Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
LYDIA
“Okay, when you said we were going to be doing puppy yoga, I didn’t think it was going to be this much fun.”
I laugh at Parker.
“We haven’t even started yet.”
“But look at all the dogs!”
Walking farther into the local gym where the yoga class will be taking place, a mass of people are swarming around what I can only assume are the dogs.
A tiny chocolate lab breaks free, running to greet us.
“Look at you.” Parker scoops him into her arms, pressing kisses onto his head. “Isn’t he the cutest?”
“That’s a she, and she’s a feisty one.” A woman jogs over to us, cheeks pink. “Sorry. People keep taking them out of the playpen before we start. It’s like they want to get away from me.”
“Are you Jane?” I ask, sticking my hand out. “I’m Lydia.”
“Oh, Lydia. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m so glad you reached out to do this.”
“I’m happy to. I’ve never gotten to do anything like this before.”
“I promise, you’ll love it.” She waves at us to follow her. “Do you want to meet all the dogs?”
“Yes,” I tell her. Parker ignores her, cooing all over the puppy in her arms. “I think you might have an adoption already.”
“She’s mine,” Parker says, ignoring us as she drops down onto one of the mats to play with her.
“That was easy.” Jane laughs. “But in all seriousness, thank you. Events like this help get our name out there and make it easier to find forever homes for these precious babies.”
Jane looks to be around my age, with blonde hair that is laced with hot pink, and bright, hazel eyes.
“Whatever you need from me to help, not just today, but whenever, just let me know.”
“I really appreciate it.”
A crowd of people are beneath the basketball hoops, clustered around a makeshift fence.
At least a dozen dogs are inside. Some have their paws up to get a closer look at the people staring at them, others are snoozing, while others are playing with each other.
Finding an opening, a small, yellow lab spots me and darts over to me.
“Hi there. What’s your name?”
His tongue hangs out of his mouth as I rub behind his ears.
“This is Buddy,” Jane tells me. “He’s almost old enough to be adopted.”
“What’s that mean?”
“He’s got two weeks before he’s old enough, but I didn’t want to leave him behind. He’ll go home with me to his mom, but then if someone is interested in him today, they can pick him up in a few weeks,” she says.
“Where’d you find him?” I ask, rubbing his belly as he rolls over on the ground.
“His mom was running around on the street when we found her. She gave birth a few days after we rescued her. So sad, but all the puppies are okay. The rest of his litter mates have already been adopted.”
“What about his mom?”
Jane smiles at me. “I’m keeping her. We bonded and I just can’t let her go.”
“Aww, that’s sweet. Well, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to let this little guy go.”
“I can get you an application to fill out, but if everything checks out, he can be yours.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Definitely. It’s the whole reason we’re here today. Want to take him over to your mat for yoga?”
“Yes.”
Picking him up, Jane puts him in my arms as I spot Parker, now with Skylar on the mat next to her.
“Sorry I’m late,” Skylar says in way of greeting when I reach them. Her eyes are red-rimmed and a lopsided ponytail is falling out. “It’s been a morning.”
“Are you okay?” I ask, concern for my friend buzzing through me.
“Eh. Brian isn’t adjusting well here.” Her lip quivers as I take a seat next to her.
“Here. Play with Buddy. He’ll make you feel better.”
Her sad eyes light up when I pass the tiny yellow lab into her lap. “Oh, he is cute. Is he up for adoption?”
“Not anymore,” I tell her, scratching behind his ears.
She laughs. “How did I know you were going to go home with a dog?”
“Hey. I’m not the only one.” I point behind her to where Parker is sitting with her dog. “Parker beat me to the punch.”
“I mean, who can say no to this little face?” Parker coos.
“Do you have a yard for her?” Skylar asks.
“Yes,” Parker says.
“I mean, I have a massive patio for him, but I can picture going on runs with Buddy here,” I say, rubbing his back.
“Does he like to run?” Skylar asks.
“He will. Maybe I can bring him to practice and he can be the team dog.”
“What’s this about a team dog?”
I startle at the voice behind me.
Delaney.
“Hey, Coach. We were thinking our dogs can be the team mascots.” Parker holds up her puppy.
Delaney laughs, walking over to her and the pup in her arms. “This hasn’t even started and you’ve already adopted a dog?”
“She found me,” Parker says. “It was meant to be.”
“What about you two?” Delaney asks.
“No dog for me.” Skylar sighs.
“I’m going to take this guy home once he’s old enough.” I press a kiss to the top of Buddy’s head. He turns back, trying to chomp my chin with his baby teeth. “Might need to change his name though.”
“What is it?” Delaney asks.
