AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dogs of all sizes and breeds are dressed for the occasion. All the females don pink, sparkly tutus while the males wear bowties.
“Look at them!” I laugh, carefully bending to give some love to a little three-legged Labradoodle who’s dancing on her hind legs. “Aren’t you precious?”
“Excuse me for sec. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
While I’m petting the other dogs, I glance back and see Jack talking to a woman. Their exchange seems awkward as if she can’t believe a gorgeous man like Jack Perkins is speaking to her. She shakes her head, and he nods, smiling tightly. He scans the room before returning to my side.
“Everything okay?” I ask casually.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” he says, but the crease between his eyebrows suggests otherwise.
His gaze passes over the animals in need of good homes. “Someday, I’m going to buy a farm and take all of these dogs.”
“God, you really are perfect.”
“You think I’m perfect?”
My eyes widen in panic. “Did I say that out loud?”
He nods slowly, pinning me with dark, salacious eyes.
“I…I need a beer!”
Several bars are set up throughout the venue, but we head over to the main one where Kylie is. Jack orders two beers.
“Hey!” I greet her as she straightens the tie of a man I’ve never seen before. I flick my eyes to his and quickly appraise him as he finishes a glass of whiskey. He’s got to be closer to my age, with an ill-fitted suit and a balding head. I pray this isn’t Tre, but her excitement tells me otherwise. I look at him again and thank my lucky stars that he and I never met. He is not my type and he’s definitely not Kylie’s.
“Oh, hey, Savannah.”
Knowing her tell, I nod and greet her again by her name. She does this sometimes when she doesn’t want people to know I’m her mother.
Kylie looks at Jack. “Hi, Jack.”
“Who’s your friend?” I ask.
Beaming, Kylie says, “I’d like you to meet T-”
A commotion in the dog pen causes us all to look in that direction. Two dogs are circling each other, baring sharp teeth.
“Fuck! I’ll be right back,” Jack hisses before he hurries across the room.
“I’ll see you after,” I say, grabbing the bottle and walking away when I notice my parents have arrived. My mother is wearing a long, silver gown and my dad looks dapper in his tux.
“Hi, guys!”
My mom kisses my cheek then shakes her head when she notices the bottle of beer. “Oh, Savannah,” she sighs. “Couldn’t you ask for a glass?”
I take a swig. “What? No Happy Birthday?”
My father pulls me into a hug. “Don’t mind her. You don’t look a day over thirty, Birthday Girl.”
I laugh. “Thanks.”
“Is Jack here yet?”
I tip my bottle toward the dog pen where Jack seems to be playing referee between a couple of dogs. “Hanging out with his friends.”
