Page 124 of Worst in Show

He sets me down but doesn’t let go of my hands. For a long while, we just look at each other, oblivious to anything and everything around us.

“What did you come back to tell me?” I ask eventually. “Micki interrupted you earlier.” As I say the words, there’s a pinprick of fear deep within that it’s going to be bad news. He’s taken the job. He’s leaving. But it’s gone as soon as his fingers tighten around mine.

He clears his throat. “I came home to tell you that I’m sorry. So sorry. I made a huge mistake, and I’m not going anywhere. Because…” His lips curve up. “I love you. Very much. And I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.”

My knees tremble, but I still push myself up to kiss him again. And again. If it wasn’t a lie, I’d say I don’t even care about the prize money in this moment, but more than that, I’m plain happy. Happier than I’ve ever been before because, for the first time in forever, things are looking up.

“I will make it up to you, I promise,” Leo mumbles near my ear. “This whole past week. My stupidity.”

I push away from him. “You don’t think you already did that today?”

He shakes his head. “Not nearly enough.”

“You did plenty.”

He laughs. “Another fight? Bring it on. It’s what we’ve always done best.”

“I don’t know about that.” I thread my fingers with his and bring them to my lips.

His eyes darken and glimmer. “I really do love you,” he says, letting his thumb caress my cheek.

“I know.” I lean into his hand. “I love you, too.”

Seven months later

Come on, we’re going to be late.” Leo and Tilly are at the door. He’s been ready for a while, always on top of things as he is, but I’m still making last-minute tweaks to Cholula’s outfit.

“I forgot to move the snap.” I rush into the hallway, the fabric of my strapless, royal-blue dress, made special for the occasion, swishing around my legs. I hold up the floral tutu I’m referring to. “It was way too big on her the other day, but now it’s perfect.” I lean forward to tie my heeled espadrilles, smiling up at Leo as I balance.

“Can’t have anything less than that.” He offers me his hand to stand. “You have everything? Purse, phone, gum? Your hair looks amazing by the way. Reminds me of Belle.”

“That was the plan.” I give him a flirty pat on the behind. “Now let’s mosey.”

We stroll arm in arm down the street to the park and down the Riverwalk, joining a throng of equally dressed-up folks heading in the same direction. Some I recognize, others I don’t.

“There’s Pop and the dogs.” I call his name and speed up, dragging Leo along.

The gazebo at the end of the narrow peninsula that stretches into the middle of the river is clad in wisteria and birch branches, and the chairs set out on the lawn before it are wrapped in white tulle. It’s not fancy or elaborate but highly effective.

“How are you doing?” I ask Harvey. “Ready?”

He glances toward the gazebo and then buttons and unbuttons his linen jacket. “Sure, sure.”

“It’s a beautiful day for a wedding,” Leo says, shaking Pop’s hand.

“That it is. Did you lock up the store?”

“Of course. And I put up the sign. But I think every single customer this week already knew about today. Good news spreads fast.”

Harvey pats Leo’s arm. “Good man.”

Canine King is no more. Rather than letting his dad absorb it and put someone else in charge, Leo sold off his inventory at a steep discount to yours truly and ended his lease early. I know he took a loss, but he wouldn’t hear of it when we offered to pay cost in installments. All he wanted in return was a chance to turn Happy Paws around, and how could we say no to that? With him in charge, we’ve never been doing better.

Leo is right—it is a beautiful day. July heat, sunshine, blue sky, bare shoulders, sandals. Personally, I’d prefer a fall wedding beneath red foliage and a huge party in a barn decked out in maroon, gold, and dusty pink, but so far, that remains a purely hypothetical fantasy. Although, come to think of it, Leo has been dropping hints about our upcoming trip with Diane to see his mom in New York next month, so maybe there’s a chance my dreaming will manifest into something tangible sooner than I think.

“I have Cholula’s outfit.” I push my romantic visions aside and squat down to pull the tutu over Cho’s tail end. I also fasten a white lace collar around her neck. “Do you have the ring?”

“I do.” Harvey pulls a small box from his pocket and hands it to me so I can attach it to the collar with a bow.

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