Ms. Cook swoops in with paperwork already flagged. She slapsa pink ADOPTED sign on Fig’s kennel. “Congratulations. Sign here, initial there. The starter kit includes a bowl, a leash, and a plush vegetable. Eggplant or avocado?”
“Eggplant,” I say, dazed and confused.
Wait, what is happening?
Did he just adopt a dog for me? I turn to Dom, who’s kneeling, petting Fig through the fence. “Did you just…?”
He stands up. “Well, I heard you two talking, and I don’t know. I get this feeling you’re meant for the dog.”
“But he deserves a yard. I can’t give him that.”
“But what if you could?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“You gonna build me a little doggy run on the roof?”
He lets out a soft laugh. “No. Plus,” he says, looking down at Fig. “What if he’s afraid of heights?”
“It doesn’t say anything on his information card,” I say in mock seriousness.
“Mmmm, well, just to be safe, you should let him out to do his business in a yard.”
I snort. “I’m not getting up at five a.m. just to take him to your house to go potty.”
“Yeah, that would be kinda silly. You could just… move in with me. It would solve the logistical problem.”
It takes me a minute, but when it finally clicks, I freeze. “Come again?”
“Move in with me?”
“But…”
“There are no buts. If there’s one thing this group has taught me, it’s to live life at your own pace.” He takes my mouth in a deep kiss before resting our foreheads together. “Move in with me.”
Fig barks, like “answer him, you fool.” So I do.
“Yes.”
We stare into each other’s eyes, wearing matching grins.
I can hear the commotion as the rest of our group spots us.
Now would be as good a time as any.
I clear my throat and wipe my sweaty palm on my jeans.
“Okay. Two things.” I look at Dom, then everyone. “First—uh—I got the cookbook deal.”
Everyone goes silent as I watch them process what I said. Then the dam breaks.
Finn shrieks. Spencer actually whoops. Jules and Mira jump in place. Jaxon lifts me off my feet, and Alex pats my back like he’s burping me. Olly kisses my cheek; Jasper wipes the spot with a napkin.
Dom steps in close, shoulder to shoulder. “Proud of you,” he says quietly. I blush. “Remind me when we get home tonight to show you just how proud of you I am.”
“Second thing,” I say, pointing toward the kennels, voice wobbling. “Fig. He’s ours. Dom paid the fee. And three others. Because he’s a menace.”
Every head swivels to Dom.
“You said no dogs,” Jaxon accuses.
