“Hi,” he said again. “Can I touch you? Can I hold you? Is that okay?” He waited like he thought the beast might answer, then gently hooked his hands around him. “Oh, oh, oh,” he said as he lifted the dog from the cage, and he cradled Rex to his chest like a baby. The dog immediately draped his head on Jeremy’s shoulder and let out a world-weary huff. Jeremy closed his eyes at the sound of it and pressed a kiss to the dog’s shoulder blades. Thump-thump, went the tail, before Rex tucked it neatly against his legs. Jeremy swayed this way and that for a minute, looking more relaxed and at peace
...more

