Grumpy Gus (Daddy’s Boy)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Avery

Early morning was Avery’s favorite time at the Canine Companion Camp.

Three years of getting up early to be the first one to greet the dogs under their care still brought happiness to Avery’s heart.

He had worked hard; first as an intern, then a part-time employee, and now holding an important role within the organization as Avery was finally graduating with his degree later that week.

Even though it wasn’t his responsibility any longer, Avery still made waking up and feeding the dogs his first task.

Punching in the code to the climate control building where the canine’s kennels were, Avery grinned when the light turned green, allowing him entrance.

The automatic lights in the entrance flickered on as Avery stepped inside, closing the door behind him securely.

“Good morning, friends!” Avery called out his daily greeting.

A series of barks, yowls, and even a few whines were his response.

They currently had eight dogs in their care.

All the canines were either at the end of their training or already certified.

Six dogs were certified and up for finding their forever companion.

Two only had another few weeks of training to complete.

In the three years that Avery worked for the camp, every group of dogs was his favorite.

Every single time. Except this time Avery had found a connection with a canine that surprised even him.

One of the canines that Avery loved so very much.

Down the first aisle of empty but clean kennels, at the very end a gorgeous shining black German shepherd sat peering through the bars at him. Avery skipped forward. “Morning, Grumpy Gus!”

Grumpy Gus came by his nickname honestly.

In all the time that Avery had been working with the canines, none had the standoffish and regal personality that Avery’s favorite had claimed.

He was a true grump to everyone except Avery.

And Grumpy Gus was the most talented dog ever.

Certified in three different specialties.

He would make the perfect partner as soon as the canine decided who he wanted.

And yes, Avery was aware that most people believed that the human picked the dog. That was not Avery’s experience. Even the most driven dog had to have a connection with their companion or it just didn’t work.

Gus might be picky but Avery knew that the wonderful dog was just waiting for his perfect human. Just like Avery had waited for his Daddy Jace to find him. Avery giggled at that thought.

His life would be completely different if Avery and Jace hadn’t found each other.

Sometimes Avery stared at himself in the mirror and wondered where that scared and broken lost boy had gone.

Or if he might come back. Avery’s confidence hadn’t just grown when it came to figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

Avery had found a true group of friends that turned out to be more like family.

And then there was the lifestyle he lived with Jace.

Age regression and being a little with the most amazing Daddy ever had transformed Avery’s life. Avery even spoke to new littles and those interested in the lifestyle every couple of months at the club they were a member of.

Avery unlatched Gus’s door before swinging it open. Gus stepped out and gave a massive stretch before trotting off toward the back of the building. He knew where the food was kept and that it was breakfast.

Passing the other dogs, Avery released each one as he followed behind Gus.

Unlike Gus who only had one thing on his mind, the other dogs went about taking care of their business in the indoor bathroom area or they greeted their friends. By the time Avery reached the table where he would go about fixing bowls of food, Gus was sitting and waiting patiently.

The interior door leading from the office opened and Avery’s boss, Clint, stuck his head out. “Morning, Avery.”

“Morning, boss!” Avery gave a finger wave to Clint as Gus nudged his side.

Clint let the door close behind him as he shook his head. “I swear he’s the smartest dog that I’ve ever worked with. It’s like he doesn’t want to leave here.”

Avery understood his boss’s frustration.

Gus had completed training four months ago but hadn’t been matched with his person.

Three meet and greets hadn’t resulted in Gus finding his forever human.

Gus would make someone the perfect companion, trained for PTSD responses, alerting, and more.

He really was the bestest and smartest dog that had come through the training center.

“He’ll know his person when the time comes. ”

And of course that would devastate Avery.

When the first canines were placed and left, Avery had cried for days.

Okay, he still cried as each dog went to their forever homes.

He just loved them so much! But Avery understood that they had a greater purpose.

They were trained to care for their human companion and the human was trained to care for the canine.

