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I wrap my arm around his waist and hug him to my side. “Yes, you did. Thank you, little bro.”
Once four o’clock hits, people start filling the space. Kids are dragging their parents by their arms from pen to pen, squealing in delight as the puppies crawl all over them. I make sure to talk with each family and tell them the dogs’ backstory. I pull out all the stops and work my ass off to make sure every dog finds a home.
By the end of the night, only a few dogs are left, but even they are on hold for people who needed to go home and talk to their loved ones about bringing home a puppy.
My heart sinks when I realize I didn’t get to say goodbye to my favorite pit bull. “Sadie, did you see which family the runt pup went to? I didn’t see him go.”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry, Nix. It was so busy in here, I missed it.”
“That’s okay.” I chew my cheek to stop from frowning. “I should be happy he went to a good home.”
Leo and I fold up the tables and chairs, and the police officers carry them out to James’s truck. I pack up the leftover food and send it back to the precinct with them to thank them for their help. Leo sucks helium from the balloons while we take down the decorations, and he hugs me goodbye when we’re done.
“I’m gonna catch a ride home with my dad. James will take you back.”
I give him an extra-tight squeeze. “Thanks for your help. Seriously, you’re the best.”
He grins. “I know.”
I’m about to flip off the lights when James walks in with his coat zipped up. “You ready?”
I nod, giving the room a once-over. “Yeah, we’re done here.”
“What’s wrong? You look upset.”
I heave a sigh. “It’s dumb. I shouldn’t even be sad about it. But I didn’t get to say goodbye to the puppy—the one with the heart-shaped nose. He got adopted, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.”
A smirk tilts his lips. “You mean this puppy?” He unzips his jacket, and a tiny black-and-white head pops out of the opening.
My hands fly up to my mouth. “Oh my god. What are you doing with him?”
He scoops up the dog in one hand and places him in my arms. “I’m the one who adopted him—for you.”
The dog licks my face, and his tail wags like crazy. “For me? You mean, he’s mine?”
James nods. “I couldn’t let someone else take him home. I know how much you love him. I told Sadie about my plan before the event started. She made sure to put a tag on his collar that said he was already adopted so nobody else would try to take him. And I had him checked out by the vet. She said he’s perfectly healthy, and she gave him all his shots.”
This man.“I can pay you back for that. And the adoption fee—I can Venmo you or get the cash.”
“Just call it an early Christmas gift. I don’t want your money.”
Emotion strangles me as I blink up at James. “Why? Why would you do all this for me?”
“Because you deserve to be happy.”
I glance down at the puppy in my arms and smile. Every cell in my body fills with love, and I know this dog is going to make me the happiest person alive. But what’s more is that James knew it too.
James lifts his hand to my cheek, his thumb making idle strokes against my skin. “Anything that makes you smile like this is worth it.”
I wrap one arm around his waist and sandwich the dog between the two of us. He crawls up James’s chest and licks his chin.
“Thank you. This is the best Christmas present ever.” I let out a sigh. “The gift I got you definitely isn’t as cool as this.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything. Speaking of Christmas, I don’t know if you have any plans, but I’d like you to spend the day with us. If you want to.” He scratches behind the dog’s ears. “You and this little guy, of course.”
For the first time since my father passed, I feel like I belong somewhere. I feel wanted. I feel like I have a purpose, a sense of direction.
I feelhappy.
