As strong as my feelings are for him, he’s dealing with so much on his own. His grief, his feelings about commitment.
The things he shared with me are important, and I would never rush him or me into a decision like that.
“I’m going to call my realtor and see if she can help me get an offer on the table this week.” He stands, taking out his phone. “I’ll see how quickly we can close, and maybe we can be out of your hair before Thanksgiving.”
“You’re not really in our hair,” I say quietly, glancing up at him.
He looks down at me, and the smile on his face warms my insides. “It’ll be good for me to have my own place. For many reasons.”
I’m pretty sure I know what those reasons might be, and I hope I’m right. I hope one of them is me.
“I’m a foster dog, Daddy!” Maddie pops up between us, hugging Haddy’s dog against her chest.
“What?” He laughs, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“It’s like an orphan,” Maddie tells him. “But Aunt Haddy said one day, I might have a nice lady to live with me and be a real mom… like she did with Peepee!”
"That’s basically what I said…” Haddy chuckles.
“You’re much sweeter than a foster dog.” I reach out to tweak her chin.
“I’m so lost.” Mav shakes his head. “Howis Maddie like a dog?”
Haddy steps forward, grabbing the reins on the conversation. “We were thinking it would be fun to host a party for the animal shelter. The house is all decorated, and maybe some of the guys might want to adopt their calendar pets!”
“Were those dogs up for adoption?” Owen looks at me.
“A few were from the shelter, but most of them have owners.”
“Let’s do it!” Mav leans forward onto the couch. “I don’t mind foster pets… as long as they’re not humping the couch cushions like there’s no tomorrow.”
“What’s humping?” Maddie frowns, and Haddy glares at him.
“It means working real hard,” Mav says, giving her the thumbs-up.
“Stop.” I push his hands down. “Just… Stop.”
Maddie’s little brow is still furrowed, and she looks at me.
“It’s an adult word that doesn’t mean what it used to mean.” I slide her hair behind her ear. “Only really, really old people say it now.”
“Oh, like Uncle Mav isold,” she nods slowly, like she gets it.
“Exactly.” I cut my eyes up at him. “Really old, like Uncle Mav.”
“Dude, I’m not even thirty!” Mav holds out his hands. “That’s just mean.”
Gav shakes his head, cuddling Lucy. “Let us know what you need for the adoption party. We’ll get the guys to come over and help out.”
I look around. “I’ll text Carla now.”
Taking out my phone, I send a quick text to my friend. It doesn’t take her long to reply, saying she’ll bring every pet they have.
“They’ll be here first thing in the morning.” I read my phone to the group.
“Text me all the details, and I’ll share them with the team,” Haddy says.
“On it.” I send it to her, then I text the neighborhood news what’s happening.
