Pawliday Love

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

JASPER

T he pet store is sensory overload —bright colors, squeaky toys, and rows upon rows of things I never knew a dog needed. I push the cart while Avery paces ahead, her brow furrowed between two dog beds. She holds up a fluffy gray one, her expression uncertain.

“What about this one?” she asks, looking at me over her shoulder.

I shake my head, stepping closer to inspect it. “Too small. Max will hang off the edges and make you feel guilty for not getting him a bigger one or he’ll sleep in your bed.”

She laughs and picks up another bed, this one larger with reinforced edges, “This one?”

I run a hand over it, examining it thoroughly. “Better. It’ll hold up to some chewing, too.”

She smiles, tosses it into the cart, and moves to the next aisle. I follow, trying not to let it show how much I’m enjoying this. Watching her carefully consider every choice, asking for my opinion like it matters.

When we get to the toy section, I grab a chew toy shaped like a puck and hold it up. “This one’s a no-brainer. Dog and T-Town Tornado approved.”

Her eyes light up, a laugh slipping out. “Oh yeah? And what’s the proper technique for throwing that particular type of toy?”

I grin, miming a throw. “It’s all in the follow-through.”

She grabs it from my hands and with a giant smile throws it into the cart. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously helpful,” I counter, earning another smile.

By the time we’ve stocked up on food, treats, bowls, and more toys than Max will know what to do with, the cart is overflowing. I try to pay, but Avery doesn’t let me, and I don’t push too hard. Every second I spend with this woman makes me want to never leave her side and I don’t want to do anything that might upset her. I insist on carrying the bags to her car and she reluctantly agrees.

Back at her apartment, I watch as she lets Max off his leash. He takes his time exploring, sniffing every corner like he’s inspecting his kingdom. Finally, he flops onto his new bed with a dramatic sigh, looking perfectly content.

Avery kneels next to him, running a hand over his head. Her smile is soft, her eyes a little misty. “This feels right,” she says quietly, her voice more to herself than to me. Then she looks up, meeting my eyes. “Thanks for all your help today. I don’t think I could’ve done this without you.”

“You didn’t need me,” I say, leaning against her doorframe. “You and Max were meant to find each other.”

“Maybe,” she says, standing up and taking a small step closer. “But I’m glad you were here.”

Her words hit me harder than they should. I shove my hands in my pockets, trying to play it cool, but my heart’s racing like I’m on the ice in overtime.

I clear my throat. “Would you want to grab dinner tonight?”

Her lips part slightly, and I see the hesitation in her eyes before she says, “I’d like to, but I don’t want to leave Max alone. It’s his first night here.”

I nod, understanding completely, but I’m not ready for this day to end. “How about we order in?” I suggest. “That way, you’re here for Max, and we can still spend time together.”

Her face lights up with a grin. “That actually sounds perfect.”

Avery

An hour later, we’re sitting on the floor of my living room, the coffee table pushed aside to make room for the spread of takeout containers between us. The scent of sesame chicken and fried rice fills the air. Max is curled up in his dog bed, snoring softly, his little legs twitching like he’s dreaming of chasing something.

I glance at Jasper as he picks up the carton of noodles, twirling some around his chopsticks with practiced ease. “You know, I didn’t peg you as the takeout-on-the-floor type,” I say, teasing.

He grins, a lopsided, boyish thing that makes my stomach flip. “I’m a growing boy. I’ll eat anything, anywhere.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Growing boy, huh? You look pretty grown to me.”

“Do I?” he asks.

I can feel the blush spread across my face, but he doesn’t tease me about my inadvertent innuendo. Conversation flows effortlessly between us like we’ve known each other for ages instead of just meeting today. We swap stories about the craziest thing we’ve ever eaten —mine was a questionable carnival fried Oreo, his was a fish dish in Sweden that he swears was still moving.

He laughs so hard telling the story that he nearly chokes. His laugh is warm, filling my small apartment like it belongs here.

I catch myself watching him instead of listening. The way his eyes light up when he talks about his teammates, the way his hand absentmindedly taps against the takeout container in some rhythm only he hears.

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, realizing I’ve been staring too long. But when I glance up, he’s watching me too, his gaze soft and steady, like he’s memorizing every detail. My cheeks heat under the weight of it.

“So,” I say, clearing my throat and reaching for the last spring roll. “If you weren’t playing hockey, what would you be doing?”

He leans back, considering the question as he picks at a fortune cookie wrapper. “I don’t know, honestly. Hockey has been my life since I was a kid. Maybe something with animals. Today was fun.”

My chest tightens at the way he says it, his voice low and thoughtful. “You were great with them,” I say softly. “Max loves you already.”

He glances over at Max, who lets out a sleepy sigh in his bed. “Yeah, well, Max is easy to win over. You’re the tricky one.”

I blink, caught by surprise. “Me?”

“Yeah,” he says, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You were ready to bolt the moment you walked in and saw the team in the lobby.”

“I was not!” I protest, laughing.

“You so were,” he insists, leaning forward slightly. “Good thing I’m persistent.”

There’s something in his tone, something warm and teasing but also earnest, that makes my breath catch. He’s closer now, close enough that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.

“I’m glad you stayed,” he says, his voice quieter now.

My heart skips a beat. “Me too.”

The moment stretches, charged and electric. Jasper reaches for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. His touch is warm and steady.

I don’t know who moves first, but suddenly we’re both leaning in. When his lips meet mine, it’s soft and sure, like this kiss is the most natural thing in the world. The kiss deepens and the rest of the world falls away.

When we pull back, I’m breathless and he’s grinning at me like I’ve just handed him the Stanley Cup.

“So,” he says, his voice low and teasing, “do I get to stay for dessert or are you kicking me out?”

I laugh, my cheeks warm but my heart light. “You’ve earned dessert. But only if you share.”

He grabs the fortune cookies, cracking one open as we settle back onto the floor. For the first time, everything feels exactly as it should.