Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Nothing soothed the nerves like a good old puppy pile.
It was Monday afternoon, and Haleigh was at Sundae’s Sanctuary, sitting on the tile floor next to Brian, while six puppies jumped around them, diving at their faces for kisses, nipping at their heels, and rolling around on their legs. Their faces and coats were all Jack Russell, but their tiny bodies were definitely Chihuahua. They couldn’t have weighed more than three pounds.
Haleigh picked one up and pressed its soft face to her cheek. “You have literally made one of my dreams come true.”
Brian’s dark eyes crinkled at the edges. “You’re easy to please.”
“All I need is a puppy and a good book to be happy.” Haleigh cringed as the dog licked her nose, getting dangerously close to her eyeballs. “What about you?”
He shrugged. “Pizza and my virtual reality headset.”
“Wait, no way.” Her face snapped toward him. “I’ve always wanted to try one of those. What do you play?”
“Mostly I do puzzles and play mini golf, but there’s one shooter game I like.”
Haleigh rescued her sneaker’s lace from a tan puppy who was using it to play tug-of-war. “Have you ever tried one of those survival horror games on it? It has to be so creepy.”
Brian grimaced. “I’m honestly way too chicken for those.”
“That’s fair. I saw a guy live streaming his game accidentally wet his pants. So clearly they aren’t for the faint of heart.” There were at least three different puppies chewing on her pants now, so she pulled her legs in and sat cross-legged. “Mini golf must be fun, though. I love sports simulation games. There was one on the console I had as a kid where you had to throw cows. You’d spin the controller around as fast as you could and then release the cow at just the right time for maximum mileage.” It was one of the few games Joey used to enjoy too.
Brian cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure cow throwing is a sport…”
“Sure it is. Like shot put, only with a different projectile.”
He let out a loud laugh, and Haleigh lay down on the floor. She hoped he couldn’t see the flush in her cheeks at how much she liked being the cause of that sound.
One of the puppies wrestled with her hair elastic while two others scaled her chest and then snuggled down to sleep. “Can I take these with me to my interview? You know, like an emotional support animal?”
Brian detached one of the puppy’s mouths from his sweater hem. “I’m not sure how supported you’re going to feel when they pee on your shoe and try to chew on the interviewer’s desk.”
Haleigh laughed. “Sounds about as chaotic as going on a date with a cockatoo.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“My mom set me up with this guy who brought his emotional support bird to brunch.” Haleigh went on to recount the whole story, watching Brian’s mouth fall open a little more with every detail. “Sadly, it didn’t work out,” she joked.
Brian cringed. “This is why setups are the worst.”
“Except for this one,” Haleigh said shyly.
His eyes met hers. “This one’s definitely an outlier. A very welcomed outlier.”
Haleigh was glad she was already on the floor because the intensity in his voice set her totally off balance.
An hour later, they were sans puppies, but plus two of the most delicious pizzas Haleigh had had in a long time. The crust was thin and crispy, and as good as any fresh piece of bread. One was a margherita with perfectly melted mozzarella and pecorino and fresh basil. The other had pepperoni and pickled jalape?os.
Brian offered to help her prepare for the interview, so as they ate sitting at a pub table in the bar area, he asked her potential interview questions between bites.
Haleigh thought she did a pretty good job of nailing most of them, but his last one caught her off guard. “Did you always want to work in publishing?”
Haleigh tore her crust into a few pieces and popped one in her mouth. “Sort of? I’m drawn to anything with a story and helping to find good ones, even important ones, and getting them into the world sounded like something I could enjoy doing as a career. But things got derailed after I graduated. I couldn’t find a good internship so I started freelancing to get some experience and then never quite got around to looking into full-time editing positions.” She didn’t feel ready to mention that awful copyediting job.
She cowered a little deeper into her seat. “How’s that?”
“If I was the person in charge, I’d hire you.”
Haleigh tapped his calf with her foot under the table. “I think you’re biased.”
His eyes brightened. “Maybe. But you also sound confident and passionate, and I think that’s a big part of nailing an interview. I know that’s what I look for.”
Warmth flooded her face. No one had ever described her as passionate before.
“So what about you? Why did you decide to be a vet?”
They both reached for the last slice of pepperoni and jalape?o at the same time, their hands colliding. Haleigh pulled hers back to let him take it, but when he picked it up, Brian placed the slice on her plate and got himself a margherita one instead.
For whatever reason, she blushed all over again.
Brian folded his pizza to take a bite. “I like animals and I’ve always loved science, and veterinary school seemed easier than med school. Plus, I’d still be a doctor.” He laughed. “Honestly, I was a bit of a lazy kid. I’m the youngest, and the only boy, and my sisters and parents always doted on me. It wasn’t until grad school kicked my ass that I developed any kind of work ethic.”
His story sounded so similar to hers. He wasn’t a vet out of some calling or vocation. She loved how much more normal that made her feel. Joey always talked about her career like she’d burst from their mother’s womb carrying a collection of law books.
Haleigh took a second to cut the piece of pepperoni and jalape?o in half, then she slid part of it onto Brian’s plate.
“I was also painfully shy for a lot of my life,” he went on. “And being a vet seemed like it would involve fewer people.”
Haleigh studied his face. “I would never have guessed you were shy.” They’d fallen so easily into conversation that first time they’d met, and every time since. Never once had he missed a beat or stumbled over his words.
“It took a lot of forcing myself into social situations until they became easier. And a lot of therapy.” He planted his elbows on the table and leaned in a little closer. “And you, well you’re just easy to be around.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He said it with enough sincerity to cause Haleigh’s heart to flutter. Maybe she needed to bring him for emotional support to her interview. It was so easy to believe him when he said sweet things to her.
She didn’t know what to do with that. But she liked the version of herself she saw through his eyes. Haleigh hoped she was really there.
As they headed for her car, Brian took her hand. His thumb traced soft circles against her palm that made Haleigh too conscious of how his touch might feel elsewhere on her body.
“I can’t wait to hear how things go.”
She closed her eyes, letting his optimism wash over her.
“If I get it, it’s only because you’re an excellent coach.” And because of Joey’s boring pantsuit.
Brian frowned, shaking his head. “No, it’s because you’re ready. And you want this.” As soon as he stepped closer and his citrusy scent hit her nose, Haleigh’s thoughts bounced back to Valentine’s Day and their kiss by the elevator. Her pulse began to thrum in anticipation of his mouth on hers again, his body pressed close.
Her eyes dipped to his lips, and then back up to his gaze. That seemed to be all the invitation Brian needed. He curled an arm around her waist, and Haleigh let him pull her toward him. Their mouths met with the same magic as always, Haleigh’s bones, her muscles, instantly melting under his fingers.
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tipping her mouth farther toward his face, allowing him to kiss her deeper.
When they pulled away, his hand still cradled her face. “Can I take you out this weekend to celebrate?”
Haleigh cocked her head. “I doubt I’ll have heard by then.”
“Then can I just take you out?”
Haleigh smiled. “On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you kiss me again.”
He seemed happy to oblige.