as my toes hit the floor rug, my feet stall and I can move no further. Because right in front of me, my giggling children are playing tug-of-war with:
A brand new puppy.
Umm, no. This is unacceptable. When did I agree to this?
This dog better be Harlow and Trace’s dry run at raising a child because I’m pretty sure we don’t have a puppy. Unless I’m still stuck in that damn parallel universe.
I look to Harlow first, praying I’m right. “Yours?”
No words, just wide eyes and the shaking of her head. Next, I turn to Tatum. “Yours?”
She’s giving me the same response as Harlow, but follows it up with a giggle when she reads my shirt. I turn to Trace, but the man’s intelligent enough to shake his head no before I can ask the question. I can tell he’s stifling a wicked grin knowing his best friend’s about to get an ass chewing. A boyish charm fills his light blue eyes as he casts a glance to Blake.
The puppy yips and I break my stare from Trace to see Rylie petting his tummy while the other two rub his ears. He looks up at me, paws in the air, and I swear he’s smiling. Actually, he is kind of cute but, unfortunately for him, I’m immune to cute.
For right now at least .
I tear my eyes from the golden ball of fur, seeking out the only possible person who could be responsible for this.
As soon as my eyes find his, Blake throws his hands up proclaiming his innocence. “What?”
My eyes triple in size. I’m sorry. Is it supposed to be an invisible dog? Am I not supposed to see it?
“That!” I shout. The girls look up at me from the floor, all excitement disappearing from their faces.
Harlow claps her hands together. “Alright girls, let’s go get some ice cream,” she says, grabbing her purse and keys off the couch. Trace and Tatum are nowhere to be found.
Smart .
“Can we bring the puppy, please?” Kyndall pleads. Harlow looks from me to the animal slobbering and shedding all over my rug, assessing the situation, and nods. “Yes, Kyndall. I think that would be best.”
I watch them all scramble out of the living room and race out the door, puppy in tow. Looking back to Blake, I shift my weight and place my hand on my hip, still waiting for my answer. He looks just as pissed as I feel. I can see the blood rushing to his cheeks and feel my face heating as well.
“What the hell, Alex?” My heart rate is increasing to an immeasurable BPM.
“ My dear ,” I plaster a sugary smile on my face, “I don’t remember being consulted about bringing a puppy into this house. I know I’m pregnant and my brain is shrinking on a daily basis, but I would like to think I would have remembered that conversation.” Or at least I hope so.
“No, you’re right. I didn’t ask you because it would have been pointless. You would’ve shot it down without even listening. Just like you do when I approach you with anything having to do with the girls. They need this, Alex.”
What? I do not. Do I?
And, for the record, I love puppies. Only evil people don’t like puppies and kittens. If he would have bothered to ask me, he would have known this. But I’m much too pissed right now to approach the problem in a civil manner.
“Nice, Blake! Is that what you’re teaching my girls? To avoid issues and confrontation? To just do what you want without considering the feelings of anyone else involved?”
Blake balls his fists tightly, as though refraining from punching a hole in our brand new wall. His face turns a deeper shade of red, his jaw muscles working overtime as he clenches his teeth in anger.
“The puppy stays, Alex. End of story.” We stare at each other for at least a minute. No words are said. Just the glares of two very, very angry people. Tears begin pooling in my eyes out of pure fury; my body obviously looking for another outlet since I’m no longer yelling.
I look down at the red and gold corded rug that separates us. The physical distance between us may only be a few feet, but
A brand new puppy.
Umm, no. This is unacceptable. When did I agree to this?
This dog better be Harlow and Trace’s dry run at raising a child because I’m pretty sure we don’t have a puppy. Unless I’m still stuck in that damn parallel universe.
I look to Harlow first, praying I’m right. “Yours?”
No words, just wide eyes and the shaking of her head. Next, I turn to Tatum. “Yours?”
She’s giving me the same response as Harlow, but follows it up with a giggle when she reads my shirt. I turn to Trace, but the man’s intelligent enough to shake his head no before I can ask the question. I can tell he’s stifling a wicked grin knowing his best friend’s about to get an ass chewing. A boyish charm fills his light blue eyes as he casts a glance to Blake.
The puppy yips and I break my stare from Trace to see Rylie petting his tummy while the other two rub his ears. He looks up at me, paws in the air, and I swear he’s smiling. Actually, he is kind of cute but, unfortunately for him, I’m immune to cute.
For right now at least .
I tear my eyes from the golden ball of fur, seeking out the only possible person who could be responsible for this.
As soon as my eyes find his, Blake throws his hands up proclaiming his innocence. “What?”
My eyes triple in size. I’m sorry. Is it supposed to be an invisible dog? Am I not supposed to see it?
“That!” I shout. The girls look up at me from the floor, all excitement disappearing from their faces.
Harlow claps her hands together. “Alright girls, let’s go get some ice cream,” she says, grabbing her purse and keys off the couch. Trace and Tatum are nowhere to be found.
Smart .
“Can we bring the puppy, please?” Kyndall pleads. Harlow looks from me to the animal slobbering and shedding all over my rug, assessing the situation, and nods. “Yes, Kyndall. I think that would be best.”
I watch them all scramble out of the living room and race out the door, puppy in tow. Looking back to Blake, I shift my weight and place my hand on my hip, still waiting for my answer. He looks just as pissed as I feel. I can see the blood rushing to his cheeks and feel my face heating as well.
“What the hell, Alex?” My heart rate is increasing to an immeasurable BPM.
“ My dear ,” I plaster a sugary smile on my face, “I don’t remember being consulted about bringing a puppy into this house. I know I’m pregnant and my brain is shrinking on a daily basis, but I would like to think I would have remembered that conversation.” Or at least I hope so.
“No, you’re right. I didn’t ask you because it would have been pointless. You would’ve shot it down without even listening. Just like you do when I approach you with anything having to do with the girls. They need this, Alex.”
What? I do not. Do I?
And, for the record, I love puppies. Only evil people don’t like puppies and kittens. If he would have bothered to ask me, he would have known this. But I’m much too pissed right now to approach the problem in a civil manner.
“Nice, Blake! Is that what you’re teaching my girls? To avoid issues and confrontation? To just do what you want without considering the feelings of anyone else involved?”
Blake balls his fists tightly, as though refraining from punching a hole in our brand new wall. His face turns a deeper shade of red, his jaw muscles working overtime as he clenches his teeth in anger.
“The puppy stays, Alex. End of story.” We stare at each other for at least a minute. No words are said. Just the glares of two very, very angry people. Tears begin pooling in my eyes out of pure fury; my body obviously looking for another outlet since I’m no longer yelling.
I look down at the red and gold corded rug that separates us. The physical distance between us may only be a few feet, but
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