Chapter Three
Thank god the clubhouse wasn’t far from town, because I didn’t like trying to hug that carrier to me without bungees holding it on.
In future it’d be strapped down for the ultimate safety, but I wasn’t exactly prepared tonight, was I?
Hell, maybe we’d need to construct something more permanent for her, probably something I’d need Harley’s help with.
As the prospects let me into the compound, they frowned at the thing I was hugging tight against me, but didn’t comment.
Good. It wasn’t their business. To be honest, as I was on my way here, I was trying to remember if there was a rule against animals or pets, because it hadn’t really come up before.
Hell, I hadn’t planned on taking in a poor homeless pup, but I wasn’t about to send her away either.
She didn’t deserve to be abandoned by me too.
Micro waved at me as I parked up, and I thought he’d disappear into his office, but he was heading my way instead. I was right beside his ride, so maybe he was heading home.
“Got a minute, man?” Oh hell, I was in trouble already?
I hadn’t even let anyone see her yet. Did V rat on me?
For a second, I realised how dumb that was, but then I realised the whole six degrees of separation thing.
She was Caroline’s cousin, who was dating Harley, who was currently at her mum’s house, where V was apparently living.
She probably told them, and they ratted me out to Micro.
“Look, before you say anything, I’ll keep her out of the way, and I’ll clean up after her.”
Micro froze, his eyes narrowing at me with confusion, and then something looking a lot more like suspicion.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, but you’re not keeping a woman as a pet.”
Ha. What the fuck.
“The dog, man, I’m talking about the dog.”
He looked even more bemused. “Okay, I have no idea what’s going on. When did you get a dog? I haven’t even seen a fucking dog.”
I lifted the carrier in front of me, and opened it to let him peek inside.
“Holy shit, who’s this little darling?”
I grimaced, holding the carrier tight as I headed toward the office building, so we could get my little girl out of the cold.
“She doesn’t have a name yet. I found her this evening, and I’m keeping her. I’m hoping you’re not gonna give me shit about that.”
Micro leaned over to push the doors open ahead of me and when we stepped into his office, he hovered over me as I lifted my new little baby out of the carrier, grinning at the soft growls she tried scaring us with.
“Fuck me, she’s tiny. Where’d you find her?” He leaned a finger closer, probably meaning to stroke her, but she snarled and snapped at it, like she wanted to bite it, even though it was bigger than her tiny mouth.
“Whoa. I like her. Sassy little thing.”
He poured two coffees and slid one over to me as he took his seat behind his desk, and I snuggled baby on my lap. At some point she needed a name, but for now, I’d call her baby.
“So, you wanted to see me? I assumed Harley had told you I was bringing a dog onto the site.”
Micro shrugged, a blank look on his face. “He hasn’t said a word, but he’s doing the whole ‘meet the family thing tonight’ so I think he’s too busy. Ugh… that shit’s always unnerving.”
Baby shivered in my lap, so I tucked her closer to my chest and nuzzled her soft hair.
“Uh, you wanna do this another time?”
I lifted my head again, offering my Pres a sheepish grin.
“Sorry, Pres, it’s just… she was cold.”
He smirked. “Yeah, of course. Not that you just wanted to nuzzle her like that because you’re a sappy fucker.”
I didn’t disagree with him, because the proof was right here, wasn’t it? Baby made a weird sound which I realised was a sneeze, and I chuckled, because how adorable was that?
“So what’s this about?”
Micro wrapped his hands around his coffee mug, which I’d read before he did it. It said ‘World’s Best President’ on it, and I had to bite back my snarky comment about it. It was obviously a gift from Sophie, but he had yet to prove himself to me. I mean, Reacher was a fucking god compared to him.
“I guess I just wanted to touch base with you, see how you’re settling in, how things are going with Harley, you know… just kinda making sure you’re doing okay.”
Huh. I never saw that coming. I expected to get chewed out about something, but this was unexpected. I almost regretted my thoughts of just seconds ago.
“How I’m settling in? I’ve been here a year or something, man.”
I might have felt touched by his words, but I couldn’t show it, could I?
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s been a weird fucking time, but I’m trying to put my focus on the members as individuals right now.
Making sure you’re okay, that you’re settled, that you aren’t having issues with anyone, that kinda thing.
Plus, the business with Harley is still in its first few months, so I was curious how that’s working out.
Seems like a match made in heaven to me. ”
I was nuzzling baby again, so I didn’t really absorb his words immediately, but slowly they infiltrated my brain, and I nodded at him.
“Working out good. He’s a bit of a tight ass at times, but it was good of him to bring me in, and give me this chance. Even tried not charging me rent, but I’m no sponger. I’ll pay my way.”
Micro grinned, leaning on his desk with his eyes firmly on the snoozing pup in my hands.
“This is a good look for you, man. Showing your softer side. I didn’t know you had one, but I can see she’s going to be a very lucky pup to be yours.”
