He bit his lower lip. “Just…I don’t want to be Solo anymore. I’m part of a family. Even without you. Although, to be clear, I want it to be with you.”
“You’ve got me. And I love the idea of giving you a new puppy name. Do you have something in mind?”
He shook his head.
“Okay, well where should we start? Do you want a common doggie name?”
He scrunched his nose in obvious contemplation.
“Well, how about I check the most popular names? Maybe something will click? And if that doesn’t work, we can try for something unique. Unique for a special pup.”
A moment passed before he settled again.
I shifted so I could pull my phone out of my back pocket. I scrolled until I found what I was looking for. “I’m going to assume girl names are out? Because it’s okay if they’re not—”
He shook his head.
“Fair enough.” I started to scroll. “Charlie, Max, Milo, Cooper, Teddy, Bear, Rocky—”
“Rocky.” He said the name with absolute surety.
I tried it out in my mind. “Well, Rocky was the champion.”
He met my gaze again.
“The movie?”
His nose twitched.
Oh, to be that young.
Then he nodded. “Oh, the boxer guy. The champion.”
“I have a friend whose German shepherd is named Champ. Lovely dog. Agility trained. Good friends with Daphne.” I smiled. “Also a rescue.”
“I wish I had rescued a dog.”
After a moment, I stroked his cheek. “You weren’t in a position to rescue a dog. Or even a cat. And if you had, it might’ve been too difficult to pick up and visit Mission City.” I tweaked his nose. “Rocky, it is.”
He nodded. “Thank you.” Again he bit his lower lip. “I have a thought. An idea. Like…a request.”
“Whatever you want, pup. I mean, within reason of course. But I don’t see you asking for the moon.”
“No.” He chuckled, but the sound came out strained. Like his throat was tight. “I just…I want to move to Mission City. I know that’s sort of crazy, but with all these wonderful family members? And I know they’ve got busy lives and can’t drop everything to spend time with me—”
“They would do their best.” Of that, I had no doubt. Everyone had welcomed Andre with open arms. No guarantee things would always be so easy—but that chance existed. Still, Andre’s siblings were three of the nicest people I’d ever met. Even if they’d been on their best behavior, they were still lovely individuals. As a family, they came across as cohesive and inclusive. “So, Mission City…?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you stay with me? Because I’m inviting you. Whether as a friend, my pup, my lover—or some combination—you’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”Forever would be nice.
“You’ll get tired of me.” A bit of a pout.
“Nope. I can say that with certainty. I always thought, with Marty shining so brightly, that he’d tire of me. But we were compatible in a way that just worked for us. You and me? We have a similar way about us. Just…two peas in a pod. We fit. Or at least that’s how I see us.”
“Me too. But I worry it’s too soon.”
“Then we take things slow—”
