Page 27 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘Sometimes you have to. People forget their manners, forget you’re a person.’ He jiggled his shoulders, as if shaking off the bad vibe. ‘Though more people have recognised me since I’ve been spending time with you. They must be looking at you then noticing me.’ One corner of his lips quirked up.
Sera laughed. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘What other reason could it be? They’re checking out the stunning redhead, then they spot the B-grade actor lucky enough to be standing next to her.’
Her cheeks flamed. ‘Very funny.’ She elbowed him in the ribs.
‘I wasn’t joking.’ He elbowed her back.
‘Those girls were kind of young for your movies,’ she said, trying to ignore the fact that she was smiling so wide, it almost hurt.
He nodded. ‘I mean, other than the violence, the last two have some pretty full-on sex. And the whole family watch them together? What’s wrong with this picture?’
They turned to each other and laughed, just as a dogfight exploded in front of them.
Ethan grabbed Sera’s arm, his fingers digging into her flesh as he breathed out, ‘Oh fuck.’
People yelled, screaming out the dogs’ names as the terrifying sound of snarling and growling filled the park.
Ethan hauled Sera backwards, repeating, ‘No, no, no’, and dragging her bodily towards the fence as she stumbled over her feet, trying to see her own dogs.
She put her hand over his. ‘Ethan, stop. You’re okay. It’s all noise.’
One of the dogs dropped to the ground with an ear-piercing squeal as the larger dog pinned it with bared teeth.
Ethan shook his head, his face tinged with green.
‘Ethan. You’re okay,’ she said again. ‘It sounds worse than it is.’
As quickly as the fight began, it was over, with the owners separating the dogs, mumbling apologies and dragging their animals away.
Ethan released Sera’s arm, said, ‘I’ve got to go,’ and, in one swift move, vaulted over the fence out of the park.
She stared as he strode towards the carpark with his head down, shaking out his hands as if shaking off what just happened.
‘Bloody hell.’ She quickly rounded up her dogs. ‘Come on, guys. We’ve got to go,’ she said as she dragged them towards the gate.
‘What were you thinking, you idiot?’ she muttered to herself as she shoved the dogs into the back of the van. She filled a bowl with water, wound the windows down and spun around. Spotting Ethan sitting under a tree, she rushed over to him.
His head was in his hands, his glasses and cap on the ground beside him.
She touched his shoulder. ‘Ethan, are you okay? Can I get you anything? Water? Anything?’
He shook his head and looked up at her. ‘I’m going to get an Uber home.’
‘Don’t be silly. I’ll drive you.’
‘One’s already coming.’ He put his cap back on. ‘I don’t think I can do this. I’m really sorry. I’ve got to go.’
‘Ethan.I’msorry, I honestly thought it would be fine. It’s my fault.’
‘It’s not your fault, Sera. It’s me. I thought I could…’ He blew out a shaky breath. ‘Turns out, I can’t.’
‘Let me take you home. I’ll drop the dogs off, then I’ll take you home.’
He shook his head. ‘I’ll call you, okay? Tomorrow. It’s not your fault.’
He grated his teeth across his bottom lip as he looked at her, then coolly walked towards the road.
