Page 18 of We Are Just Us

The dog veered straight for the fence, presenting his stolen prize with triumphant pride, tail wagging hard enough to throw off his balance.

“Oh my god,” Kieran whispered.

A voice rose on the other side of the fence—warm, amused, distracted.

“Alright,” Rory said. “Where did it…?”

Another object sailed over the fence.

A second toy. A doll.

Hank abandoned the first one and immediately upgraded.

Kieran groaned, sprinting after him.

“Hank, stop! That is a baby! You stole a baby!”

And that was the exact moment Rory’s head popped up over the fence.

He was clearly in assessment mode, eyes scanning the yard, ready to negotiate, retrieve, de-escalate.

Instead, he locked eyes with Kieran.

Who was standing in the middle of his backyard.

Completely naked.

Mid-chase.

Arms out.

Dick out.

Rory blinked.

Kieran blinked.

Hank stopped between them, tail wagging with obscene pride.

Somewhere behind Rory, the toddler shrieked with laughter, thrilled by the chaos she had caused.

“Oh,” Rory said finally. “Wow.”

Kieran’s brain rebooted.

“Hello,” he replied, because apparently that was the most appropriate word for this moment.

Rory’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “I was just…she tossed her toys.”

“Yes,” Kieran said quickly. “I can see that now.”

Hank dropped the toy at Kieran’s feet like a peace offering.

He bent to grab it, forgetting he was naked, and then stood back up too fast.

Rory cleared his throat. “I’ll look away.”

“That would be great,” Kieran said. “For everyone involved.”