Dean smiled proudly and bookmarked the SPCA website so that he could make a sizeable donation later. He also purchasedan insane amount of toys, and a fashionable collar and leash for his newest family member.
Back on the blanket, Aiden played with the little puppy while Colton and Dean nibbled on snacks.
“We need to give her a name.” Dean scratched behind her ear. “What’s a good name for a chocolate lab?”
Dean sipped his beer and tilted his head to the side, deep in thought. “How about Dawg E Fresh? Or Dawg Flutie?”
Colton laughed and Aiden rolled his eyes. "No!"
“Charles Barkley?”
Colton laughed again. “Hell no!”
“Woof Blitzer?” Dean said with a shit-eating grin.
Colton rolled his eyes and turned to Aiden. “Oh God! Please make it stop!”
Aiden grinned. “She’s a chocolate lab, how about Cocoa Barker?”
Dean beamed. “Aiden, that’s brilliant!” He smooshed her face with his hands. “You’re miss Cocoa, aren’t you sweetie? And you’re the most beautiful puppy ever.”
Chapter 36
Dean
Dean wiped his sweaty brow with a small towel. His t-shirt was completely drenched and clung to his body like plastic wrap.
Rehearsals for the world tour, which was rapidly approaching, were going exceptionally well…although grueling as fuck.
“Alright everyone, let’s take a break.”
The dancers, as drenched as Dean, nodded with chests heaving and thundered over to the table of food and drinks.
“Fifteen minutes!” Jordan hollered from the front of the stage.
Dean chuckled with a smile. He could always count on Jordan to keep them on track.
This production was much larger than anything Dean had ever done before…bigger stage, gigantic video screens that rival Times Square, enough flashing lights to light the city of Paris, and one colossal disco ball that would lower down above the crowd during certain songs.
Dean had rented an airplane hangar and constructed a stage inside, to mimic the size of the stage they would perform on during this tour. The upside, there was plenty of space to accommodate the large production of the show, and it was really close to home. The downside…there was no air conditioning inside the hangar and it was hot as balls during rehearsals.
Jax walked over to Dean and handed him a bottle of water. “Dean, I love you, baby, but next time we do this, can we rent a space with some goddamn AC?”
Dean swiped the cold bottle across his forehead as he snorted with laughter. “Agreed. I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking.” He smiled and opened the water. “But it’s only for a bit longer.”
Jax giggled. “You’re lucky you’re hot and pay us well or else we would have bounced after day one.”
Dean patted his shoulder. “And I thank you for not abandoning me. But I know Paris will make up for it.” He winked and took a swig of his water.
“True. Paris, and the private jet.” Jax smirked with a twinkle in his eyes.
Dean turned toward the rest of the dancers, all of them sprawled on their backs across the stage, looking like a bunch of seals lounging on rocks. He chuckled with a shake of his head.
Colton walked through the door of the rehearsal hangar with Miss Cocoa strutting alongside on her leash, prancing like she owned the place. She looked up at Colton and chirped a loud yip when she saw Dean.
Dean smiled from ear to ear. “There’s my little girl!”
Cocoa began running toward Dean, struggling against the leash in Colton’s hand, dragging Colton toward Dean.
