Page 52
We both stood tall with tears in our eyes when we sent the two other puppies back, breaking their sibling bond.
“Ohmygod, this is so sad.” I hiccupped. “Will they ever forgive us?”
Riley draped an arm around me. “They will. Once they meet their new families.”
I bobbed my head. “I hope.”
“Hey, what about hope?”
I raised my gaze to his. “What about it?”
“What if we name her Hope? I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It kinda fits.”
“Don’t you want a name that says guard dog, beware like Ripper or Roxie?”
Riley stepped back and eyed me with a scowl. “You think Roxie is a tough female dog name? You’re kidding, right?”
He laughed and I followed suit. “A girl in high school was named Roxie. Big and mean and scary.”
Riley moved a fist over his mouth, stifling the sound of his laughter. “It’s official, Devon. You’re the most soft-hearted person I know. Now I can’t choose between Roxie and Hope. So, what will it be?” He grew serious again, waiting for me to say something.
I huffed. “Laugh all you want. Even teen boys were scared of her. I like Hope. As you said, it kinda fits.” I brought my attention back to the furball still resting in the crook of my elbow. “What do you think, little pooch? You like Hope?”
She made a cute barking sound, as if to agree.
“It’s settled then. Can I leave you two girls alone so I can run some errands and get everything we need for her?”
Hope licked the side of my face.
“Yes. We’ll be fine. Won’t we, girl? You and I have some cuddling to do.”
Riley watched us with something resembling affection and a hint of lust and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “You girls behave,” he said with a wink.
And I watched him, in his red sports car as he pulled out of the driveway, afraid my heart would get too attached to him—big time—if I weren’t careful.
Hope glanced at him, then at me from the comfort and safety of my arms.
“I’m screwed, girl. I think it’s already too late.”
* * *
In the semi-darkness, we lay on our backs on Riley’s bed, Hope sleeping between us. “What did you wanna be growing up when you were a child?” I asked him.
“A singer. Like my father.”
“Your father?”
Riley sighed. “Yeah. He’s Curtis Burns.”
My eyes traveled to him. “The Curtis Burns?”
He shrugged. “Yep. The one. You’re a fan?”
I cringed. “Not really. Sorry…”
Riley flipped on his side to watch me. “Don’t be.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “What did you wanna be when you were just a girl?”
“A princess. It was my ultimate dream. Thought they were like those invincible women able to change the world with a snap of their fingers. And that they made the world better. And that it mattered.”
