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My laughter erupted loud enough to draw the attention of everyone else. Brock shook his head but the heat in his gaze told me he was definitely on board with this plan.
"We're revisiting this topic tonight," he promised. "For now, I came to say the senior dogs need some love. Gold and Adams just came over to see the puppies."
"Let's go," I said, standing up and taking Brock's hand. Tate scooped up the bulldog pup and grabbed a toy nearby to distract him as we delicately made our way through a sea of puppies and people to the second play area. It was much calmer over here and I sank down, relieved to not be pummeled right away.
Roscoe let out a yip, giving me that look that clearly said I’d abandoned him forever.
"Oh, the drama," Elias grumbled, coming over at his barks and helping him out. He ran to us and Brock lifted him into our area so he could settle next to me, his head resting on my lap. My finger ran through his thick fur as I glanced around.
"It's going well," Brock said, sitting on my other side, taking my free hand in his. He stared down at our joined hands as he tangled his fingers with mine. The way he relaxed at the sight was adorable.
"It is, Linda thinks we'll be out of dogs by the end of the night," I said.
An older couple ambled over the side of the play area, a few of the guys helping out, before talking to the dogs.
"You look like me," the old man said to the older dog with three legs. The man wiggled his leg to show off his prosthetic. The woman laughed along with him, the two leaning into each other. The old lab slowly ambled closer to them, a slight hop closer to them before sniffing the man's outstretched hand. His talk wagged slowly before it picked up speed, sniffing the woman next and giving them both a few kisses.
"I think he could keep us young, what do you think, Grady?" she asked with a chuckle. "Those daily walks would be a lot more fun with him along."
He nodded sagely at his wife and crouched down as low as his old body could take him.
"What's your name, boy? You think you can keep up with us?"
The dog barked once and their excitement at him 'understanding' them had a tear running down my cheek. Brock chuckled and wiped it away.
"That'll be us one day," he mused. "Still giving each other shit and being cute as hell while doing it."
"You guys better stop with all these future plans, you'll give a girl ideas."
"Hey, we've always been all in, it was you who held back," he reminded me.
"It's not you," I admitted. "I've been waiting for that one thing to come out."
"‘One thing?’" He was listening intently, tucking a red strand behind my ear. I loved how openly they listened. There was never any argument right on the tip of his tongue no matter what I said. They truly listened to what I had to say.
"Yeah, the red flag moment, the thing that would make me go, 'oh, there it is, time to run'," I admitted sheepishly. He frowned, almost looking hurt.
"We wouldn't do that to you. We're assholes sometimes but never with you," he said.
"I know," I agreed. "That doesn't mean other people haven't seemed nice then turned into one. I guess it was easier to expect it than to be hurt again."
"Give us time, we'll show you that won't be us," he promised. Brock's face was set in grim determination. He took it like a challenge to chase away my fears and show me that they were as honest and amazing as they seemed the last few weeks.
"You already do," I told him. "This isn't a you thing, it's a me thing."
"Do you trust us?"
His brown eyes met mine and I didn't even have to think over the answer.
"Yes, I do."
"I know you said you have plans with your mom tomorrow and we've got plans at my parents’ this weekend, next week is the playoffs, but after, we take time to actually spend together without work or hockey involved. We could go away for a weekend."
"I'd love that," I said. "We could rent a cabin for the weekend."
"Done," he said, sweeping a kiss across my face. "I have to go help out."
"Okay," I said, letting him stand up. He walked a few feet before stopping and turning around.
