“Boy, he likes you two,” the volunteer states the obvious.
My voice cracks because I’m caving at high speed.
“No.” Hadley pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’m supposed to use the wife card.” She winces as she says that.
The volunteer pipes in. “If it helps, you wouldn’t be able to take him home today. We have a required waiting period to ensure that new owners think through their decision. During the waiting period, he is on reserve. But he also has to finish his basic training that all our dogs take part in before adoption, and that doesn’t end for a few weeks.”
Hadley’s eyes shoot to me with hope, but she doesn’t want to admit it.
A dog wasn’t really on my radar, but this guy is calling to us with his wagging tail and pleading eyes. Maybe Hadley’s right, her parents are better suited.
“Come on, we should go.” It pains me to say it.
She nods, and we begin to say goodbye to the dog, but he stands on his back legs and rests his front paws on the pen.
Hadley and I look at one another, and in unison we blurt out, “Maybe.”
* * *
“I mean,even if we don’t work out, we can share custody. During the hockey season, I’ll take care of him.” Hadley speaks while she’s in the bathroom, with the door ajar to the bedroom as she does her nightly routine, which I noticed a few days ago requires a lot of creams.
I scoff as I scroll through my phone in bed, shirtless. “If we don’t work out. Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I call out.
She emerges through the door, turning the light off to the bathroom. I drop my face into my hand because this isn’t fair. Hadley is wearing an old cut-off Lake Spark Summer Festival shirt and panties, and the best part is that she doesn’t even make a big deal about it.
“Well, we can’t get Ace for a while, so maybe we will come to our senses,” she mentions as she crawls into bed.
“I feel like I’m betraying Puck.” I’m completely serious. He’s the family dog, although he has a special kinship with my dad.
She smiles at me as she fluffs her pillow. “By the way, I was kind of curious what that hockey wife said, so I checked my email and realized like three different coordinators from your team e-mailed me. Welcome emails, protocols, schedules, and they need a copy of my passport.”
“Yeah, probably for booking travel. Remember, I travel to that great country to the north for games,” I explain.
“You mean during game season, which isafterthe off-season.” The way she says that has me worried, and I turn my body to her.
“I thought we no longer have a timeline.” I narrow my eyes at her.
She slithers lower into the bed to get comfortable. “I said I’m being cautious and let’s see what happens if we make somewhat of an effort,” she corrects me.
“Well, I’m not worried.”
Hadley rolls to lie on her side. “I noticed. We are heading into dog-parent territory.”
I follow her indication and get into the same position in bed, facing her. “You’re in the lead here. Nothing beyond kissing,exceptyou didn’t specify where.” I squint one eye.
She playfully shoves my arm, and I grimace from slight discomfort. “Shit. Forgot about your shoulder and defending my honor.”
“You said it was hot.”
“It was.” She hooks her leg over my hip and begins to stroke her fingers gently over my biceps. “You for sure earned cuddle time.”
I snort a laugh. “If that’s the only thing on offer then get closer, Sprinkles.”
Hadley shimmies nearer until our bodies meet, and she guides my arm over her. “Shh, don’t make a big deal that I’ve traded in ripping your throat out for cuddling.”
“It’ll be our secret. I have good arms for this, though.”
“I remember.” Her words hit me because I know she means all those years ago when we had a special night—up until the point I initiated our war.
