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

So, when Terrence stepped towards the door, looking as angry as a wasp caught in a jar, Thom felt that anger for what he imagined it to be—pain. The man had to be devastated; Thom would be, if in his place. The least Thom could do was offer sympathy, the way he himself was granted it along the way. “Mr. Cope, I’m really sorry you didn’t find your dog. I sure hope you do—”


Terrence stopped and his stance dried up Thom’s throat. Speech halted while Terrence slowly turned. Thom had never seen a colder stare than the one that bored out of his eyes. “Go fuck yourself.”


Thom flinched. He stepped back, putting more distance between them. “Oh…” He jumped when he felt Justin’s hand on his back and had to force himself not to do something ridiculous like try and hide behind Justin’s body. “Did you see that?”


“Yeah,” Justin said. “You know how I told you that people can be nice, and you should just give them a chance?”


“Well, sometimes people are just assholes.”


Chapter 51