Just Two Weeks

Chapter Thirteen: Doggie Business

My parents had allowed us to take my mom's car for our volunteering, although they made it clear we would not get free rein of it for going out to parties at night. I was pretty sure I'd had my fair share of parties anyway, so I wasn't going to object.

"Are you going to tell me what golden boy wanted?" Wolf asked as we got closer to the Dr. Finland's clinic. The car ride had been silent until now. It surprised me it took him this long to ask.

"Nothing much," I lied.

"Sure," he said. "That kiss really got to him, huh?"

"Nope. I guess it was clearly fake and not very convincing."

A slight smile slip onto his face. "Whatever you say, Savannah Banana."

I gripped the steering wheel tighter with my hands. I wouldn't keep this conversation going. I wasn't even sure where he was going with it. But it struck a nerve, because I knew I'd kissed him back, and suspected he knew I'd kissed him back.

"We're cool from earlier?" Wolf asked after a moment.

Cool. I guess we were cool. I didn't want to talk about it anymore so I nodded.

"So you're done being mad at me?"

I looked over at him and sighed. "I wasn't ever mad at you."

Being mad would mean I would have to admit to him or myself that I did not want him to kiss Natalie. That wasn't happening.

"Right," he smiled. "Because Savannah never gets mad at anyone."

My lips pursed. "I get mad at people. The other day I saw this guy throw out a bag of trash out of his car while he was driving. Just right on the road."

Wolf started laughing. "It would take trash to make you mad. I still remember the time you put on a presentation for all of us on how to properly cut up the plastic six ring packs to save the ducks."

I smiled. "And do you still?"

"I might need you to put on a refresher course."

I looked over at him and narrowed my eyes. I was pretty sure he was kidding.

We pulled up to the clinic, and I got out of the car, not waiting up for Wolf, who trailed behind.

"You're not still scared of dogs, are you?" I asked as we neared the front door.

"What?"

"It's just when we were kids you used to be scared of dogs," I said.

He flexed an arm. "Do I look afraid of dogs?"

I chuckled. "Um, not sure how a bicep is going to protect you from sharp teeth and claws."

His face faltered for a moment.

"Oh my gosh, you are. I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. But..."

A loud laugh erupted from my stomach.

He narrowed his eyes. "Thanks."

I rested my hand on his forearm, instantly regretting it because one, Wolf's arms are really nice and I was supposed to be reminding myself that I wasn't attracted to him, and two, the physical touch sent a shiver up me I wasn't expecting.

I moved my hand back and smiled at him. "I'm sorry, but I just thought you would have grown out of that."

Wolf shuddered. "Grew out of getting mauled by that thing you guys called a dog?"

"Oh my gosh. Mitzy was such a beast."

Mitzy was a stray we had taken in for a while and she couldn't be boarded because of her temperament, so we brought her with on vacation one summer. Mitzy did not like guys, especially Wolf. And she let him know it—which resulted in about 10 stitches on his leg.