Free My Boyfriends' Dogs by Dandi Daley Mackall Page A

Neither had I. But when we were together, that’s what it was. Love.
    Amber fixed me with her big blue eyes. “Bailey, you know he sees Carly. And Meagan. You have to know that.”
    I tried to swallow, but the peanut butter stuck in my throat. I’d heard rumors about Went and Carly. I hadn’t heard about Meagan. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
    â€œHave you asked Went about him and Carly?”
    I shook my head. “I trust Went.” What we had was so full, so deep. He couldn’t possibly have had that with anybody else. “Love is about trust.”
    Amber shoved her trash into her bag. When she looked at me again, I could tell she was struggling to control her words. “So, tomorrow’s Saturday. Do you and your boyfriend have a date?”
    I grinned, doubly pleased that I had a good answer. “We do.”
    Amber looked surprised. “Seriously? Well, good. Good for you, Bailey.”
    â€œWe’re refinishing a couple of Mom’s tables for her. It was Went’s idea. He feels like he owes Mom for taking care of Adam.” Turned out Adam couldn’t hold it during a whole school day. Mom had been coming home to walk the dog during her lunch hour. “She asked me to ask you to come, too.”
    â€œMe? Why me? I’ve never refinished anything.”
    â€œYeah, but you’re artsy, and we’re not.”
    â€œTrue.” Amber had seen Mom and me fail at enough decorating and fashion attempts to know the Daley girls had missed out on the art gene.
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    On Saturday, Mom forced herself to abandon the garage sales and work on refinishing what she already had. Amber showed up before we finished breakfast. She and I went to work in the garage sanding the old table Mom had salvaged from Grove while Mom drove to the hardware store for stain and varnish. When Mom got back, Amber and I were still sanding, with the music blaring. Went still hadn’t shown.
    â€œHe better get here soon,” Mom warned. “I don’t know how to stain that thing.”
    â€œThing?” I repeated, wiping sawdust off my forehead with the back of my hand.
    â€œMasterpiece,” Mom corrected.
    â€œIt’s a cool table, Big D,” Amber said. “I was thinking I could stain these grooves a darker color, here around the edges.”
    Mom inspected the scrolls carved into her prized table. “Great idea, Amber. I hadn’t even noticed that etching. A dark stain would really bring it—”
    â€œHey, everybody!” Went called, squeezing sideways between two dressers to get into the garage. “Don’t tell me you started without me.”
    Seeing Went still electrified me. I loved the way he looked in his old jeans, with paint splatters and holes in the knees. “You made it!” At the sound of my voice, Adam barked and made a run at me. I stopped sanding and greeted the little dog. I missed him when he was at Went’s.
    Went strolled over to our work area. “Mrs. Daley, this table is sweet. You must have a great eye for antiques. Can’t believe anybody would throw this away.”
    Mom brightened. “You like the table? Really?”
    â€œAre you kidding? When we’re done with it, you’ll be able to sell this baby to the highest bidder.” He squatted down by Amber and examined the table leg she was sanding. Amber backed away. “We ought to fix this leg first, I guess.”
    â€œThis leg’s wobbly, too,” I pointed out, wanting to be part of this operation.
    â€œDo you have a Phillips screwdriver? I might need glue, too.” He sat on the garage floor and wiggled the table legs.
    Mom got out the toolbox. “Take your pick.” She smiled at him, a real smile—maybe for the first time since he’d been coming to our house.
    It meant a lot to me for my mom and my boyfriend to get along. “We really appreciate your help, don’t we,