Chapter 26 #2
“Oh, yeah, they’re all hot. I mean, it’s a tattoo shop, for Christ’s sake. There’s this one guy who works there, Dom. He’s all big and brooding. Kinda like you, but he’s the hottest one of them all.” I lean in close to his floppy ears. “And I get to sleep with him.”
“Found you,” Dom says behind me, voice soft, and I startle.
“Always,” I answer without thinking.
He crouches, offers Fig his knuckles. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest boy?” Another lick, and I can hear the smile when he hums.
I glance up to tease him, but he’s already gone.
Two minutes later, Ms. Brandy materializes like a benevolent witch. “Beckett,” she whispers. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t see your boyfriend ‘accidentally’ donate enough to cover your adoption fee and three others.”
My mouth does a fish thing. “He… what?”
Ms. Cook swoops in with paperwork already flagged. She slaps a pink ADOPTED sign on Fig’s kennel. “Congratulations. Sign here, initial there. The starter kit includes a bowl, a leash, and a plush vegetable. Eggplant or avocado?”
“Eggplant,” I say, dazed and confused.
Wait, what is happening?
Did he just adopt a dog for me? I turn to Dom, who’s kneeling, petting Fig through the fence. “Did you just…?”
He stands up. “Well, I heard you two talking, and I don’t know. I get this feeling you’re meant for the dog.”
“But he deserves a yard. I can’t give him that.”
“But what if you could?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“You gonna build me a little doggy run on the roof?”
He lets out a soft laugh. “No. Plus,” he says, looking down at Fig. “What if he’s afraid of heights?”
“It doesn’t say anything on his information card,” I say in mock seriousness.
“Mmmm, well, just to be safe, you should let him out to do his business in a yard.”
I snort. “I’m not getting up at five a.m. just to take him to your house to go potty.”
“Yeah, that would be kinda silly. You could just… move in with me. It would solve the logistical problem.”
It takes me a minute, but when it finally clicks, I freeze. “Come again?”
“Move in with me?”
“But…”
“There are no buts. If there’s one thing this group has taught me, it’s to live life at your own pace.” He takes my mouth in a deep kiss before resting our foreheads together. “Move in with me.”
Fig barks, like “answer him, you fool.” So I do.
“Yes.”
We stare into each other’s eyes, wearing matching grins.
I can hear the commotion as the rest of our group spots us.
Now would be as good a time as any.
I clear my throat and wipe my sweaty palm on my jeans.
“Okay. Two things.” I look at Dom, then everyone. “First—uh—I got the cookbook deal.”
Everyone goes silent as I watch them process what I said. Then the dam breaks.
Finn shrieks. Spencer actually whoops. Jules and Mira jump in place. Jaxon lifts me off my feet, and Alex pats my back like he’s burping me. Olly kisses my cheek; Jasper wipes the spot with a napkin.
Dom steps in close, shoulder to shoulder. “Proud of you,” he says quietly. I blush. “Remind me when we get home tonight to show you just how proud of you I am.”
“Second thing,” I say, pointing toward the kennels, voice wobbling. “Fig. He’s ours. Dom paid the fee. And three others. Because he’s a menace.”
Every head swivels to Dom.
“You said no dogs,” Jaxon accuses.
Dom shrugs, the worst liar in history. “I said I wasn’t leaving with a puppy.”
“Fig is a senior,” Ms. Cook announces, appearing with a tote bag stuffed with supplies and an eggplant toy sticking out like a flag. “We adore seniors. Less chaos, more soul.”
Ms. Brandy presses a stack of coupons into Dom’s hand. “Also, paper towels are two for one this week. Adoption is messy. You’re welcome.”
Mazie, now calm and sticky, reaches from Finn’s arms towards Fig. “Dog,” she declares.
“Correct,” Finn says, misty-eyed. “Dog.”
Dom disappears while I sign forms and returns with a big sticker on his shirt that says, “SPONSORED A SENIOR.” The look of annoyance on his face right now is priceless.
When everything’s set, I slide back down by Fig’s kennel. Dom drops beside me, thigh to thigh.
“You okay?” he asks.
“I’m stupid happy,” I say. “Like… actually happy.”
He nods, eyes on Fig. “Me too.”
Fig rests his chin on my fingers through the bars.
I rest my head on Dom’s shoulder. Behind us, the gang debates names for the eggplant stuffy.
I veto Purple People Eater. Ms. Brandy tries to rope Olly into emceeing the raffle, and Ms. Cook threatens—sweetly—to put Spencer on the shelter board.
Mazie falls asleep on Finn with ice cream on her nose.
And Jules and Mira do what they do best—make out.
“Welcome home, Fig,” Dom says softly.
“Welcome home,” I echo, and for once I don’t protect the moment with a joke. I just let it land. Tonight, we’ll celebrate with food and a fridge covered in coupons.
We spend a few more hours hanging out, supporting Alex and the shelter. I was able to get Fig out of his kennel and run around with him outside. For an old dog, he’s full of energy and life.
“Oh, Dom,” Ms. Brandy calls. “Do you think I could borrow your big strong arms for a minute?”
“You have fun with that. I’m gonna go put these bags of supplies in the truck and get Fig situated,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.
With his tongue hanging out of his mouth and a dopey expression on his face, I open the door for Fig to jump in. He leans his head back, looking at me. “Seriously?” I pick him up, then slide in next to him.
“Trust me, you’re gonna like this car ride,” I reassure him.
I look up just in time to see Dom walking out of the shelter. It takes me a second, but then I see it. I have never laughed so hard before in my life.
“Umm, Dom?” I start when he opens the door and hands me the smallest gray kitten I’ve ever seen.
“Don’t even say a word!”