“Buddy. I think he needs something more inspired. What are you going to call her?” I ask.
“Her name is Truffle. I think I might stick with that.”
“Hi, sorry to interrupt.” Jane comes back over to us. “The instructor wanted me to let you know that we’ll be starting in just a few minutes, so to grab a mat and get ready.”
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“Mind if I take this empty one?” Delaney asks.
“Not at all. I’m surprised to see you here,” I say.
“I figured since so many of you were coming that it would be a good way to support you.”
“Even if we’re getting team dogs?” Parker chimes in from her spot.
“I don’t know about that.” She laughs.
Skylar hands Buddy to me, but I wave her off. “You can keep him for now. I think you need him more than I do.”
“Thanks.”
Toeing out of my shoes, I slip out of my coat and drop it at the top of my mat. Eyeing Delaney next to me, I watch as she does the same. It’s hard not to watch her.
She was—is—the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met. In a black workout bra and black leggings with X’s cut out along the side, it’s hard not to take notice of her.
Even though she’s no longer playing, it’s obvious to see she’s still in shape. Her biceps flex as she pulls her dark bob back into a low ponytail. The thin material clings to every inch of her. Her toes are painted a bright red.
Delaney is even more sexy now than when the two of us played together. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.
“Thank you everyone for being here today,” the yoga instructor calls out. “I want to give a special thank you to Lydia Bishop and the Rosebuds for helping to put this event on. I’m hopeful that with all of you here, we can get a good workout in while also getting some of these dogs adopted.”
Buddy hops between my mat and Skylar’s, sniffing at my shoes and coat.
“Be a good boy and don’t eat those,” I tell him, pushing the shoes out of his way. Instead, he goes to gnaw on my hand.
“Someone likes you,” Delaney tells me as our instructor keeps talking.
“Today is going to be free flowing, free movement. Feel free to follow along with me, but if something feels good and you want to stay there longer, please do.” One of the dogs yelps and bounds up to her, stretching his paws against her legs.
“What do you think? Do you want to start with downward dog?”
Everyone laughs as she starts going through the movements.
Yoga isn’t something that is in my normal workout routine, but every time I do it, it feels amazing. I follow the instructor as she leads us through the moves. They aren’t hard, but as Buddy wiggles between my feet, he makes it hard to balance.
“Now let’s move into sphinx pose.”
Dropping onto my stomach, I push up onto my elbows. This, Buddy finds, is the perfect height to attack my face with kisses.
“Buddy. Stop. I can’t focus.”
But he doesn’t. Probably because I’m laughing as he keeps going.
“Did you expect this to happen?” Delaney asks, peering one eye over at me.
“This? Not really.”
“It means he likes you.” There’s a smile curling the corner of her mouth as she looks at the two of us.
“He’s easy to like.”
Delaney goes to speak, but is cut off by the instructor.
“Let’s go into warrior two.”
Buddy circles the empty space below me and flops down on a sigh.
“Must be hard being that cute,” Skylar says. “If only I could get one.”
“Later,” I tell her, hating how sad she sounds.
She goes back to her moves and I do the same. My eyes keep glancing around the room, seeing all the happy faces as puppies play with each other and the people around them.
“This was a great idea,” Delaney tells me as we finish in child’s pose.
I turn to face her, seeing her smiling at me. It does funny things to my insides. Until Buddy pounces on my chest.
“I hope I can do another one.”
“Are you going to become the dog lady?” Delaney laughs, standing and rolling up the yoga mat. She grabs mine from me as I slip into my shoes and pick up my new dog.
“Just the one for now. Buddy deserves all my attention.”
“I’d ask if you’ll have more balance getting a dog now, but I think I have my answer.” Delaney and I each give Buddy one last scratch behind the ears as I hand him back over to Jane.
“He’ll be in good hands until you can get him,” Jane tells me. “Thank you again. We have applications from a lot of the people here today, and some are even interested in our older dogs.”
“I’m so glad. It was a great day.”
“Thanks.”
I head back to grab my things, waving goodbye to Skylar and Parker.
“Honestly? It’ll probably be all Biscuit and hockey now,” I tell Delaney, answering her question from before I dropped him off with Jane.
“Biscuit?”
I nod. “He doesn’t seem like a Buddy. More of a Biscuit.”
“Keeping it hockey related. I should have known.”
“What can I say? I’m a creature of habit.” I slide into my jacket and zip it up, standing outside the gym.
“I guess I’ll see you Monday?” Delaney asks.
“See you then.”
What I don’t tell her?
I can’t wait to spend uninterrupted alone time with her.
Being around Delaney is dangerous.
But I just can’t find it in me to care.