But losing Gus was going to break Avery’s heart into itty bitty pieces no matter how much Avery was trying to prepare himself.

Since completely his training four months ago, Gus had been considered for three veterans that had come seeking a service dog. Gus had all the certificates. He’d make a great choice but each time Gus was in front of the prospect he sat in the corner and wouldn’t even look at the person.

Two men and a woman had left with other companions from the center. Sugar, Heli, and Bosco had all gone with their people. Avery had just updated the website with pictures of them from their companions that he’d gotten via email. He loved sharing updates on their success stories.

“The new applicant arrived this morning,” Clint told him.

“You’re going to try Gus again,” Avery said. It wasn’t a surprise. Avery had helped get everything set up with their newest guest, even talking to Thomas on the phone multiple times to make sure everything was perfect.

“Gus, Lizzie, and Aero,” Conner responded.

“Good choices.” And all were trained for PTSD and not physical disability like some of the others although Gus was certified for both. He was just that awesome.

“I have a feeling about this one,” Clint said. He started to pull down bowls and help Avery fill each up with the special food that was prepared in advance.

Clint’s feelings were usually spot on. Avery had worked with him and the team for three years and Clint usually knew which dog would end up being matched with their applicant.

“Really?” Avery bounced. “You hear that, Grumpy Gus? This might be your person.”

Gus gave a quiet bark as he continued to stare at Avery. Avery rolled his eyes. The dog needed to find his person! It was important.

“The guy that arrived this morning is different,” Clint told him.

“Different?” Avery asked.

Clint nodded. “Reminded me a little of you. He’s…soft.”

Avery smiled. Working with an entire crew of hardened soldiers that had retired from the military due to age or disability, it was no wonder he was the soft one. Not that Avery minded that his co-workers and boss thought of him that way. Avery loved being who he was.

When one of their dogs left, Avery didn’t even try to hide his tears from his co-workers any longer.

They’d always been kind to him and eventually Avery realized that they felt the same loss.

They just didn’t show it the same as Avery.

Most of them were still clinging to that silly notion that they needed to be all manly or something.

He knew what a lucky boy he was for the support he received at home from Jace that helped him deal with work.

“His name is Thomas,” Avery told Gus. “He sounded nice on the phone. I think he was a little nervous coming but I know that you can help him through that.”

“He’s a former sniper for the Marines. Did two tours overseas even though he’s barely twenty-five,” Clint added, talking to Gus the same way that Avery always did.

It might be silly to anyone who watched them yet Clint swore that whatever Avery did to connect with the dogs worked and Avery should just keep being himself.

Avery knew how lucky he was that his boss and co-workers accepted him just the way he was. When he’d first started, Avery had been terrified that one of them would find out his secret. The little part of him. And it had happened…within the first week.

One of the dogs had gotten away from him at the end of the day.

Avery had freaked out and even though Clint and Mark had quickly caught the rascal, Avery had been sure he’d be fired.

Jace had shown up to pick Avery up during the chaos.

Avery had regressed so fast and hard that there had been no hiding the true relationship between Avery and his Daddy.

And no one had made fun of him! Instead Clint had stayed with Avery to help calm him down. Mark had gone to put up the dog but returned to sit with them as well. One by one the rough and tough soldiers had sat with them, offering reassurance and acceptance until Avery had felt better.

Once home Avery had sworn that he could never return to work. He was utterly embarrassed but Clint had called that night to check on him and wouldn’t hang up until Avery had promised to show up for his next shift.

That was the moment that Avery had known he’d found a place that he wanted to stay forever. He’d thrown himself into learning everything he could and making himself vital to the running of the center. And why even though he worked full-time he also took classes to get a degree.

A degree that Avery was graduating with in a few short days.

“You need to give Thomas a chance,” Avery told Gus as he lowered a bowl down to the black German shepherd. Don’t be so grumpy.”

Clint finished placing the rest of the bowls down as Avery watched Gus scarf down his breakfast. “It’s going to work this time,” Clint told him. “I just know it.”