“Well now, that just makes me want to feed you more.” Zoe stood and pressed a kiss to Henry’s forehead, making him startle. “You boys enjoy your date and remember that I’m a goddess for pretending not to notice the dog zipped up in your coat despite our no pets policy.”
“Date?” Henry squeaked, mouth full of cinnamon roll. He absently patted the lump that was Journey.
Tomás glared at his cousin as she walked away, hips swinging. “Ignore her. It’s only a date if you want it to be a date. Otherwise, this is just two friends having lunch.”
Henry turned an interesting shade of red. “I haven’t been on a date in a while. Is it going alright?”
Tomás let the omega’s words sink in and shivered. “It’s definitely going well.”
Henry
“Then, he invited me to his house for dinner,” Henry said, smiling.
“Fuck off.” Columbo slowly lumbered down the padded ramp leading from his cage and hopped onto the low, fleece wrapped perch next to Henry’s chair.
“Normally, I’m a mess before a first date. Well, any date really. I have to find the perfect outfit and style my hair just right.” Henry leaned down and gave Columbo a treat. This was the first time the parrot had come out of his cage. “Now, I’m not nervous at all. I’m excited to see Tomás and get to know more about him. That’s all. Isn’t it amazing?”
Journey looked up from where he lay on the dog bed next to the perch and woofed softly.
“Fuck off.”
“Woof.”
“Fuck off.”
“Woof.”
“Journey Alexander Powell, you better be nice to your new brother.” Henry gave Columbo another treat. “That rule applies to you too, Christopher Columbo Powell. Family stands together. That’s what Tomás says.”
“Here you are.” Sam closed the door softly, staying a distance away from Columbo so he wouldn’t startle the parrot. Casey gurgled happily from where he was nestled in his baby sling.
“That’s Sam and Casey,” Henry told Columbo. “They’re family too, so be nice.”
“Fuck off.”
“Woof.”
Sam grinned. “Your new house won’t be quiet.”
“Nope.” Henry didn’t mind it in the least either. “How was work?”
“Good. I’m happy to be working with Rueben again. The evening shift isn’t bad, but dayshift is better.” Sam lowered himself to the floor, folding his legs under him. “What time are you going to Tomás’s?”
“In a couple of hours. I want to help with the evening chores first.”
Sam leaned back against the wall. “Teague had an idea and I fully, one hundred percent support it.”
“What is it?” Henry fed Columbo another treat since he was such a good boy.
“We want to include your name on the sanctuary too. As an owner with all the authority and responsibility that goes with that.”
Henry froze in place, hand in front of Columbo. “What?”
“Right now, everything is set up with Teague and I as the owners, but you’re as much a part of this as we are. Teague is able to take in more animals, because we know we can rely on your help with the daily chores. Hell, you do more than I do.”
“You have a full-time job and a newborn,” Henry pointed out. “You do more than anyone would expect you to.”
“That’s all the more reason we need you.”