Zack ended up staying with John for a second night in a row, and the two had what Zack could only call a sexathon all over John’s house. By the end of it he was exhausted, sore, and happier than he could ever remember feeling. They’d fallen asleep close to dawn, wrapped in each other’s arms and utterly satiated.

The next morning, John drove Zack back to his apartment complex. Zack almost asked him for a drop-off a few blocks away so John wouldn’t have to see the sad, dilapidated building, but he figured if they were going to get serious, John needed to know what he was getting into. To Zack’s immense relief, John didn’t bat an eyelash when they pulled up. He simply kissed him good-bye, made him swear three times to call soon, and then drove off, leaving Zack on the curb.

Zack stared wistfully after him. He tried to joke that it was the car he was truly going to miss, but it fell flat even in his own thoughts. Man, what a night. What nights. He shook his head and trudged up the path to his building. He barely got through the gate before the sound of frantic barking reached his ears.

Zack’s head shot up. He’d know that bark anywhere. A streak of white barreled full-force into him, knocking him clean off his feet. He only had a second to register the ground beneath him before something slobbered all over his face.

“Oh my God, Ziggy,” Zack spluttered as he tried to pull away from the onslaught. Sharp claws dug into his chest. “I’m so sorry, boy! I don’t know how I forgot about you.”

“Well, you did,” said a voice that was equal measures irritated and amused. “We were beginning to think you were dead.”

Zack managed to roll Ziggy off of him and then kept the dog occupied with a round of furious petting. When he sat up, Mr. Alvarez was standing a few feet away, holding a wrench and wearing grease-stained jeans.

“I’m so sorry,” Zack repeated. Horror washed through him. He hadn’t thought about his dog in hours. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Alvarez . . .

Zack climbed to his feet. “I don’t know how to thank you. I can’t believe I left him alone for so long.”

Mr. Alvarez waved him off and walked toward the parking lot. “You’re allowed to take two nights off. Especially when you know you have a neighbor who lets your dog out for you half the time anyway. Hell, my wife keeps a bag of his food in our pantry just in case.”

Zack trotted after him with Ziggy on his heels. “You don’t understand, I forgot about Ziggy. I’m the worst dog owner ever!”