His words were like a kick in the chest. At first, it was because I felt like he was calling me a pussy, but as the rest of his words sunk in, I realised what he was saying.
He thought I could do this. Be a dog dad.
Raise this little baby well. For some reason, it made my eyes sting and my throat feel a little tight.
I took a deep breath. “Thanks. I uh… some fucker was dumping her because,” I trailed off, because I still didn’t understand why, “he said she was worthless. Imperfect. I guess… I guess that resonated with me. She’s like the puppy version of me.
Maybe together we can become more.” Jesus fuck, did I grow a pussy or something? I forced a laugh.
“Whoa. Guess I’m getting puppy whipped or something.” Micro laughed accordingly, but his eyes were shrewd. He saw through me. He fucking saw. Time for me to get the hell out before he poked his nose in. I stood up, hugging baby against my chest.
“Okay if I go get settled? I’ve got a feeding schedule and stuff.”
Micro grinned, getting up to open the door for me, and following me down the hall and outside.
“I’m gonna head off. If you need stuff for her, send the prospects out.”
I nodded at him, but my focus was purely on the baby curled up in my arms, as I headed to my room, and unlocked it, stepping inside.
It wasn’t a great room. At least back at the other chapter we had fucking windows, right?
This place got musty and stale really fucking fast, but at least she’d be warm.
“Okay, baby, this is home. It’s not much, but uh…” I glanced around at the neatly made bed, and the stack of clothes on the laundry bin, because I’d been focused on work, and was running behind on laundry and stuff like that. At least the bed was okay, right?
“We’ll make it real nice for you. Okay, lemme see about that note she gave me.”
It seemed pretty simple, right? Feed the milk substitute, and that’s when things got weird.
The puppy was asleep, but there was something wrong. Was it a fit? Was she having a nightmare? I had no fucking clue. I sat beside my bed, on the floor, so my head was level with the mattress and the sleeping pup. That noise didn’t seem normal. It didn’t stop either. It just kept happening.
I needed help.
I grabbed my phone and groaned, knowing there was no other way.
“Dammit, Rocket, you know I’m at dinner with Caroline’s mum!” I kept my eyes on baby, who was still making that odd repetitive sound, her tiny body flinching each time. Jesus.
“I need help. Is V there?”
His dumbfounded silence filled the air for a moment, then he finally remembered how to speak.
“Is V here? Why would you need her? Don’t go sniffing around her, Rocket, she’s not-”
“Jesus. It’s a fucking vet emergency, okay? Can you put her on the fucking phone or not?”
“Vet emergency? That means animals, Rocket, and I know you don’t-”
“Just ask her, for fuck’s sake!”
He must have covered the phone because there was muffled speaking, but I couldn’t pick up words, and then suddenly a new voice.
“I thought I was supposed to take no for an answer, Rocket.”
“Help me. Something’s wrong with baby.”
“Baby? You can’t call her that, but dammit… talk me through it. Is she breathing?”
Was she? I leaned close, but that repetitive sound was all I heard.
“She’s making a weird noise. Can you hear it?
” I leaned the phone closer to the puppy, making sure she could hear a few instances of that damn sound, before I moved the phone back to my ear.
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it, but that sound from the pup still reached my ears every damn time.
“It’s bad, right? Do I need to bring her in?”
She was laughing softly, which seemed really fucking harsh when I was freaking out over my new family member. A family member she clearly hadn’t mentioned to Harley after all.
“Seriously? What’s wrong with her?”
The humour faded, and V cleared her throat.
“Hiccups, Rocket. The pup has hiccups. I’m betting you fed her a little while ago, right?”
Hiccups? The fuck?
“Hiccups?”
“Yes. Listen, Rocket, puppies get them a lot. They don’t do them any harm though, okay?”
“Jesus,” I breathed, noting with shame that my fucking hands were shaking. Over a puppy. Over fucking hiccups.
“I feel like such a fucking prick.”
“Don’t be silly, Rocket. You didn’t know. You’ve not been around a puppy in a long time, if ever at this stage. Trust me, it’s a shock the first time, but you’ll get used to it. She will grow out of it in time, but for now, get used to her getting them a lot.”
Hiccups. I was looking for an emergency vet for fucking hiccups. Could I be a dumber fuck?
“Rocket, take a breath. It’s actually really cute that it panicked you. You care about her, and that’s what we want from people with furbabies, okay? Now, did you notice the puppy pads I packed for you?”
I was blinking sluggishly as I tried to focus on her words. “Puppy pads?”
“Yeah, you need to put a few down on your floor. She’ll most likely gravitate towards those when she needs to, you know, go.”
Fuck. She meant peeing and shitting on my floor. I never even thought that far ahead, did I?
“What am I doing? I have no idea how to care for a fucking animal. I can barely take care of myself.”