Page 74 of Not Just Gal Pals

They appeared to be engaging in some sort of stare-down.

And then, all of a sudden, Walter’s tail moved.

“He’s wagging his tail! That has to be a good sign, right?” I exclaimed.

Blake nodded, grinning.

Walter, tail still wagging, quickly took three more steps toward Fred. They were almost face to face now.

And then Walter leaned forward, sniffed Fred’s little pink nose, and gave it a lick.

“Yesss!” I murmured as I let out a breath, trying not to be too loud in case I threw either of them off.

All of a sudden, both of them jumped back. Shit, maybe I’d gotten my hopes up too soon.

They started walking in a circle, eyeing each other from a safe distance.

Then Walter picked up pace, ran over to Fred’s butt, and sniffed it.

“A butt sniff! That’s promising,” Blake said softly, smiling.

We spent the rest of the afternoon keeping an eye on them while we finalized the administrative work for the fundraiser. We’d raised enough to pay Mrs. Gutiérrez to help with financial aid applications for at least the next year, plus a sizable amount that would go toward paying the medical expenses of Sapphire Springs residents who couldn’t otherwise afford them. I’d been meaning to do this work during the week, but I hadn’t had a chance because I’d been so busy meeting with Miriam to get up to speed on the weddings she had lined up and to discuss our plans. Miriam and I had been getting along really well, and I was still bubbling with excitement about my career change. While it didn’t come with a one-hundred-thousand-dollar check, it would cover my bills and then some, and if we expanded the business like I planned, it could become quite lucrative. But even if it didn’t, at least I’d be doing something I loved.

After dinner, as soon as I’d dried the last dish and Blake had wiped down the kitchen counter, she pulled me into her arms, giving me a slow, soft kiss that sent me throbbing.

“Mmmm,” I groaned.

“Since it seems like the kids are getting along well enough”—Blake nodded her head toward the couch, where Walter and Fred were sitting on opposite corners—“how do you feel about us moving to the bedroom?” Blake kissed along my jawline and started gently biting my earlobe.

“Yessss,” I exhaled, suddenly incredibly impatient to rip all Blake’s clothes off.

One hour and multiple orgasms later, Blake pulled her head back.

“Jenny?”

“Uh-huh,” I mumbled, keen to get back to kissing.

“Do you realize we’ve been in bed for, like, an hour, and you’ve had two very loud orgasms?” I winced, hoping Mrs. Harding hadn’t heard me next door. “Walter hasn’t once scratched me, whined, or otherwise engaged in any sex-policing behavior.”

“Oh, wow! Maybe we should go check everything’s still okay.” An image of blood streaming out of Walter’s leg after the @charlietheinstagramcat incident flashed into my mind.

We disentangled ourselves and, still naked, made our way down the hallway, peering in each room for any sign of our pets. Blake reached the living room first and, after looking in, waved me over.

When I reached Blake, she pointed to the couch, and my heart almost combusted on the spot.

Fred and Walter were on the couch, curled up together in a perfect circle.

“Oh my god! That is so freaking adorable!” I exclaimed, putting my arm around Blake’s waist and pulling her to me.

We stood there, in the hallway, watching them for a few minutes.

“Maybe Walter just felt left out. Perhaps now he has a buddy to keep him company, he won’t sex police us anymore?”

“Well, there’s only one way to test that hypothesis out!” I said, grinning, as I tugged Blake back to the bedroom.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

JENNY