49. Aeris
Aeris
This is a ridiculous idea.
The puppy excitedly licked my face, scrambling in my hold as if trying to escape. What had I been thinking? To think this was a good idea?
It honestly didn’t matter, because it was far too late to back out now.
Another lick to my now wet nose confirmed it.
“Yeah, she’s been told it’s closed. She’s insistent.” The bouncer outside Thorns eyed me cautiously, unnecessarily thick arms flexing as he spoke into his phone. “Well, she doesn’t look dangerous.”
I smiled sweetly, the puppy giving a little cute yip as if on cue.
“Uh-huh, yes sir. Understood.” He pulled away from his phone. “You’ll have to wait here, ma’am. Mr Devereaux said he’s sending someone down to meet you.”
The puppy sneezed in my face, covering me in a fine mist. “Thanks,” I muttered, wiping my cheek with the back of my hand while the little monster wiggled happily.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. The entrance opened and Langdon stepped out, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure as he walked towards us. His eyes brightened for half a second at the sight of the puppy, then his expression darkened the moment they landed on me.
Great.
Pulling out his phone, he typed quickly and held it up so I could read. What the fuck is that? And why does it have a bow on its head?
I shifted the squirming puppy higher in my arms. “Caden’s birthday present,” I explained as if it was obvious. “I don’t have access to his place, so I was hoping either you or Sebastian could take him home to surprise him.”
Langdon raised a single brow, his upper lip twitching. You got him a puppy?
“I didn’t know what to get him, and he told me he’d wanted a puppy when he was a kid but his mum, erm … Anyway, can you make sure he gets it?”
Langdon automatically accepted the puppy when I held it out to him, his smile growing when the little terror licked him across the face.
“Thank you for the other day,” I said quietly, glancing at the bouncer before retuning my gaze to Langdon. “I know I’m not your favourite person right now, but I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”
Shifting the puppy to his left arm, Langdon typed with one hand, the screen lighting up his face. How’s your friend?
“He’s okay,” I replied, knowing Fletcher had already discharged himself from the hospital the moment he came out of surgery. “He’ll live.”
Langdon nodded, scratching behind the puppy’s ears as it tried to climb up his shoulder. He typed again, slower this time.
You should stay away from Caden.
I read it slowly, twice before replying. “I know.”
He studied me for a long moment, the puppy now contentedly chewing on his collar.
He’s different with you. I haven’t decided if that’s good or bad yet.
“I’m sorry. For everything.” I pressed a kiss to the puppy’s nose, his tail wagging excitedly. “Will you make sure he gets it?”
Langdon cocked his head, watching me with those eyes of amber.
Then after a moment, he nodded.