Chapter 5 #3
Just as Avery reached for the lid, the box…barked? Avery jumped back. What was going on right now?
Hayley was giggling and Caleb elbowed him. His friends must know. Avery knew too. It was just that he was afraid to be wrong.
“Avery?” Jace knelt beside him.
“I’m scared,” Avery whispered.
“Of what?” Jace questioned, running his hand down Avery’s back.
“I want it so bad,” Avery confessed. “I didn’t think I could…we could…”
The box moved, then a whine could be heard.
“Daddy, please,” Avery begged quietly. He didn’t even know what he was begging for.
“Let’s do it together,” Jace suggested.
Avery nodded. That sounded like a wonderful idea. If Jace was with him, then Avery didn’t have anything to worry about.
Shuffling closer, Avery waited until Jace had gripped the top of the box.
Deep breath. “Ready, Daddy,” he said.
Jace lifted the lid from the box. Avery leaned over the box and got socked in the eye. He fell back, the box tipped over, then Avery had a lapful of a squiggly furball.
Try as he might, he couldn’t get the pup to stop licking him long enough to get a good look. Laughing and maybe even crying a little, Avery patted the dog, trying to get him to calm down.
“Here, baby boy,” Jace said. “Let me help you.” He lifted the pup from Avery and held him up.
Of course, the pup thought this was a new game and tried to lick Jace now.
Gently, Avery cupped the pup’s face. Happy soft eyes gazed back at him.
“You are the most perfect pup in the whole wide world,” Avery told his new friend.
The yellow Lab barked happily.
Reaching out with shaking fingers, Avery petted the pup’s soft fur. “He’s really mine?” he asked Jace, just to be certain.
“He really is. You did so well in school and with your new job, I thought this was the logical next step.”
Avery beamed.
“You ready to hold him now?” Jace asked.
“Yes, please.” Avery folded his legs as Jace carefully set the pup in Avery’s lap. Then Jace sat with his legs around Avery and the pup.
Hayley, Jayme, and Caleb scooted in front of him so they could pet the puppy too.
“I love him already,” Avery said.
“He’s eight weeks old,” Caleb said. “He just had a round of shots but will need more. He’s a rescue. There were eight puppies in total, but this guy has been super sweet from the beginning. When Jace told me about the special gift he wanted to get you, I knew this pup was meant to be yours.”
“Thank you, Caleb.” He turned his head and kissed Jace’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy. This is the best present I could ever ask for. After being your boy forever and ever.”
“You’re very welcome,” Jace responded with a kiss. “I already spoke to your bosses. You can take the pup with you to work. He can train with the other dogs, but he’ll get to come home with you every night.”
“Because I’m his forever person?”
“Yes, baby boy.” Jace patted his shoulder. “You know the other dogs you’re training have to go to their forever person once they’re found. But this pup will always be yours.”
“And he comes with a lot of stuff,” Grant added from across the room.
Avery glanced up to see Grant’s and Mac’s arms filled with all kinds of puppy stuff. Food, beds, toys, blankets, carriers. Both big men had their hands completely full.
“Wow,” Avery said with a smile.
“Caleb might have gone a little overboard.” Grant shared a wink with Avery. “You know how he is.”
“That’s how I ended up with a six-level cat hotel in my living room,” Mac grumbled.
“The kitties love their hotel and so do you.” Hayley called Mac out.
Mac shrugged. “Where do you want these things?”
“Here, let me help.” Jace kissed Avery one last time before he rose.
The boys moved closer to him.
“You all knew about this?” Avery accused.
His friends laughed.
“Yes!” Hayley exclaimed. “And it was sooo hard to keep it a secret.”
“Mitch wanted to be here too, but they were still opening presents and having their Christmas morning,” Caleb said.
“Must have gotten a late start,” Avery mumbled, but his eyes were still on his puppy. The little guy had laid his head down on Avery’s knee and was already snoring.
“Probably has a very red butt is why he’s late,” Hayley joked.
“Hayley!” Caleb pushed Hayley’s shoulder, but they all laughed. Not at Mitch—they would never laugh at their friend—but Mitch did enjoy a sore bottom.
“What are you going to name him?” Jayme asked.
“I have no idea,” Avery confessed. “That’s a super important thing. I don’t want to mess it up.”
“You won’t,” the three boys said in unison.
It was amazing to have such wonderful friends.
“I can’t believe this,” Avery shared with his friends. “I knew this Christmas was going to be the best of my life, but it’s been so much more.”
“It’s been a very special Christmas indeed,” Hayley agreed. “Hey! Get it! Avery…a very special Christmas!”
The boys broke out in a fit of giggles that woke the pup and he barked with them.
The three Daddies returned to the living room with smiles on their faces as they watched them.
Avery held up his new puppy.
“Merry Christmas, everyone!”
“Merry Christmas!” his Daddy and all his friends cheered back.
* * *