SIX
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Ava
We are sitting on the lounge when Elena says, “I can’t believe you got a dog.”
“His name is Conan.”
“That is not a dog’s name.”
Lifting my chin, I say, “It is so.” I lean down, patting Conan, who’s lying by my feet, on the head. “I thought you loved animals.”
She shuffles closer to Axle. “Not ones that are going to eat me.”
“He seems fine with women. It’s men he’s wary of, but he has showed no sign of aggression to anyone since I brought him here. He’s just been following me around, but I get the impression if he senses aggression or a threat, it might be a different story.”
“Remind me never to yell, and it’s not a dog, either,” Axle says. “It’s a small horse.”
I peer back to Conan. “Don’t you listen to them,” I coo.
“It’s one dog. Did he really ne
