Chapter 6
∞∞∞
Meryl
The next morning I was feeling extra groggy and overtired. I stumbled through taking the dog outside and then came back, put on coffee, and grabbed a poptart pouch for breakfast. I didn’t feel up to cooking or leaving again to grab something. I’d been awake too late last night, thinking about Finn and second guessing myself.
I shook my head wearily and my blond hair fell around my face in tangled strands. I forced myself into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face and to brush my teeth and hair. I wanted to go back to bed. I guessed it was a good thing that he didn’t need help moving today because I would have been useless. I felt a little better once I’d finished up though.
I made my cup of coffee and headed over to the couch with it. I was chuckling to myself at the thought of making a first impression as a zombie when I realized my breakfast was missing. My plate was still on the coffee table where I’d left it, so I wasn’t crazy, but it was empty.
Then I noticed that the dog wasn’t on the couch with me like she had been yesterday. She loved laying on the couch. I looked around for her and noticed her under my desk with a guilty look on her face.
“Did you eat my poptart?” I asked her and her tail wagged at the sound of my voice. She stayed under the desk though. In my half-awake zombie brain state, I’d taken her outside to potty but hadn’t given her the morning treat as I”d intended. She’d stolen mine though. We’d have to work on that.
“It’s okay, come here girl,” I coaxed her out and gently patted her butt. I grabbed another poptart from the cabinet for me and grabbed the proper dog treat for her. I took both to the couch with me and turned the tv on.
“Poptarts are not for dogs,” I told her, pointing to the pastry. Then I picked up the dog treat and said, “these are for dogs. Treat, yes. Poptart, no.”
I handed her the dog treat but she took it from my hand and spit it out onto the floor, completely focused on the new poptart in my hand. She had tunnel vision right on the pastry. She was locked in so intensely that I had to laugh.
“Whoa, oh my god. I’ve created a monster,” I giggled lightly. She wiggled her butt with every bite I took of the poptart and never stopped staring at my treat.
When there was one bite left that was only crust, I made her sit and then gave it to her. She danced around and finally settled on the floor with it.
“You love poptarts, huh?” I shook my head at her. She’d need some training but she wasn’t my dog and I wasn’t sure if it was my place to do it. On the other hand, Aiden hadn’t even named her. It wouldn’t hurt to work on her table manners a bit while she was here.
“Wait, that’s a cute name. Poptart!” I gasped suddenly. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and it was settled. She was too cute.
“Poptart it is, maybe even PT as a nickname,” I told her. There were certainly worse names out there. She was almost ‘Dog’ after all. I loved it.
I sipped my coffee and picked up my phone.
‘I just named the dog. She’s officially known as Poptart from now on,’ I sent to the guy’s group chat. I sent a cute picture of her to go with it and they all loved it.
‘That’s cute, congrats to Poptart,’ Finn sent back.
‘I still think Dog is a fine name,’ Saz said.
‘Nice! Why Poptart? Why not Wade Jr?’ Wade replied.
‘She stole my breakfast,’ I explained.
‘Poptarts are not breakfast, they’re dessert,’ Saz rebuffed. I hit the thumbs down icon on his message to ‘dislike’ it. Yeah, they were highly processed and a lot of sugar, but they were still breakfast. Pancakes and waffles were the same way, but they were still breakfast too. I was technically correct, the best kind of correct.
‘The sugar, the diabetes…just call her Comatose,’ Wade said and Finn sent a laughing face.
‘Nope, she’s Poptart/PT forever,’ I insisted.
‘Did McCreepy approve this?’ Saz asked. Oops. Maybe I should have confirmed with Aiden first before announcing to the world. It was just my friends though.
‘Not yet. He doesn’t need to,’ I texted them. I put my phone down and went back to drinking my coffee and watching tv while I thought about it.
I could text him and see what he thought, but it really seemed like he was happy to have someone else help him out with the name. And it wasn’t like it was a stupid or offensive name. I’d just tell him in person, so that I could defend the name if I needed to.
I liked the name too much. If he hated it, then I didn’t want to argue for it over text. It would be better to do it in person. I really loved Poptart for her name and it would only be a few more days. By then, she’d be answering to it and it would be a done deal.
Now that I”d decided on her name, I could get started on my day. We were taking a break from gaming today since Finn was busy with moving and wouldn’t have his computer setup yet anyway. I considered playing something by myself, but decided I’d do it later if I got some things done first. I’d spend today doing a workout, catching up on chores, maybe a beauty mask for my face, maybe some yoga or deep stretching, painting my nails, etc. I’d been gaming with the boys a lot lately and my upcoming date was more than enough reason to spend today on some well-deserved self-care.
I turned the tv off and put my plate away, then my phone vibrated again.
‘Can’t wait to see you tomorrow,’ Finn had sent just to me. I smiled to myself.
‘I’m excited too. How is moving going?’ I asked him.
‘My stuff is physically moved in, just unpacking for the rest of my life now,’ he said.
‘Our date will be a welcome break for you then,’ I sent back quickly.
‘Absolutely,’ he agreed. I’d expected more joking and teasing, but I knew he was busy and couldn’t stay on his phone all day so I put mine away to get into the shower.
I still felt drained from not sleeping well, but the coffee and the shower helped tremendously. I spent the day as planned, working a little here and there, but mostly pampering myself and getting ready for tomorrow’s date.
Poptart and I took a longer afternoon walk than normal and she seemed to enjoy her new name. She really was a good dog, and I adored her. Maybe I would reconsider getting my own dog after this. Or maybe Aiden would let me dog sit during the day or something. I tried to remember if he worked from home or not, but I didn’t know. Maybe I could start a sort of doggy daycare for extra income. But for only one dog. This dog.
We snuggled up in my bed that night and PT curled up by my feet. I liked having her with me. I felt more hopeful than I had in a long time. Things were going well for me for once. Maybe this would be a good year for me. I said that every year, but it felt more true than it had before. I closed my eyes and was out before I could doubt myself too much.