“What?” Halo laughed like I’d just told a joke. “DaVinci, you can’t take a dog to a club. My baby is not for the club.”
“Why not? I’m fuckin' DaVinci Bryns. My stepchild and I are a package deal.”
She looked up at me with a smile, and I could see her wrestling with whether to keep protesting or just accept the help.
“It’s a club for one! There’s going to be people, music, and chaos. She’ll be terrified.”
“Or she’ll be fine.” I shrugged. “Look, I got a private section. She can chill up there with Chance and me. We’ll keep an eye on her. It’s better than leaving her alone, right? And how is it any different from when you be having Summer Walker ass blaring from the speakers?”
Halo stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Are you crazy? Like I might need to see paperwork on you.”
“Maybe,” I grinned. “But I’m not about to let you stress about this. I got Brixxi. End of discussion.”
“DaVinci—”
I stepped closer, cupping her face in my hands. “Nothing will stop me from being the nigga you need, Halo. Nothing. Not a club appearance, not a dog, not anything. If you need me, I’m there. Period.”
Her eyes got shiny, and she blinked fast, fighting the tears. “You really mean that.”
“Every word.”
She kissed me, hard and desperate, and I kissed her back just as intensely.
When she pulled away, she was smiling through tears. “Okay. But if Brixxi bites someone at the club, that’s on you.”
“I’ll take full responsibility, but the same way I’m protective of you, I’ll be with Brixxi.”
Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Thank you. Really.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I kissed her softly, then pulled back before I forgot we were in a firehouse full of her coworkers. “Text me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
We pulled off, and I felt so much better after seeing her. I ran a few more errands before heading to pick up Brixxi. The daycare was one of thosebougie pet places with floor-to-ceiling windows and a play area that looked nicer than most people’s living rooms. I walked in at 6:30 PM, and the girl at the front desk looked up from her computer.
“Hi, welcome to Pampered Paws. How can I help you?”
“I’m here to pick up Brixxi Grant.”
She blinked. “Oh. Um, are you on the approved pickup list?”
Shit. I hadn’t thought about that.
“Probably not. But her owner, Halo Grant, had to work late. She should’ve called to let you know I was coming.”
The girl looked uncertain. “Let me just... give me one second.”
She picked up the phone and called someone in the back. A minute later, an older woman came out, smiling when she saw me.
“Mr. Bryns! I thought that was you. My son is a huge fan.” She extended her hand. “I’m Patricia, the manager. Halo called and let us know you’d be picking Brixxi up. We just need to see your ID to confirm.”
I handed over my license, and she checked it against whatever system they had, then nodded.
“Perfect. Let me go get her.”
She disappeared into the back, and a few minutes later, she returned with Brixxi in her arms and a purple bag slung over her shoulder.
Brixxi saw me and immediately started prancing and barking.
