Page 146 of Buy Back My Love

Van sat down beside me. “You don’t already have a name?”

“No. You bought her. Help me.”

“That’s your dog.”

“And you the reason I got her. Give me something.”

He thought about it for a second. “Coco.”

I made a face. “Everybody dog named Coco.”

“Princess.”

“Absolutely not.”

Van laughed. “See? This is why I told you that’s your problem.”

I looked down at her again, trying to think of something that fit. She was cream-colored, tiny, and had shown up on Christmas like somebody had dropped her straight out of a holiday movie.

“What about Holly?”

“Because it’s Christmas?”

“Yeah.” I looked at her little sleeping face. “Holly.”

Van nodded. “That works.”

“I kinda like it.”

“Then Holly it is.”

“I said kinda.”

“Too late.”

Before I could argue, Mama came back carrying a plate covered in foil and handed it to Van.

“Thank you, Ms. Maisie.”

“You're welcome.” Then she pointed at me. “And don’t be bringing that dog back over here every time she get on your nerves.”

“I’m not bringing her back.”

Mama gave me another one of her little mhms before heading back toward the kitchen.

Van laughed.

“Don’t encourage her.”

“I didn’t say anything, Lee.”

“You keep saying that while laughing.”

I looked down at Holly again. She was still asleep against me, warm and tiny and already way too comfortable.

Van leaned back against the couch and looked at us. “You happy?”

“Very.”