"Oh right." Doug said with a laugh, but his cheeks went red, giving away his embarrassment over being younger. "Well, things might work out better now. You know, if you like older men." He looked the other way almost immediately and made a face. What a stupid thing to say! Duh, Doug, laying it on too thick! Patti didn't like him before, she definitely wouldn't like him now.
"No not really." He said still not able to look at her. "I mean, I thought that maybe I'd be okay without Porkchop, but he was my best companion you know? With me all the time, helping me out no matter what. I think, you know, that he'd want me to have another dog. Sparky and strange just like him. Just, you know, with a different name."