On a Leash

Chapter 7 - Try and bring me to Heel

Okay, so this is dedicated to @future_author17, your comment really put a smile on my face. So thanks, Lovely! xxxx

Chapter 7 – Try and bring me to Heel

“Thanks for this, Thomas.” I shrugged as I stood in the doorway of his living room. Charlie’s mum had made a show of letting me into the house and although it was kind of her I would have preferred to have stood out in the cold. I had somewhere to be. And I was trying as hard as possible to ignore how out of place I felt.

“No problem,” I grinned.

“Take a seat, Ross, the chairs don’t bite.”

I laughed but shook my head. “I only came to drop this off.”

Charlie’s face fell. “Aw, come on. I’ll make you a drink, you like coffee right?”

Something pulled in my chest. “Yeah, that’s right but Charlie. But I have places to be.”

“I wouldn’t have become friends with the allusive Rosalind Thomas if I knew she was so busy,” Charlie joked. He knew as well as I did that I was never busy, that he could turn up at any time on my doorstep and find me binge internet surfing or some other time wasting hobby. His smile became warmer and without his features easing he asked; “What are you doing, I’ll come with you.”

I cringed. “You can’t,” I scratched at my arm, hyperaware that my top was shedding dog hair. “Harrison texted me wanting to see me,” I pursed my lips; “I guess it’s important.”

“He’s going to have a go,” Charlie translated.

“I’d best go,” I said grudgingly, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“Yeah, sounds like you can’t wait to be told off,” he said. I gave him a blank look, complete deadpan and he eased back into a smile. “I’m sorry, didn’t mean for it to come out harsh.” I shrugged.

I turned to the door, feeling Charlie’s presence behind me. I stopped in my tracks at the sound of pins and marbles dropping in beats. I smiled knowing what was about to come around the corner and squatted, getting ready. On queue the sound of nails on laminate increased and the small dog came around the corner.

“Rat-dog,” I squealed as he bounded into my arms.

“Better keep your voice down if you want to stop my mum having a complete wobbly.” I laughed and put all my attention into stroking the dog’s sleek coat.

“Aww, aren’t you beautiful?” I cooed as I rubbed his head. It made quick at placing his front legs on my shoulders and looking up at me, sniffing my face. A sound escaped from the back of his throat and he started pawing at the front of my ratty t-shirt bought purposely to walk dogs.

“It’s nice to have Ross Thomas appreciate me for once,” Charlie said.

“Don’t you look just like your daddy?” I continued babbling at the dog like Charlie hadn’t spoken. He laughed next to me as he waited for me to stop cooing over his mutt.  “You know what, Doggy? I think if we got your daddy in a lovely pink collar, just like yours, you’d look the spit.”

“That’s just what you want, Ross Baby; you want me in a collar and on a lead.” I turned to find that he had moved to be squatting right next to me, only centimetres between us. With a smile that probably matched my own he reached forward and rubbed his pet’s ears.

“Pink is your collar.”

“And I do like it when a girl’s in charge,” his eyes ran up and down my face and it took all my will not to crumble under the stare. “As much as guys try to deny it, we’re lazy buggers, we like it when we don’t have to do much.”