“I mean, you already are a fantastic mom to Tater,” he says. “But I didn’t know if you felt like he’s more just my dog still. I thought we could bring him home a brother or sister. Together.”
“Yes!” I throw my arms around his neck, kissing him all over his face.
He holds me tight around my waist, trying to keep us both from toppling over.
“So, which one is right for our little family?” His hand pans out over the room, and I’m struck with a sense of guilt that I have to choose.
I look all around, examining each little face and happy to know Lou will make damn sure she gets new homes for as many as she can today.
Then I see it—the cutest little reddish-brown face poking its head up over the edge of the enclosure. It’s not barking its head off like the rest, but it is a curious thing, taking in its surroundings, searching for something.
“That one.” I point and step over to it. A quick look at the underside tells me she’s a girl. I pick her up and bring her close to my face, cradling her bottom with my arm.
“Hey, pretty girl,” I whisper. “Would you like to come with us?” She responds with a bark—the first one she’s made—and licks my cheek.
“I think that’s a yes,” Waylon says. “We just have to think of a name.”
“Hmm… how about Bean?”
“Bean?” he asks.
Just then, the puppy’s ears perk up and she barks again.
“See.”
“Bean it is. Hi, Bean!” he says, rubbing her head.
“Welcome to our little family, Beanie Weenie Boo!” I squeeze her tight to my chest and kiss the top of her head.
Waylon runs his hand in circles over the small of my back and smiles. His eyes roam over my face, appreciation in his expression.
I plant a lingering kiss on his lips and ask, “What?”
“Nothing,” he says, sighing. “I’m just happy, darlin’.”
I lean into him, nuzzling his chest. “Me too, cowboy. Me too.”
EPILOGUE II
WAYLON - ONE-ISH YEAR LATER
Nothing in lifeprepares you for this day. You get up, take a piss, wash your hair in the shower, and put your shoes on one at a time. A few hours later, the most important person in your life is walking down a stretch of aisle toward you, and then later on it sinks in. You breathe a little easier because finally, all is right in your world.
Today, I married the most beautiful person I’ve ever known. Then we handed over our fur babies to our best friends and took off on our honeymoon to this island.
All these thoughts have been flying through my mind for the past fifteen minutes as I watch my wife bask in the sun next to me. But it seems I’ve been caught staring.
“I think I should have another one of those fruity drinks,” Lyric says, smiling up at me.
“I think you should, too.” I throw my feet over the edge of my chair and smack her on the ass as I stand. “I’ll be right back with that, Mrs. Dupree.”
I walk over and flag down the bartender for another round of drinks. Then I look back over in the direction of my wife as I wait for them to be made. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a little bit obsessed with calling her my wife. Because I’m more than a little obsessed with her.
When I sit back down and hand her drink over, flips to her back to take it from me and I’m blessed with the sight of her tits. They’re not out. Granted, the bikini is pretty dainty. But anytime I can see even most of her rack is a good time.
“I think we should head back to the room soon.”
“Why?” she asks, then takes a sip of her drink.
