Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
In a sleepy daze, I barely realized that someone was knocking on my bedroom door.
“Myla?” Brayden yelled through the thick wooden door. “Myla, get up and get dressed, I have a surprise for you.”
Squinting, I could barely make out the blaring red numbers on my alarm clock. “Bray, go back to bed, it’s eight in the morning on a Saturday. Fucking enjoy the day off for once in your life.”
The clicking of him picking my lock with a bobby pin got my ass to shoot right out of bed. “Fine. I’m up. Don’t break my lock.”
I flung the door open to find my brother completely dressed and holding my favorite sweater, waiting for me. “Hurry up, sis. We have to get a move on.”
I went into my closet, shutting the door to get dressed. Yanking on a pair of jeans and almost busting my ass from getting my toes stuck in one of the rips, I couldn’t help but be a little excited. It had been forever since my brother and I had spent more than a few hours together and usually it was over a rushed meal or on the rare occasion that Brayden had a little down time between practices. With opening day right around the corner, it was hard to believe he wasn’t at the rink working on his skating speed.
“So what are we doing?” I pulled a tank top on and threw my hair into a bun. “Do I need makeup?”
Brayden was sitting on my bed, checking his phone. “No, you’re fine just the way you are. It’s going to be so pretty out today. You’re going to love this.” His face was all lit up, scrolling through something on his screen.
“So do I even get a clue as to what you’re about to get me into?”
He gave me a quick wink before jumping to his feet. “Nope.”
* * *
Traininginto the city was one of my favorite things to do in the fall. The leaves were golden red and the temperature holding in the mid-sixties was perfect.
“We’re going to Central Park, aren’t we?” I nudged Brayden, who was dazed and staring out the window.
“I told you this is all going to be a surprise, My. Can’t you just let this be exciting and let me do something nice for my sister?”
Once we got off at Penn Station, we started walking right for the park. “I knew it!” I hooked my arm with my brother’s and practically skipped the entire way.
“We’re just about there.”
I could hear dogs barking, which wasn’t completely out of the ordinary for Central Park on a Saturday, but this was more than normal for sure. Rounding the corner, I could see tons of tents bustling with people walking around with puppies on leashes, in cages, and in little playpens all over.
“What is this?” The octave of excitement my voice reached was probably only audible for the dogs.
“It’s an adoption festival. I figured with opening day coming up and my schedule becoming jam-packed for the rest of the season, a puppy would help keep you company.”
I literally shrieked, grabbing Brayden’s arm and jumping up and down like a five-year-old.
“Is this real life?”
While laughing, Brayden grabbed my hand, leading me over to a crate with the most adorable beagle puppies. “So, what kind do you want?”
I scanned the area, trying to find one that was going to catch my eye. All of a sudden I heard a howl and knew right away what we needed to get. “Huskies!”
Dragging my brother to the other end of the row of tents, I locked eyes with the most adorable brown and white fluff ball rolling around with another husky in a playpen. I marched right over to the table where a pretty blonde was sifting through some paperwork.
Her face lit up when she saw us. “Brayden, right?” She squinted her eyes at my brother as he scratched the back of his head for a second.
When the light bulb switched on in my brother’s brain, his face matched her excitement. “Karla?”
She started to blush as she beamed at my brother. “You remembered.”
