By the Numbers Read Online Free PDF

white teeth. "Thanks, man. Do you think Jim would like a puppy?"
    Trey choked on the beer in his mouth and narrowly avoided spitting it out. "Uh, no. I can definitely say he wouldn't like a puppy. He's not what I'd call an animal lover. Or an animal liker, really."
    "How is that possible?" Nathaniel's eyebrows shot way up. "I find it hard to trust a person who doesn't like animals. It's a measure of a man, how kind he is to other creatures, you know? That uncle I used to come here with was a vet. We were always getting animals to take care of for a while when I was a kid."
    "Dunno. Jim's a good guy; I've worked with him for a long time. He's nice enough to animals, I guess. But he's never had a pet. Once in a while one of the wives will come down to the station to visit and bring the family dog or whatever. Jim's the only one who won't pet them. ...Uh, I mean the dogs, not the wives." He could feel himself flushing. Sure seemed like he was babbling a lot around this guy.
    Nathaniel nodded seriously. "Petting other men's wives is usually not a good thing, you're right. Pet the dog, pet the man, but keep the hands off the wife." His eyes twinkled and the corners of his mouth twitched.
    Trey rolled his eyes. "Wives aren't my thing, anyway. One was enough. You ever been married?"
    Nathaniel shook his head. "Nah. Not even when it was briefly legal. I think I'll wait until that whole thing settles down -- I get confused about what's allowed right now and what's still invalid. I suppose dating would be a good first step on that road."
    It took a minute for Trey to process what the man meant. Legal? Marriage was legal. Trey thought a sanity test should be required before marriage in some cases, but anyone who wanted to get married, could. Oh, wait -- except for...
    "You're gay." Trey didn't phrase it as a question, although it was one.
    "As it gets." Nathaniel nodded once, not looking away, his eyes full of challenge.
    All it would have taken would have been a simple "me too", but Trey didn't say it. Caution was his friend these days, especially when it came to protecting his job or his daughter. Nathaniel was a nice guy -- and cute, if Trey was going to be honest with himself -- but what else did Trey know about him, besides the fact that he was the owner of a million dogs?
    He wanted to find out, though. How the hell was he supposed to do that? Trey didn't really... what was the word? Oh, yeah. Date.
    "So, the puppies!" Trey said brightly, in an effort to stop thinking about dating. "Did I really say I was going to take one?"
    "Yes." Nathaniel sat back, seeming to relax a little. Or maybe he was merely being less challenging. "And I'm not letting you back out, especially if I'm retaining custody of the little chomper." He glanced up and smiled as their beer and food was delivered.
    "I won't back out." Despite his better judgment. "So, do we need to set up a visitation schedule or something? Or do I just trust you're doing right by my puppy?" A visitation schedule would be good. A regular one. Nathaniel was interesting, and Trey liked interesting guys.
    "It's your puppy. You need to come and visit, for sure." Nathaniel waved a hand casually and dug into his nachos. "Play with him -- or her -- go for walks, start teaching basic commands. I think it'll be easier than a baby, but harder than, say, a goldfish. Or a cat, I suppose."
    Trey scratched his head. "Teach it stuff? I've never trained a dog in my life. I heard they're harder to train than kids." He started eating too, noting that the food was good and exactly as described -- pub food, pretty tasty.
    "Oh, heck no!" Nathaniel drank from his bottle and shoved in another nacho chip. "Way easier. You bribe them, for one, and most dogs will do just about anything for a tasty treat or a belly rub. Q will do anything for a good belly rub."
    "So would I," Trey laughed. It was true. His favorite thing in the world -- besides sex -- was getting an all-over body rub. Of course, depending on