Heat creeps up my neck. “You were standing, at least. This poor guy couldn’t even stand because his footsie was all twisted up. Isn’t that right, big guy?” I’ve gone into a baby voice of my own as I check over Chunky’s perfectly fine leg and foot.

“Pew, pew, pop, fizz . . .” Zoey mutters under her breath.

“What was that?” I press, faintly remembering the last time she said something like that and knowing it led to some good stuff.

“Oh, nothing . . . just my ovaries exploding again. Men and dogs are women’s kryptonite.”

“Well shit, you’re in trouble then because I’m taking you someplace with lots of dogs.”

Her back goes straight and her eyes widen. “You are? Is that a hint or are you trying to throw me off?”

“Guess we’ll see.”

Zoey scratches behind Chunky’s ears, baby talking to my chubby dog, “Do you know where we’re going?”

I see what she means because she looks damn sexy loving on Chunky and I can foresee a future with Zoey holding a swaddled baby and using that same tone. My man-ovaries are exploding too.

“He might. But he won’t tell you. Isn’t that right, Chunkster?”

We get in the car and drive off, Zoey’s faith in me meaning a lot more than words can say.

“Okay, okay . . . now, what are we doing?” Zoey asks. “Seriously, Blake.”

“Well, I did a little social media investigating,” I explain, chuckling when Zoey lifts an eyebrow of her own. “No, not creeping. And not on you. On Yvette Horne.” Zoey’s other eyebrow jumps up to match the first, and I rush to make this sound less sinister. “Her accounts are all public, no private profiles I could find, and thankfully, no Only Fans accounts. That was a rabbit hole I wish I hadn’t gone down. Let’s just say it’s . . . not for the faint of heart.”

“What do you mean?” Zoey asks. “I mean, I know what Only Fans is, but did you find something?”

I shudder at the memory. “Not Yvette’s, but to check and confirm, I had to search around. I had no idea there were so many people wanting to be sugar babies and daddies. So. Many.” Wide-eyed, I look at Zoey and mouth once more, “So. Many.”

Zoey laughs. At me? Or at the idea of sugar relationships? I don’t want to know, so I drive full-steam ahead into what I did find.