Chapter 47 Cole
COLE
Freya practically bounces into the shelter and introduces herself to the manager, who’s waiting for us.
I love spending time at the homeless shelter and getting to talk to people. Freya loves it too. But this…getting to spend the day with dogs who are yet to find their forever home…yeah, I had a feeling she’d be buzzing.
“Right, we have a whole day of tasks laid out for the pair of you,” Lilah, the manager, says, leading us through a door behind the reception desk. “But first off, we have got a whole load of dogs that need exercising.”
“Just lead the way and tell us what to do,” Freya says excitedly.
Lilah takes off, I assume toward where the dogs are housed, while Freya steps into my side and grips my arm.
“I’m so excited to meet them,” she whispers, but I don’t think it’s quiet enough because Lilah’s shoulder bounces with amusement.
“Just remember what I said. I know my apartment is big, but it’s not that big.”
“I’ll be good, I promise. As long as I can come back and do this again.”
“You’re welcome anytime,” Lilah says over her shoulder. “We’re always looking for volunteers.”
Freya squeals again as we’re led through a door that reveals rows upon rows of kennels.
“Oh my god. Where do we even start?” Freya asks as Lilah continues walking.
“I’ve already chosen the perfect pair for you,” she explains.
We walk past breeds of all kinds. From the very smallest dog I think I’ve ever seen, to one of the largest, which I’ll admit, looks a little terrifying.
It doesn’t stop Freya from reading his name—Bruce—and wishing him a good morning.
The way he glares at her makes me think that he doesn’t consider any mornings to be good, but it doesn’t deter my girl.
“Here we go,” Lilah says, stopping in front of a kennel. “This is Buddy. He’s a labradoodle. He’s two years old and very, very playful. Isn’t that right, Bud?” Lilah asks as he practically throws himself against the kennel door in the hope of getting out to see us.
“Oh, you’re a beautiful boy, aren’t you, Buddy?” Freya coos, making him go even more mental.
“And then we have his partner in crime here,” Lilah says, stepping to the kennel beside Buddy, where we find a golden retriever. “And this is Charlie. He’s only one and a half, with just as much energy as Buddy. The two of them should keep you busy for quite some time.”
Charlie stares back at us with his tail wagging so hard his entire body follows the movement. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone this excited to see me. I think I quite like it.
“Shall we get them out?”
“Yes, please,” Freya says, barely able to contain herself.
We stand and watch as Lilah slips into Charlie’s kennel first, puts a leash on him, and then leads him out to us.
He bounds straight to Freya, who drops to her haunches to greet him, while Lilah hands his leash to me.
“Oh my goodness, look at you,” Freya starts. “You’re such a beautiful boy. Oh, yes you are.”
Charlie stands there, his entire body still swinging from left to right with his excitement as he gazes at Freya with nothing but love in his eyes.
I’m so lost watching the two of them that I don’t notice that Lilah has gotten Buddy out of his kennel until he jumps up and one of his paws lands right in my junk.
“Oh fuck,” I cry, half in pain, half in shock.
My eyes instantly water as I take a step back and bend over, my hands covering my dick in case he decides to take a second shot.
A couple of dogs start barking, while Freya, Lilah, and Charlie turn to look at me.
“I’m okay,” I huff, but the second I speak, I turn Buddy’s attention back to me, and the little asshole drags his sloppy tongue up my face.
I bolt upright and wipe at my wet cheek while Freya and Lilah attempt to smother laughs.
“I’m so sorry,” Lilah says. “Buddy can get a little excited, meeting new people.”
“So it would seem,” I grunt, staring down at the assailant.
He stares up at me with his big, glassy eyes. I swear the little fucker is smirking at me.
“Okay, shall we head out to the exercise area?” Lilah asks, her voice all high-pitched as if we’re both about to walk out and leave her short-handed.
“Yes, let’s go,” Freya says happily, Charlie’s leash clasped tightly in her hand. But despite her excitement, there is concern in her eyes when she looks up at me. ‘Are you okay?’ she mouths while Lilah fiddles around with something in Buddy’s kennel.
I nod once. Hopefully, it’ll take more than a labradoodle’s paw to the dick to stop it from working.
“Right, let’s go. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that these two boys need plenty of exercise.”
“Why are they in here?” Freya asks. It’s a dangerous question. If either, or both, of them have a sob story, she’s going to fall in love even harder.
“Buddy only came in recently; his family had a baby, and he was just a little too much for them to handle.”
I can understand that. The asshole nearly took me down on the first meeting. I can only imagine what he’d do to a baby.
“And Charlie’s owner sadly passed.”
“Oh,” Freya says sadly. When I glance at her, I find tears glittering in her eyes.
My girl is a sap. And I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.
“I don’t have any doubt that they’ll find new homes soon. They both have such great personalities.”
