An Officer, The K9, And Me

Chapter 22

"You mentioned that Easton saved you. What does that mean?"

Sophia spoke as she sat the now empty take-out counter between them, the meal, once delicious, now completed.

"Easton saved me..." Jack started. Inhaling and exhaling a deep breath before saying, "We Staucey cheated on me."

Two years ago

"We should go out!" Staucey spoke suddenly.

"Mmm..." Jack said, "we should not."

Staucey sent him a playful glare. "Why not? It's Christmas Eve. We should go celebrate."

"More like, it's Christmas Eve. We should stay in." Jack retorted as he continued to pet Easton who had his head resting on his lap. "We have this little guy now?"

Staucey cocked her head to the side as if what she were about to say was completely obvious. "We can bring him."

"He doesn't have a leash yet."

"Yes. He does." Staucey explained. "I brought a few accessories for him and put them in the bedroom."

"Fine." Jack relented. Almost. "We're would we even go with him?"

"Where else? Sugar n' Spice. You know Ron and Janice don't mind pets." Staucey explained. "Inside."

Jack leaned his head against the back of the couch. "But I-"

"Want to stay in and sip cocoa. Yeah. I know."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Look..." Staucey began her reasoning. "It's a nice night and it's Christmas Eve, and I'm going out." She got up and headed to the door. "You coming or what? I'm going whether you are or not."

Jack look towards the door to see his fiance slip a jacket on over her shoulders. Then he looked down at Easton on his lap. Then back to Staucey. "Where is exactly is the leash for Easton?"

"What happened next?" Sophia spoke.

"If you stop interrupting I'll be able to tell you." Jack scolded playfully.

The bar that night was packed. Mostly by a bunch of single people, as observed, sipping beer while wearing a Santa hat or reindeer antlers. There was one dude actually dressed to the nines in full Saint Nicholas attire.

Jack was no exception to the rule what with a bright red and white hat of his own sitting on top of his head. He and Staucey walked through the bar and immediately made their way through the bar.

"Ho! Ho! Don't go home!" A perky brunette with purple streaks in her hair greeted them behind the bar.

"Janice! Hey!" Staucey greeted enthusiastically as she sat down on one of the barstools. "Where's Ron?"

"In the back helping out in the kitchen. We're a bit short staffed tonight. What with everyone wanting to head home early. They completely contradict the ones who want to drink." Janice explained as she popped the tops off of a few beers and passed them off to some guy flanked by girls at the end of the bar - Santa and two of his scantily clad reindeer.