“You’re being too hard-headed,” Maria scolds me. “You have to get some ‘game,’ as you young people call it. She misses you.You said the kiss was full of chemistry. It’s my bet that it wasn’t one-sided when it came to those feelings. You should just give her some space and time and see what happens.”
“So, like, not write her back?”
“Maybe don't rush to write her back.”
“I’ve already waited a week,” I say, turning to gaze up at her. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait. It’s already been a month since the birthday party. It seems silly to just put it off. Isn’t that petty?”
“A little, but so is telling a man you just passionately kissed that he’s too desperate for love. That’s not very nice, that’s for sure.”
“Fair.” I chuckle, though I have to admit I don’t really fault Brittany for it all that much. She has a point with what she said. Iwastoo focused on love, too focused on trying to find someone to settle down with. Now, I still want to find the right person, but I’m not seeking it out anymore.
“You know who makes a solid family?” Maria’s question leaves me wondering what she’s getting at.
“I don’t know? A kid?”
She gives me an incredulous look. “No, I don’t recommend just running out and going that route. I meant adog.A dog gives you someone to snuggle with on lonely nights, gives you someone to welcome you home after a long day. And they’re more than happy to go with you wherever you’d like to go, especially one like Rambo.” She gestures to the place in front of me, and I realize I missed him.
He’s sitting just in front of me, the ball between his front paws, his head tilted ever so slightly to the side. His pink tongue lolls out of his mouth, his pants falling in rhythm with the energy he exerted. His deep brown eyes watch me intently.
“You just want me to throw the ball again,” I say to him, reaching for it. His fluffy tail slaps the ground as I pick up thetennis ball. I launch it across the yard, but instead of running off to chase it, he lies down, placing his legs over mine. I reach out and scratch behind his ear.
“See. A good dog can make you feel loved,” Maria says, her voice taking a soft, motherly edge. “They just have this way about them that makes you feel seen. You have to appreciate that.”
“I do,” I say, letting out a sigh. “I just have no idea how I’d make a dog work with my busy schedule. I don’t think Parker would be cool with me bringing this guy with me to work every day, and it would make me feel horrible to leave him trapped in the apartment.” I realize that I’m already considering it, picturing it, and then disappointing myself with all the ways it won’t work.
“You could leave him here during the day,” Maria suggests. “He could hang out with me, like he’s at daycare, then go home with you. My guess is he’d be perfectly happy with that, unless you can convince your friend to bring him along to your corporate job.”
“Yeah, I don’t see that happening,” I mutter, shaking my head. However, the thought of taking Rambo home and letting him sleep on my massive, king-sized bed sounds like the kind of spoiling he deserves.
No more nights on a cold nylon cot.
No more being thelongest resident.
“Hmm…” I mull it over as Rambo looks up at me. “He couldn’t keep his name.”
“Good. I don’t think he’d want to,” she says, a smile in her voice. “I bet he’d just be happy to be whatever it is you want to call him.”
I breathe in deeply, filling my lungs with a burst of oxygen. I know it’s kind of crazy to think about adopting a dog of his size in a place like New York City…
But someday, maybe we could move north and he could have a big backyard, with little kids to play with. The picture comes clearly to my mind, jarring my heart in a way that’s unexpected. It’s as if it all comes together at once.
He’s the start of the family I want.
“You know what…” My voice trails off as I look up at Maria, meeting her kind, deep eyes.
“What’s that, Weston?” she replies, the amusement building right there in the lines beside her lips, curling into a smile.
“I think…” I pause for effect. “I think Iwilltake Rambo home with me, but I think I’ll change his name to Buddy.”
“The most generic dog name in the world,” Maria says flatly.
“Yep,” I say with a grin. “The most generic dog name for the most non-generic dog.” I reach out and give him another pet.
Just wait till you see your new life.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brittany