Freya agrees as we follow Lilah to an outside exercise area. It’s about the same size as a hockey rink, but it’s covered in some kind of green spongy flooring that I guess is meant to mimic grass.
“Okay, so there are a ton of toys over there for you to play fetch and tug with. Both of these fellas play well with each other, so you’ll have no issues taking them off their leashes.
I’ll check in with you in ten minutes just to make sure everything is okay, but if it is, you guys can have an hour trying to burn some energy off them. ”
“Sounds great,” Freya says happily.
Seeing the joy on her face does something to me I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before. As I gaze at her with a wide smile on her face and excitement glittering in her eyes, I swear my heart grows.
“Okay, enjoy, guys.” Lilah glances at me. “Hopefully, there will be no more accidents.”
In a heartbeat, she’s gone, leaving us all alone for the first time.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Freya asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry. I’m pretty sure it’s still functioning as it should.”
“Cole,” she gasps as her cheeks heat.
“What? I thought that was what you were worried about.”
She laughs as she turns toward Charlie. “Are you ready for this, boy?” she asks.
He stares up at her with nothing but love and trust in his eyes. Honestly, I understand why she loves dogs so much. They’re nothing but unconditional love and support. Exactly what she craves.
“I’ve never seen a dog wag its tail so hard its head moves with it.”
Freya laughs as she reaches for his leash and sets him free.
It takes a couple of seconds for him to realize, but the instant he does, he takes off, bounding across the enclosure at top speed.
Beside me, Buddy whimpers in frustration, watching his friend enjoy his freedom.
“Did you want to join him?” I ask, reaching down to scratch his head before reaching for his leash. Just like Charlie, he takes off, his little legs moving so fast they’re practically a blur.
“It’s so sad they're stuck here, isn’t it?” Freya muses.
“Yeah. It’s only temporary, though,” I say, my heart aching for both of them.
I know exactly how it feels to be dumped in a place like this. Unloved and lonely.
Shaking my head, I march over to the toys Lilah pointed out. The less thought I put into the reasons they’re here and their lives at the shelter, the better.
“Buddy. Charlie,” I call, holding a tennis ball in each hand.
Charlie immediately looks over and then comes running. Buddy completely ignores me and continues racing around like a lunatic on a mission only he’s aware of.
“Buddy,” I call a little louder.
Still nothing.
“Buddy,” Freya tries, and to my utter amazement, he stops instantly, turns, and comes bounding toward her.
“Oh shit,” I cry, jumping in front of her when it doesn’t look like he’s going to stop.
He might not be the biggest dog in the place, but he has enough power and speed to knock her on her ass.
But just to prove me wrong, Buddy manages to put the brakes on just at the right time, and he comes to a grinding stop right in front of us.
“Good boy, Buddy,” Freya coos as she steps around me and greets him with a pet behind the ears.
I pass Freya a ball, and we stand before both of the dogs as they sit in front of us, impatiently waiting.
I fake a shot and laugh when Charlie falls for it and takes off running. Buddy, though, is smarter, more aware.
“Don’t be mean,” Freya says, watching as Charlie comes bounding back.
“Sit,” I command when he stands there, watching me suspiciously. “Ready?” I ask.
“You’re such a tease,” Freya laughs.
“Me?” I gawp. “Have you seen yourself walking around my apartment?”
Her chin drops. “I’m just doing my job.”
“Maybe so, but watching you chop up an onion…” I waggle my brows and look her up and down.
She giggles, but she doesn’t argue.
“Shall we do this? I think they’re getting impatient.”
I look down at the two doggos waiting on us, and without missing a beat, I shout, “Go,” and both Freya and I launch our balls.
Both dogs take off at the speed of light. Beside me, Freya erupts with happy laughter.
“Thank you for this,” she says, her eyes locked on Buddy as he chases his ball down.
“Anything to make you smile like that,” I say quietly.
We spend the whole day at the shelter. After we’ve worn Buddy and Charlie out, we head back into the kennels, where we help clean a few of them.
I’m not going to lie, it’s not my favorite task of the day, but I embrace it all the same.
We do some grooming before heading back outside with more dogs who need exercise.
By the time we leave, we’re covered in dog hair and in need of a shower, but despite that, we’re both smiling.
“That was so much fun. We’re totally coming back,” Freya says as we climb into the car.
“You heard Lilah, we’re welcome whenever.”
“Would you mind if I started coming when you’re away?”
“What?” I ask, confused as to why she feels she needs my permission. “Of course you can. You can come whenever you like. You don’t need to ask me.”
She looks down at her lap. “I just…I wasn’t sure if it was something we do together.”
“Freya,” I say, reaching over the center console. “You don’t need my permission to do something you love. If you enjoy being here, come as often as you like.”
She’s smiling when she looks over, and the look in her eyes makes my heart skip a beat.
“I like you, Cole Hansley. I like you a lot.”
“Well, that’s a relief, because I think I might like you more.”