Page 261 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Hi."

I burst out laughing. "What is happening?"

"I volunteer at the shelter."

A puppy steals the phone.

The screen spins wildly.

"I can see that."

Toby rescues the phone. "Thought you might need some puppies."

"I probably did."

"I know."

For the next twenty minutes he introduces every dog by name.

Each one somehow stranger than the last.

One refuses to stop licking the camera. Another falls asleep across Toby's lap halfway through the conversation. A tiny terrier proudly trots past carrying one of Toby's sneakers.

He sighs. "Again?"

I laugh so hard tears sting my eyes. When the laughter finally settles, I smile softly.

"I miss them."

"The dogs?"

"The shelter. The town. Everything.”

Toby nods as though he already understands.

"They miss you too."

"The dogs?"

He grins. "The dogs."

A tiny pause. "The rest of us aren't exactly throwing a party either."

Emotion catches unexpectedly in my throat.

"I miss all of you."

"We know."

Another puppy barks loudly.

Toby looks down.

"I think Pickles wants to say goodbye."

The puppy immediately licks the camera.

I laugh again.