Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He's taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name "Ugly," but it could still be a friend.<br><br>However, Thom's new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in -- Justin, Thom's gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other's lives, and it doesn't take Thom long to recognize it's simply pursuing the demands of Thom's own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.<br><br>Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return ... a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.

But by the Grace of Dog

“Oh, fuck this. I mean, Justin, I thank you. Really. This is…” He paused, thinking about the right way to say something he could barely put together as a complete thought. How exactly did you tell somebody it was easier to be alone even if the other person was ideal company? He cleared his throat, wringing the hose so hard his knuckles were turning white. “You are being very nice to me, and I really appreciate the effort—”


“Besides,” Justin said, voice rushed, as if he was afraid to let Thom get out the rest of the sentence. “I kind of think you’re a little bit beautiful, too.”


Justin lifted his eyebrows. “Um, I assure you that I do.”


“Don’t say ‘no.’” Justin gently pulled the hose out of Thom’s hands. “Give me that, hmm? If you were trying to kill it, you’ve done a fine job. So, let’s just wind it up and let it be dead in peace, shall we?”


Chapter 13