Page 96 of Hart Breaker

“Is that a?—”

“Maybe?” She smiles then whistles and yells, “Incoming!”

Mom and Marks, my siblings with their partners, Jade, Ryan, and Jackson all walk out of the kitchen and into the foyer as we walk down the stairs.

I shake my head. “You all should be at the stadium.”

“We’re exactly where we should be.” Jade winks as she walks to the front door and opens it.

“All right, boys, bring it in.”

“Bring it in?” I whisper in Riley’s ear.

She giggles. “Just wait for it.”

I don’t have to wait long.

“What is this?” I laugh.

“They are Daniff pups, which is a Great Dane and Mastiff mix,” Liam Ross says.

“Big dogs.” I laugh as Riley and I squat down as they make their way to us.

They’re fucking adorable, with patches of browns and black, thick, shiny coats. Their paws look too big for their bodies and make a slapping sound as they walk across the wooden floors right toward us. Well, to Riley, who they obviously know.

“Hey guys, it’s good to see you again.”

“What’s with those ears.” I scratch behind the ears of the one that’s more brown than black.

“They’re still not sure if they wanna flop down or stand up,” Liam explains.

“I hope they stay just like this.” Rylie rubs her nose against the smaller one.

The bigger one walks around curiously, his legs a little bit wobbly.

“How old are they?” I ask.

“Eight weeks,” Riley answers as she directs the pup to me.

Its big soulful eyes lock onto mine, and he squats down, and he … pisses.

For nearly two solid weeks, we fuck raw and daily, at least once. Every damn time, she asks me if I’m sure. Fuck yeah, I’m sure, but if she needs reassurance every time we fuck over the next hundred years, she’ll get it.

Every other little insecurity either one of us had is gone. Totally and completely.

We are crushing being fur parents to our guy Major, named after her favorite constellation, and Bossy, which is the name Lily gave the other, as it will be hers when she and Lindsey move to Skaneateles in a couple of days.

It was Riley’s idea to invite them to stay here and look for a house together. She and I have already come up with some things to do with Lily to give them some alone time, like skiing, which, apparently, I will be learning, too. This will give Boone and Lindsey a chance to go to counseling and work through whatever they need to see if there is a chance for them to reconnect. They never dated; they fucked, and she got pregnant and dropped out of school at her parents’ insistence. Apparently, Boone isn’t good enough for their daughter. It smells awful, like old money to me, and bullshit, but whatever.

Rylie and Lindsey text once in a while, so it won’t be as awkward. They’re moving in tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, which happens to be the last game I’m benched for. So, Riley and I will be here to get them settled in before Boone gets back in time to play Santa.

Tonight is our private Christmas, and I’m standing in front of the massive tree that only has lights on; we’re saving the decorating part for Lily to partake in.

It’s been interesting, to say the least, trying to teach these boys boundaries, especially with the tree. At one point, we put a gate around it and agreed that lessened the magic the monster-sized tree brought to the room. So, we are teaching them not to fuck with it.

They are doing all right. They do, however, look like dorks walking around, wearing the ugly Christmas sweaters Riley insisted on buying them.

“You two need to chill for about ten minutes, all right?” I ask, hoping they understand.

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