Hearing her name, Candy lifts her head. Her tail does a single, gentle wag.
"Can we—?" I look around for Mama Paws.
"She said it's fine. Here." Ace opens the kennel door slowly, talking to Candy in a soft voice. "Hey, girl. Want some company?"
Candy stands carefully, stretching, and walks toward us. She bumps into Ace's hand and immediately leans into it, tail wagging harder now.
I'm dead. I've died. This is heaven.
"She's been here for three years, apparently," Ace says quietly. "Mama Paws said her owner passed away and the family surrendered her. No one wants to adopt a blind senior dog."
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." I reach out slowly, letting Candy sniff my hand before I pet her. Her tail goes into overdrive. "She's perfect."
"Right?"
We sit there on the cold floor, both petting Candy, who seems thrilled to have the attention. She keeps moving between us, making sure she gets equal pets from both sides.
"I've always wanted a dog," I admit. "But I live in a dorm. Can't have pets."
"Same," Ace says. "Well, not the dorm part. But I'm gone half the time for games. Wouldn't be fair to a dog."
"That's very responsible of you."
"Yeah, well." He scratches behind Candy's ears and she makes a happy sound. "Doesn't make me want one any less."
I sneak a glance at his face. He's completely focused on Candy, and there's this softness to his expression that somehow makes him look even hotter.
Candy flops down between us, putting her head on my lap.
I'm about to say something when Becker's voice echoes through the shelter.
"Guys!GUYS!You need to hear this!"
We exchange a look and carefully extract ourselves from Candy, making sure she's comfortable before heading back to the main area.
The team is gathered in a circle around Becker, who's grinning like he just won the lottery.
Hendrix is perched on his shoulder.
"Watch this," Becker says. "Hendrix, what do you think about the Blackhawks?"
Hendrix ruffles his feathers, leans forward, and screeches: "What the puuuuuck?"
The entire team explodes with laughter.
"What did you do?" Mama Paws demands, but she's trying not to laugh.
"I taught him culture!" Becker says proudly.
"You taught him to trash talk," Groover points out.
"Like I said. Culture."
I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe. Kayla's doubled over. Even Papa Paws is cracking up.
Hendrix, sensing he has an attentive audience, spreads his wings and yells again: "What the puuuuuck?"
"He's perfect," I gasp out between laughs. "Don't ever change him."
