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

Instead of waiting, Justin walked faster. Was he embarrassed? He looked it. He had his head down. If Thom had to place a bet, he would have put all his money on the probability that Justin’s cheeks were aflame with colour. The same colour they’d been when he’d been laughing in the sun while watching Thom drag himself off the ground with a sputtering water hose, that same pretty pink they’d been when he’d looked up at Thom, flushed from passion instead of shame.


Dog reacted immediately, following along as if Justin was holding the leash and not Thom. He didn’t walk those few steps, either. He bounced. As if the hiding game had been great fun, but not nearly as much fun as being reunited. Then the leash snapped tight. Dog tugged forward, then again, and Thom had to plant both feet to keep him in place.


“Fuck,” Thom hissed. He looked after Justin, then at Dog. “We can’t. I’m sorry.”


Dog huffed, and Thom was pretty sure he wasn’t just imagining the surprised disdain.


Chapter 39