When the rubbing of his belly came to a sudden stop, a very blissful Jared opened his eyes to try to figure out what had interrupted his fun.
"Not now!" Jared whimpered when he saw Kevin standing over him, leash in hand.
The girls in their wet clothing surrounded Kevin, who looked awkward and unsettled.
Jared rolled back onto his feet and stood. Nisha bent over him and gave him a hug. "Is this your dog?"
Kevin seemed to have trouble speaking, but he managed to nod his head. Jared saw that his brother's eyes were not going any higher than Nisha's breasts.
"We just adore him," Nisha said and renewed hugging Jared around his neck.
Bronze-skinned Rachel lightly touched Kevin's arm, and he seemed to freeze in place. "Don't I know you?"
"Jared and me... I mean me... oh, uh, yeah." Kevin stumbled over his words. "I live just down the street."
"I thought so," she said. "Your big brother's name is Jared, right?"
"I came to get him," Kevin blurted out. "He was supposed to come home in an hour."
The girls giggled. "Jared's not here," Rachel said. "Not that we would mind. He's a fox."
Jared, listening, commented to himself. "Close."
"But he is so quiet," Rachel continued. "He never has anything to say for himself."
"Isn't he still in high school?" Meghan asked.
"So?" Rachel asked as she brushed her hand against Kevin's face. "It's those quiet ones you have to watch out for. Isn't that right?"
Kevin coughed and nodded.
"What's your name, cutie?" Rachel asked.
Even limited to black-and-white vision, Jared could detect the blush darkening his brother's face. "I'm Kevin."
"Well, Kevin, we gave your dog a bath," Rachel said. "He was a dirty boy, but we cleaned him up."
Jared couldn't help an excited whimper, which drew attention back to him.
"Too bad he has to go home," said Caitlyn.
Jared tried to implore Kevin with puppy dog eyes. "Please, please, please," he whimpered. "Let me stay."
"He's got to go," Kevin said, attaching the leash to his brother's collar. "Our dad's strict."
"Oh, I hate bad dads," Rachel said. "They never want you to have any fun."
Kevin giggled. "Yeah."
Rachel knelt in front of Kevin and Jared. She scratched Jared behind his ears, sending him off into the realm of euphoria. "I hope he can come visit again," she said. "What's his name?"
"Name is ... uh... Jared." Kevin stammered. He was both mesmerized and intimidated by the pretty young woman with bronze skin and short black hair.
"No, silly. Your dog's name," Rachel prompted.
"Oh, my dog!" Kevin said, too loudly. "Jared's my brother. Uh, my dog's name is Shaggy."
The girls giggled again. "He is very shaggy," Rachel agreed, scratching even more vigorously behind Jared's ears.
Jared panted wildly again, even drooling on his brother's sneaker. He was still staring at the beautiful college students when he felt the sharp tug of the leash.
"Come on, Shaggy!" Kevin said firmly.
Jared submitted and followed his brother meekly out of the yard. The girls waved, giggled, and in unison said "goodbye" as the brothers departed, one on two legs, the other on four.