It should make me feel ridiculous. Embarrassed, even.
I’m fussing over him like he’s the honored guest, and Beau is just the guy who drove him here. But I’m not embarrassed. How could I be, when Jason is the one who’s staying?
This wasn’t the plan. None of this was the plan. I was supposed to be sensible.
I was supposed to interview dogs like job candidates, weigh the pros and cons, build trust slowly, carefully, and responsibly. Take my time. But everything changed. It doesn’t feel like a process. It feels like a reunion.
And although I’ve read the pamphlets, listened to the videos, done all the homework, I’m suddenly overwhelmed.
Completely, totally, breathtakingly overwhelmed.
“I guess today is just for settling in,” I say. It comes out more to myself than to anyone else, especially when I realize the “tour” went far too quickly. I could’ve walked him in circles for hours and still not been ready.
“No tasks yet. Just… getting comfortable.”
Jason licks my fingers. Just one swipe of a warm tongue and it feels like he is saying, “I’m here.”
“Okay,” I laugh, “maybe very comfortable.”
Beau clears his throat.
I jump a little because, honestly, I almost forgot he existed.
“He’ll need supplies,” he says gently. “A bed, bowl, grooming stuff, toys. Maybe a harness?”
“Oh! Right.” My stomach drops straight through the kitchen floor. “Oh god, I have nothing. I have absolutely nothing. I wasn’t expecting?—”
“Don’t worry,” Beau says, easy and reassuring, like he’s done this speech a hundred times. “First days are like that. If you’ve got an old ice-cream tub, that’ll do for now. You can even lift the toilet lid for him. Don’t ask me why, but he loves drinking outta the toilet.”
Jason lets out a low, offended growl. The vibration hums through my leg where he’s leaning, and the sound shoots warmth straight up my spine.
Beau snorts. “See? He knows exactly what I’m saying.”
I bite back a laugh that bubbles up unexpectedly.
Jason presses against my thigh. Indignant. Like he’s telling Beau,Retract your toilet slander immediately, human.
“No… no, it’s fine,” I say quickly, swiping to unlock my phone. My hands are shaking a little. “I’ll just… order an Uber. We’ll go to the pet store.”
At the word store, Jason perks up like someone just announced walkies, his tail thumping softly against my leg. He absolutely understands the plan. And the excitement curling through me is embarrassing and impossible to smother.
I add the destination using Braille Screen Input, and when the car arrives, Beau hands me a leash.
“For him,” he says. “Just until he gets settled.”
Jason snorts indignantly, like leashes are beneath him.
I smile. “Seems like Jason is a bit of a free spirit.”
Beau hesitates before answering, and the pause is so slight most people would miss it. But I don’t. “He’ll live,” Beau says at last. For the second time today, I get the feeling that there’s more to what Beau is saying, but I don’t get to ponder it any longer because Beau interrupts my thoughts.
“Listen,” he says, “I’m going to leave you to it. I’ll be around in a couple of days to see how it’s going.”
He leaves, and I grab a thin jacket. When we step outside and Jason presses close, creating a warm wall of fur and trust, the Uber driver audibly gasps.
“Oh, wow. That’s a… big dog.”
“Don’t worry,” I say. “He’s gentle.”
