“I love it. We play out in the backyard before work every morning and a dog-walker comes by midday. There are usually two scenarios when I get home from work. One, he’s waiting for me by the door. Two, he’s in my bed, drooling all over my pillow while eating a treat.”
“I can picture that.” I chuckle.
“Yeah, he’s the best. When I drive home from work, it’s nice to know he’ll be there. He won’t get sick of me or leave.”
I start to smile but then stop as his words sink in. I look up and he looks down, taking a bite and giving the impression that he made some kind of mistake. With his seemingly boundless confidence, could Ryan have abandonment issues? Did I play a part in that? Did his parents? I’m trying to figure out what to say next when he quickly brightens back up and goes on, “He’s just awesome. If having a dog is a preview for what kids will be like, I’m ready for it.”
“Really?” I ask, choking on my food a bit. “You’d like to have kids soon?”
“I do. I want to be a youngish dad and after everything that happened with my parents, having a family of my own has become an important goal for me.”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am.
“What about you?” he asks. “Do you see yourself having kids?”
I take a break from eating, resting the edge of my fork against the plate. “I guess I’ve always imagined myself as being a mom. I don’t know if it’s going to happen soon but it’s definitely something I want. I’ve just been so focused on my writing for the past few years that family thoughts have been more a back-burner item for me than a pressing issue.”
“That makes sense. I’m sure you’ll be a great mom when the time comes.”
We both smile and manage to fill the next few minutes with small talk until Ryan gets up from the table and cleans his plate.
“So, I have some groomsman business I need to do today. We’re picking up our suits, grabbing some food, and then Jason has it in his head that we should all buy matching shoes.”
“Crocs or sneakers?”
“Neither, unfortunately. Would you be able to watch Duke for a few hours? If it’s too much, I can come back in between errands to walk him and feed him.”
“No, it’s okay. I can manage.”
“Are you sure?”
“Fully sure.”
“That would be amazing.” He walks over to his bag beside the couch and pulls out a piece of paper. “I leave this behind for anyone watching Duke. It’s his walk schedule, his food schedule and the exact amounts for all his food. Also, if you want to go out without him at all, there’s a suggested playlist that always gets him to fall asleep. I’ll text you a link so you can download it. If you leave while he’s sleeping, everything’s fine. If you leave while he’s awake, he’ll bark for hours and pee on every available surface.”
“Play the playlist, don’t leave when he’s awake, got it.”
Ryan walks back to the table, handing me the paper, and I quickly read it over. “There’s a surprising amount of Celine Dion on here.”
“He has a thing for powerful Canadian songbirds. There’s a lid for every pot.”
“It appears so.”
“Well, I should head out. Jason said the lady at the suit place is trying to overcharge us, so I need to help smooth things over.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” I ask, lowering the list to the table.
“I’m going to dazzle her with my wit and masculine good looks, obviously.”
I sneer as I push my fork forward with the tip of my index finger. “Do you have a Plan B?”
He grabs his wallet and cell phone from the couch and slides them into his back pockets as he crosses the room to the entryway. “Why would I need a Plan B?”
“No reason,” I say nonchalantly.
Ryan pauses. He leans back against the door with his arms set across his chest. “Do you doubt my wit and masculine good looks, Sullivan?”
I shrug as I continue to adjust my cutlery.
