Page 58 of Hard to Get

“I know.”

“Let’s give him some of the kibble.”

I pull out a bowl and pour some dog food into it. Then we separate them while they eat. Frank gobbles down the kibble, so that’s good.

“Hopefully, he doesn’t puke later,” Jayden says, stroking his dog’s back.

“Yeah, we only want imaginary dog vomit.”

He grins. “Right.”

I pull a plush squirrel from the basket of dog toys in the corner and give it a squeak. Both dogs are instantly in front of me. I grab another toy and sit on the floor to play with them, tugging the toy. Frank’s face is so funny, his bottom teeth protruding as he grips the toy. He growls adorably.

Betty wants the same toy, so I pull it and hold it in front of her mouth. She chomps down and I laugh with delight as they start playing with each other, planting their front paws into the rug, growling at each other, throwing their head side to side in an effort to steal the toy.

Jayden is smiling too, watching them.

They abandon the toy and just play with each other, Betty rolling onto her back, Frank nuzzling her face. So cute!

“I love that they love each other,” I say, rising from the floor. I sit next to Jayden on the couch to watch them.

“Yeah, same.” He slides an arm around me and pulls me against him. “Should I get going?”

I peer up at him. “Do you have to?”

“No.” Our eyes meet. “We have an optional practice in the morning.”

“What time?”

“Eleven. But it’s optional.”

“But you’ll be there.”

“Are you asking me or telling me?”

“Hey. You said you want to do better this year. Skipping a practice because of a woman isn’t the way to do that.”

“But what a woman.”

I grin. “I know, but still.”

He laughs. “You’re right. I do want to go. But that’s not until tomorrow morning.” He brushes his lips over my temple.

“We could watch a movie?”

“Sure. D’you think we can agree on something?”

I give him a sideways look as I reach for the remote control for the TV. “Why do you assume we want to watch different things?”

“That was stupid of me,” he says gravely. “I apologize.”

He was right. We can’t agree on a movie.

We consider new releases, older movies, even foreign films. We argue, but we’re both laughing as his objections to the movies I like get more and more ridiculous. “I hate Charlize Theron,” he says.

“How can you hate Charlize Theron? She’s gorgeous and a great actor.”

When I suggest a recent Oscar nomination, he says, “That looks depressing.” Then, “I hate subtitles. I have to pay attention.”