bans up her nose. The radio’s playing classic rock. I don’t know any of the songs—this music is way before our time—but Cory will be playing it, so we’re cramming.

“You know, you might give the guy a little bit of a break,” Addie says. “Have you heard about his son?”

Son? Tobias has a son? “Tobias is married?”

“Not as far as I know. But he has a seven-year-old with some health problems.”

I sit back in my seat. “Like what?”

“Wanda didn’t know the details, but Myra told her that Amanda said that he was talking to a doctor on the phone about his son’s treatments for something. Sounded serious.”

I watch the yellow and white highway lines slip by as we travel the last couple miles to Estes Park. Tobias is a dad? And his son has medical issues? Guilt burns through me like a shot of tequila.

Addie glances at me. “None of us knew.”

I nod, but shame settles into the pit of my stomach nonetheless. Addie parks the Jeep behind the bar. The parking lot is practically full, and music already pours out of the place through the cracks. I lean over to check my hair in the side mirror as I get out.

After a long week, part of me wishes I was on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, a blanket, and the Zs curled around me—my usual night off. But we want to support Wanda, Cory, and the volunteer fire department.

Inside, the place is packed. The Lazy Dog crew is settled at several tables in the back. The college kids—mostly housekeepers and wait staff—sit at two tables, and the permanent staff sits at two more. I search for Tobias. He’s with Wanda, Myra, Wayne, and Amanda, laughing at something Cliff said, beer in hand.

Tobias catches me looking, but I’m a little proud that he can’t quite tear his eyes away again. I’m wearing a black sweater, skinny jeans, and my dressy pair of cowboy boots. I used the flat iron on my hair and spent extra time on my makeup. When I smile, he smiles back.

The chair next to him is empty.

Screwing up my courage, I head toward it. But all five-foot-ten captivating inches of Kate Jordan slides in before I can get there. She must have been in the bathroom.

I stay the course and walk to their table to say a brief hello. As I do, I realize practically every eye in the bar is on the movie star.

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