Page 13

“Yeah. So we’re gonna need to keep moving.” I felt rude, but Rico would get it. He was a little too. “Thanks so much for setting things up that night. My bike looks great.”

I walked on.

“I’m sure Galan does too,” Rico called, and I was glad he couldn’t see my face, which was burning from the embarrassment.

Not that he was wrong. Galan always did look great.

We got stopped by every single old person on the block to talk about how they hadn’t seen Dog in a while. And by the time we walked completely around, Galan had pulled up in his truck with his bike in the back. That wasn’t what caught my attention; it was that there was a trailer for Dog back there as well. And from the look of it, Galan had made it.

I’d never seen anything like it. It could’ve been store bought, but knowing his skills, I’d put money on it being custom.

I was in awe, just standing staring at it when he walked over.

“Was I too early?”

“No. Perfect timing. Did you make that? You made that, didn’t you?” I was not one for being smooth.

The smile on Galan’s face said he didn’t mind. “I did.”

“And you made it for today?” I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but also everything about it shouted that it was made with Dog in mind.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Is that okay?”

Dog got a little jealous of his closeness to me and decided to make his presence known. Galan squatted right down and introduced himself warmly.

“And just so you know, I’m trying to win your owner over. What do you think of that?”

Dog licked his face.

“I’m taking that as a yes.”

He loaded my bike next to his and got into the truck and drove down to where the river path started. It was the perfect place because dogs were allowed, there was no traffic, no car accidents to avoid, and a lot to look at.

It was great to be on my bike again and absolutely adorable to see Dog soaking in the spoiling that was his trailer ride. I expected him to be put off by it, but, nope, he loved it.

Galan looked so different in his relaxed clothes. He was dressed similar to me, but, you know, hotter.

We stopped every so often to look at the ducks or check out a plaque describing some event that had happened in that spot. But mostly, we chatted during our leisurely ride, letting the serious bikers zoom on past us and pointing out different spots in town we enjoyed that could be seen as we turned different bends.

This kind of experience was new to me. Biking had always been transportation or something I did alone. I liked this so much better.

“Let’s stop up ahead.” Galan pointed to a clearing with some picnic tables.

That was when I discovered he brought us a lunch in a little compartment in the back of the trailer. And not just me. He also brought biscuits for Dog. And of course that fresh water he promised.

We ate our sandwiches and continued our conversation about anything and everything that had to do with daily life, but nothing about daddies and littles and Chained. I’d been on dates before where the daddies only wanted to talk about the dynamic, as if all I had to offer was being little.

But that wasn’t what today was about. We would have those conversations, but today was a big date, for big people.

“Hey. Where’d you buy that?” A woman’s voice startled me.

I turned to see a couple walking their dog. It was itty-bitty and definitely wouldn’t be able to keep up with a bike ride, unlike Dog, who could if he wanted to, but very much felt on the lazy side today.

“Oh, he made it.” I indicated Galan.

“Wow. You should really sell those.” They had probably seen the really tacky trailer we’d passed earlier. I’d never noticed a dog trailer before. I had a feeling I was going to see them everywhere now.

Galan kind of brushed it off with a thank you, but I could see he soaked in the praise. How could he not? The trailer was pretty spectacular.