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“I’ll come home before the shelter closes.”
CHAPTER18
Nora
I curledup on the plush red chaise lounge by the bay window, pressing “submit” on my college application just as Andy pulled into the driveway. I promised myself, not for the first time that day, I’d keep that enthusiasm and my hands to myself.
“Guess what I just did,” I greeted him as he opened the front door, turning my laptop screen to face him.
He hung up his coat, dropped his empty lunch bag on the small table by the door, and crossed the room. His blue eyes lit up as he read the automated reply to my completed application. “That’s great! I’m so proud of you.”
My body warmed. Sure, I hadn’t started a business or opened a chain of gyms, but Andy had the same earnest enthusiasm as if I had.
“I think you deserve a puppy for all that hard work.”
A grin broke out on my face and I closed the window with my college application to pull up half a dozen dogs I’d picked out at the shelter. “What kind of dog are we getting? I’ve got some puppies, some older adults, and an adorable chihuahua.” He cleared his grimace quickly, but I closed that tab just the same. “Okay, no teapot dogs.”
“Nothing yappy,” he said, before hedging the request. “Unless that’s what you want.”
I shrugged. “I’m easy.”
I regretted my words almost instantly. Part of the reason I’d kept myself busy all morning, unpacking boxes, applying to college, cleaning the kitchen, and making a week’s worth of lunches, was to keep my mind off our kiss that morning. I’d been excited. Too excited. And the kiss had been…well, certainly not a mistake.
A misstep. One that been on the horizon ever since I’d invited Andy into my bed.
Having him there had been a line I hadn’t meant to breach, but once we’d done it once, I hadn’t stopped. Couldn’t stop? Of course, Icouldstop. I didn’t want to.
I blamed how he rubbed my head before I fell asleep. I had a Pavlovian response to his fingertips making circles on my scalp, leaving me sleepy, calm, and entirely at his mercy. It was a blatant violation of the deal we made, but completely innocent.
Until I launched myself at him like a rabid howler monkey on the porch that morning.
“Well.” His lips cocked up in a grin. “We should probably get to the shelter before it closes.”
I followed him outside, eyeing the pristine sports car as he unlocked the doors.
“You sure you want a dog in this car?”
He shrugged. “Unless you plan on adopting a mastiff, we’ll have plenty of room.”
“That seems like the type of dog you’d want. Something big and outdoorsy,” I mused as I slid into the passenger seat. “Or maybe a peppy golden retriever, or a rugged pit.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But what about you? I bet you want a couch potato who loves pets and loafing. A cocker spaniel, or one of those mixed breeds with a name like cockapoo or chiweenie.”
“A what?”
“Don’t feign ignorance. You’ve been trawling the pugaranian site for weeks.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’ve been waiting for you to offer me a puppy that costs more than my apartment.” I rolled my eyes. “But honestly, you’re sure I can have a dog? I don’t want to mess up your house.”
“Ourhouse,” he corrected. “And I’m sure. This is perfect. I’ll feel better, security-wise, and you’ll have company while I’m out of town. Win-win.”
We pulled up to the shelter—or rather, the local vet’s office that took in stray dogs and unexpected litters. Everyone once in a while, a bus from the overrun shelters down south pulled in and dumped a load of dogs, mostly hunting dogs. But based on their social media feed, the vet only had a limited selection of local strays.
“Ready to find our new best friend?” I asked excitedly.
Andy grinned. “As long as you don’t make me take home a shitzpoo.”
“No promises.”
