“I’m glad you’re comfortable with us,” Ottis murmured, brushing his fingers over Doc’s bare face. “You’re amazing. And you were amazing back there, keeping me together when I was going nuts.”
Doc grinned, stealing a kiss off Ottis’ lips. “That’s what mates are for, right?”
“Of course,” Ottis said. “And to listen to all my terrible lines for the rest of my life.”
To be honest, Doc couldn’t think of anything better.
EPILOGUE
“It’s not big enough!”ten-year-old Marcie cried. “We need to make it deeper!”
Ottis frowned, opening the back door. “What’re you guys up to now?”
“Shhh!” Little feet pattered. The pups ran off, leaving Ottis to face the... massive hole in their backyard.
It had to be a feat of engineering. Ottis stared at the gaping brown nothingness in the middle of all the shrubs. It could fit two of him, if he were to stand on his own shoulders, and it was... wide. So wide. “What the fu—fudgesicles?!” he yelled. “Pups!”
“We’re not here!” nine-year-old Franklin shouted back.
“You’re clearly here, if you can hear me! Besides, I heard you.” Ottis sighed at the shovels abandoned at the bottom of the pit. “I’m not going to explain this to your Papa. You’re going to tell him why you thought digging amassive holein his backyard was a good idea!”
“It’s your backyard too!” eight-year-old Matthew pointed out.
“Well, yes, which means I’m going to be mad!”
“Eek!” More pattering feet; they were running further away. Ottis sighed.
Luckily, a car came rumbling up the driveway ten seconds later. “Doc!”
“Yes, sweetheart?” Doc asked from the car. He parked and jogged around the mansion, sweeping Ottis off his feet and kissing him soundly.
Well, Ottis could set aside themassive holeand kiss him for a while.
“What’s got you agitated?” Doc asked after they finally broke apart. (Ottis heard the chorus of “Ew”s, but he chose not to respond.)
“You didn’t see the hole, huh?” Ottis said flatly.
“... Which hole?” Doc smirked.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Ottis grumbled, his heart skipping. “We’ll continuethatconversation later.” He cleared his throat and gestured. “Behold the Deep Hole.”
“Deep—” Doc turned. And stared for a few long seconds. “Huh.”
“Right? The pups did it.”
“We did not!” seven-year-old Karen yelled.
“Don’t lie to me, Karie,” Ottis yelled back.
“Pups. Get over here,” Doc said in his alpha-dad voice. “All of you.”
They shuffled out from behind the mansion, looking half-guilty.
“It’s huge,” seven-year-old Brett whispered to Doc. “Isn’t it amazing?”
Doc huffed. “Well, yes—”
The kids cheered, and Doc cleared his throat loudly. They fell silent.
