Clint’sfeelings were usually spot on. Avery had worked with him and the team for threeyearsandClintusually knew which dogwould end up being matched with their applicant.
“Really?” Avery bounced. “You hear that, Grumpy Gus? This might be your person.”
Gus gave a quiet bark as he continued to stare at Avery.Avery rolled his eyes. The dog needed to find his person! It was important.
“The guy that arrived this morning is different,”Clinttold him.
“Different?” Avery asked.
Clintnodded. “Reminded me a little of you.He’s…soft.”
Avery smiled. Working with an entire crew ofhardened soldiers thathadretired from the military due to age ordisability,it was no wonder he was the soft one.Not that Avery minded that his co-workers and boss thought of him that way. Avery loved being who he was.
Whenone of their dogsleft,Averydidn’teven try to hidehis tearsfrom his co-workersany longer.They’dalways been kind to him and eventually Avery realized that they felt the same loss.They justdidn’tshow it the same as Avery. Most of them werestill clinging to that silly notion that they needed to be all manly or something.Heknewwhat a lucky boy he was forthe support he received at home from Jace that helped him deal with work.
“His name is Thomas,” Avery told Gus. “He sounded nice on the phone. I think he was a little nervous coming but I know that you can help him through that.”
“He’saformer sniper for the Marines. Did two tours overseas even thoughhe’sbarelytwenty-five,” Clint added, talking to Gus the same way that Avery always did.
It might be silly to anyone who watched them yet Clint swore that whatever Avery did to connect with the dogs worked and Avery should just keep being himself.
Avery knew how lucky he was that his boss and co-workers accepted him just the way he was. When he’d first started, Avery had been terrified that one of them would find out his secret. The little part of him. And it had happened…within the first week.
One of the dogs had gotten away from him at the end of the day. Avery had freaked out and even though Clint and Mark had quickly caught the rascal, Avery had been sure he’d be fired. Jace had shown up to pick Avery up during the chaos. Avery had regressed so fast and hard that there had been no hiding the true relationship between Avery and his Daddy.
And no one had made fun of him! Instead Clint had stayed with Avery to help calm him down. Mark had gone to put up the dog but returned to sit with them as well. One by one the rough and tough soldiers had sat with them, offering reassurance and acceptance until Avery had felt better.
Once home Avery had sworn that he could never return to work. He was utterly embarrassed but Clint had called that night to check on him and wouldn’t hang up until Avery had promised to show up for his next shift.
That was the moment that Avery had known he’d found a place that he wanted to stay forever. He’d thrown himself into learning everything he could and making himself vital to the running of the center. And why even though he worked full-time he also took classes to get a degree.
A degree that Avery was graduating with in a few short days.
“You need to give Thomas a chance,” Avery told Gus as he lowered a bowl down to the black German shepherd. Don’t be so grumpy.”
Clint finished placing the rest of the bowls down as Avery watched Gus scarf down his breakfast. “It’s going to work this time,” Clint told him. “I just know it.”
Avery patted Gus’s back. He sure hoped so. Gus deserved to find his forever person. Just like Avery had.
* * *
Avery
“Daddy! I’m home!” Avery called after he’d closed and locked the front door behind him. He hung his backpack on the hook by the door before unzipping it and removing his lily.
He turned as Noel, his yellow Lab, ran into his legs.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Jace yelled. “I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Bending over, Avery got a mouthful of hair as Noel jumped around him excitedly. Avery tried to give pats and kisses but Noel was too busy trying to get his own.
Avery loved on Noel the best he could until Noel heard something that snagged his attention and ran in the direction of Daddy. Since Jace was probably making dinner, Noel was most likely looking for some treats. Jace spoiled Noel almost as much as Avery did.
Kicking off his shoes, Avery placed them in the little cubie where they belonged before strolling into the living room. Jared the giraffe was still sitting on the pillow Avery had left him on that morning.
Avery patted Jared’s head before wrapping lily around his neck. He had a routine for when he came home from work and he didn’t need Jared or lily yet. It had been a good day and Avery couldn’t wait to tell them all about it.
He skipped all the way to his nursery, thinking about Grumpy Gus maybe getting his forever person.
