Page 32 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“What?”

I took the towel from her, dabbing at a couple bubbles by her temple, leaving behind a pink flush that crept down the side of her neck.

“Thanks.” Madison cleared her throat. “Also, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’ve got enough space for about forty Olympic-sized pools out back. Or, better yet, you could fund a community pool.”

Kenna did love the water. Perhaps something to consider if we were going to make Dunhope home for a while. A pitter-patter of feet caught my attention a moment too late.

“Princess!” Kenna exclaimed as the dog launched herself over the edge of the tub and into the water.

“Blasted dog,” I grumbled as a plume of water hit my chest.

“Princess, come here,” Madison said, laughing as she reached for the dog. She paddled out of reach, barking.

“No,” Kenna squealed, curling her arms around the sopping little rodent. “She’s swimming so good! She likes baths.”

“Probably in need of one, actually,” Madison said.

“That’s not my problem,” I groused. “Bathe your mutt some other time.”

“I call this multitasking.”

“It’s disgusting.”

“She’s a small dog, not some slime ball I found in a swamp,” Madison argued.

“No, a slime ball would be cute. She looks like a wet mop with teeth.” Kenna started splashing around as Princess barked. “And she’s turning this into a circus.”

“Okay, Grumpy Gus,” Madison said, frowning at me. “If anything, we’re improving bath time.”

“Out. Now,” I said, reaching for the menace. Princess stood up on her hind legs, paws against the side of the tub, and shook, drenching me in more gross dog water. Ack! I stood there, arms out, my dress shirt splattered.

Madison and Kenna both looked up at me wearing similarly amused expressions. Even Princess seemed to be laughing at me as she panted with her tongue out.

I exhaled sharply, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt. Madison watched me, her eyes flickering over my forearms as I sank to my knees, hands on the edge of the tub. “All right, no more faffing about.”

Kenna giggled at me. “No more faffing, Princess. I need a marker.” She wiggled her fingers, palm up. “I want to draw.”

Madison dutifully handed over a marker and I frowned as my daughter pulled the cap off, letting it drop into the water, and began to draw on the white tile above the tub. “I mean it. Where’s the shampoo?”

Kenna reached for a large bottle on the edge of the tub. Holding the marker in one hand, the weight of the bottle was too much for her and it slipped between her bubble-covered hands, dropping into the water, the rebound splashing both me and Madison and sending the marker sailing out of the tub, leaving a pink mark where it landed on the white rug.

“It’s going well,” Madison said, squinting as she ran her sleeve over her face.

“It’s going,” I said. “I think that’s the best we can hope for now.” I grabbed the pen and tossed it into the sink.

Princess started barking again, chasing one of Kenna’s dolphin floats across the tub. Kenna twisted around to watch her, sending water sloshing up and over the side of the tub.

Fuck. Between Kenna and the dog, bathtime was turning into a tsunami.

“If not a pool, then maybe you should invest in a bigger tub,” Madison noted.

“Maybe you should control your dog.”

“She’s a free spirit.” Princess attacked the dolphin. “And she’s living her best life.”

“I’m going to show her free spirit right to the door,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Daddy, look!” Kenna said, giggling. She took her teapot filled with water, poured it on top of Princess’s head, and the dog shook, firing water in every direction. Wonderful.