Chapter 20

“Like that don’t you?”

“Fuck!” Jake said softly. “That’s amazing.”

Barry looked up and was about to offer to scratch Jake’s belly to see if his legs would jerk when Jimmy said, “He, Rex I mean, never lets anyone near him.”

“Ever,” Jake added.

Barry looked down at the dog, who was still squirming around on his back, a broad grin on his brown muzzle. “That right, eh, Rex?”

The dog barked, rolled back onto his belly, stood, gave Barry’s face a quick lick then trotted off around the corner of the house.

“Wow,” Jimmy said again.

“That’s amazing,” Jake added.

Barry shrugged. He’d always had an affinity with animals. Even the most unfriendly of house cats would jump onto his lap, curl up and purr loudly, often to the astonishment and irritation of their owners, who claimed the cat would never do that for them.

“It’s the halftime show,” Jimmy said.

“And we got the munchies,” Jake added.

“And we were wondering when dinner would be.”