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“Partially. She was neglected, then got really sick. Her hearing hasn’t fully recovered because she didn’t get the right treatment.”
“You poor baby angel,” Jess said, petting her fur.
“I’ve had her for a little while now. Not many people want a dog that can’t hear them. Makes training difficult.”
Jess knew what that felt like, being abandoned. Her family let her walk out without a second thought, no matter how bruised or damaged she got during the process.
Kindred spirits.
“How much is she?”
The rescue worker’s eyes widened. “You…want her?”
She smiled. “Yes. I want her.”
Kevin shimmied his body closer to hers, reaching out to pet the pup in her lap.
“Honestly? Sign the papers and she’s yours. She needs a good home, and I can’t give that to her.”
Jess grinned at the worker, then turned to Kevin. “Is that okay?”
A warm chuckle escaped his chest, that look on his face. “More than okay, Jessica. Let’s take our girl home.”
Chapter Eleven
Jess scrolled through the article on her tablet propped up on her knees. Rory was sprawled out on the floor, granting Honey access to hop up on her belly and lick her face. Melanie laughed, pulling out of Calvin’s grip where she sat between his legs to give the dog a kiss on the forehead. Kevin sat on the other side of the couch scrolling on his phone as well, one foot next to Jess, the other on the coffee table.
“It says here that dogs who lose hearing from an infection usually get their hearing back, either partially or fully,” Jess explained. “If it caused nerve damage, it might not.”
Kevin frowned. “How do we know for sure?”
“We could test different sounds, see how she responds?”
“I can’t believe you guys just like, got a dog,” Rory interrupted.
“Me either,” Calvin grumbled, glaring at Kevin.
“Dude, it’s going to be fine. Jessica and I can handle it.”
“Yeah, Calvin, it’s fine, stop ruining it,” Melanie added, leaning back onto his chest and kissing his chin.
“I want one now,” Rory whined.
“You can play with her any time you want,” Jess added with a flick of her wrist. “We’ll probably need a dog sitter every now and then.”
“Okay, so you really are like, sharing this dog,” Rory said to her.
Kevin tapped her hip with his foot. “Jessica and I share a lot of things now. A business, a dog, maybe someday soon a bed—”
Rory and Melanie howled with laughter. The puppy cocked her little head at their reaction. Even Calvin covered his mouth with his hand to contain his grin.
She glared at him. “In your dreams. Plus, I refuse to share a bed with someone ever again.”
Kevin sucked in an exasperated inhale, holding his chest like the drama queen he was. “Never again? Jessica, may I remind you that if you want to have a one-night stand—”
“WHAT?!” Rory screamed.
“—then you’ll have to share a bed.”
