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,” Justin said, clapping his hands and peering into the salsa. “It looks like you literally just made that. Is it fresh or does it just look like it? Because if you bought it off the shelf like that, you have to tell me where you got it.”


“Yeah…sorry about that. I um, didn’t mean to be that long, but—”


“No, no, don’t you dare.” Justin snagged a chip and began to dig in. “I freaking lovefresh salsa. Thank you for doing it!”


Justin sat right at the end of the couch, while Tom chose the chair beside it instead, still close enough that they could brush knees, but also giving Thom enough room to breathe.


Chapter 29