“Adopt her. Like forever?” Brad asked, and I could hear the indecision in his voice.
What exactly did he think his options were? I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes, forever. It’s not really fair otherwise.” I sighed. “I’m already really attached to her, Brad, and the more time that goes by, the harder it will be. I don’t want to wonder if you’re coming back or if I’m going to have to give her up at some unexpected time.”
After a weighted pause, he answered. “That’s fair. Can I think it over? For a few days? I’ve already gone around and around about this, but I don’t feel quite ready. I really think that little dog is my first love.” He sniffed.
I smiled sympathetically. Despite his flightiness, I had no doubt that was true. “Of course,” I agreed. “We’re out of town at a wedding, but I’ll try to keep my phone on me for the most part. I’m happy for you, Brad. I guess this means Tom’s little stunt didn’t pay off, huh?” I giggled.
“Oh, Lord.” He groaned. “No, definitely not. And thank you for being so understanding.”
“Sure thing. Talk soon.”
“Yes, bye.”
“Bye.” I ended the call and looked down at Trixie, who was curled up in my lap. “Well, I didn’t expect that.”
“Getting tons of surprises today, aren’t you?” Cade spoke with a deep a chuckle.
“I guess so. You okay with that?” I asked Sid.
He shrugged. “Of course, babe. You love her, so I love her.”
I sighed. “Well, we’ll see. He didn’t sound sure,” I fretted.
He reached over and squeezed my hand. “I bet he’ll come around. In the meantime, let’s focus on having some time to just enjoy ourselves over the next few days.”
I nodded. I could do that, definitely.
CHAPTER 20
“Hey!” I exclaimed exuberantly after we’d pulled up to the curb of Piper and Ryker’s house and she’d come out to greet us. Her two dogs, Roxie and Tank, leapt about our feet as I held a quivering Trixie in my arms.
Piper wrapped me in a hug, laughing. “What happened to your standard greeting? I kind of miss the ‘what’s up, bitch.’” She quoted my frequent greeting to her in years past.
I laughed. “What can I say? I’ve matured.”
“Right.” She laughed as she turned to give Sid and Caden hugs.
“This is my girl, Danika,” Cade introduced Danika as she reached out to take Piper’s hand.
“And this is Declan,” Sid chimed in, cocking his head toward Declan, whose eyes were shifting up and down the street, constantly ready for an unknown threat.
“Glad to have you guys.” Piper grinned as she shook Declan’s hand. “Ryker had to run out for a bit, but he should be home soon.”
We followed her into their two-story house that had been Piper’s childhood home. She’d struggled at first when her dad had moved away, leaving the house to her, with how to make the place feel like theirs, but Ryker had helped her through.
“Wow, it looks so different,” I marveled, looking around the entryway and living room. They’d painted and brought in new furniture. They’d knocked down walls as well, making the space feel much more open. I smiled, looking at the framed pictures on the walls, the original photos from her childhood now mixed in with new ones of her and Ry and his club, who had become like family to Pipe.
“It feels like you.” I smiled at her.
“Yeah,” she agreed blissfully. “Okay, so you four are upstairs,” she continued, looking at Sid, Cade, Danny, and me. “Declan, I hope you don’t mind, we made some room in the office down here.”
“Sounds good,” his deep voice rumbled. “I don’t really need to be up in the honeymoon quarters with these two.” He rolled his eyes, jerking his chin at me and Sid. “I get enough of it at headquarters.”
“Thanks for putting us up.” Sid smiled, elbowing Dec in the side. He grunted and we all laughed at their antics.
“Are you kidding? This is so awesome!” She beamed. “I’m so excited to have everyone together. A bunch of the club is coming by in a bit for a BBQ to welcome you guys—we’ll have a packed house.”
“Awesome,” Sid replied. He looked to Cade and Declan. “Let’s bring in the gear, yeah?”