Page 136 of Puppy Love

My lip shakes for just a second, and I bite it to keep it under control. I swallow.

“Vi, we’re about to go live!” Kate calls out from the training facility. I give her a thumbs up.

“Coming!”

I give Al one last hug, then turn to Cam and lean in to kiss her cheek.

“I knew it!” Al murmurs, and I roll my eyes, waving at everyone as I sprint back to finish the interview.

“Ijust want to say what an honor it is,” I bow dramatically, holding up a large Pyrex bowl of coconut chicken curry, “to be attending my first ever Criminal Dinner.” 35

Hayden lets out a loud whoop, and Adrian and Cam clap teasingly. Avery tries to hide a chuckle, but he isn’t quite making it.

“I hope you’re a better cook than your girlfriend,” he mutters.

I look at him with a dead serious expression. “God, me too.”

“Hey!” she scowls, tossing a couch cushion at me. I duck, and it goes right over my head, a grimacing smile taking over.

“Sorry, babe. But one of these days, I’m scared I’m going to get food poisoning.”

Cam rolls her eyes.

“You won’t,” Avery cuts in. “She chars it so well even bacteria couldn’t live in it.”

“What is this? Roast Cam Night?” she huffs. Adrian chuckles.

“Why not, you roast everything else.”

I bite back a laugh, and Avery gives them a high five.

“You could give me food poisoning, Cam, I wouldn’t be mad,” Hayden says, ever-so-sweetly. He walks over to me in the kitchen as I dish up the curry.

“Cool it, cowboy, that’s my girlfriend,” I whisper teasingly.

“I know,” he says, tipping his head like he’s wearing an invisible cowboy hat. “But, and I mean this with all due respect, I’ll always look out for her like she’s mine.”

A comment like this should make me jealous, which I’ve learned is an emotion I actually do experience. And if it were coming from anyone else, it might. But knowing how innocently and deeply Hayden cares for Cam isn’t something I could ever be upset about. I can’t be upset about it because I completely understand. I love Cam too. It was just a matter of luck that she loves me back.

“And I will be forever grateful for that,” I say meaningfully, handing him a bowl of curry. He smiles at me, his blue eyes glimmering.

“So will I.”

We all nestle on the couch together. Even the dogs squeeze on top of us, all six of them. Dawson won’t sit still but insists on lying on top of Cam. Reese is practically suffocating Adrian, while Ellie lays curled up on the ottoman. Major lies on the ground, though, by orders of Hayden that he’s getting “too entitled.” And Pumpkin, of course, sits curled on Avery’s shoulder like a parrot.

I haven’t ever been surrounded by so much love before. Everyone in this room, loving and caring for one another in different ways. It’s so beautiful, and foreign, and I can’t believe it’s real.

“I haven’t actually seen Criminal Minds before…” I say. Everyone stops to turn at me, their eyes wide and jaws on the floor. I force an awkward smile. “Is it like… really dark?”

Everyone looks around, eyeing each other awkwardly before Cam scoffs and rolls her eyes.

“Oh come on, it isn’t that bad you guys,” she says, reaching for the remote. My brows furrow, and I look over at the rest of them.

“I would like to hear that from someone who doesn’t fall asleep to serial killer documentaries.”

They make awkward eye contact again then look at me silently.

I laugh.

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