Page 49 of Summer with a Single Dad

“Em, baby? Family isn’t about where you’re at. It’s aboutwhoyou’re with.”

The tender, sweet words reached into the deepest recesses of my heart. “You’re right,” I said.

“Good.” He kissed my nose.

“Would you mind? I mean, would it be okay if I picked Hudson up from camp?”

Since it was summer and Chris had to work during the day, he’d enrolled Hudson in the summer enrichment program offered at his new school. Chris thought it would be good for him to get to know some of the kids he’d be going to school with before the new year started.

“I didn’t want to freak you out by moving too soon, but I already added your name to the list of family members who could pick him up.”

“You did? When?” This was the second time in a matter of seconds that Chris made my heart soar.

“Around the time you told me you loved me.”

This man made me swoon more than I thought possible.

“You think he’ll be okay sleeping here?”

“I don’t anticipate any problems. He’ll have the dogs. And unlike me, he doesn’t have a bad back. I’m sure he won’t have a problem sleeping on the couch.”

“It’ll be like a slumber party,” I said, thinking Moose and Rufus would enjoy a night at home with their friends.

“Do you want to cook dinner, go out, or order in?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll ask Hudson what he wants to do when I pick him up. I’ll take the boys with me.”

“He’ll love that.”

On the days I could, I brought Luke to my classes with Moose and Rufus. When I had private lessons, I left all three at my place so they could be together—a truefur-family.

I sat on the edge of my bed while he got dressed. After he kissed me goodbye for the third time, I tidied up and got ready.

“Come on, boys,” I said when I’d cleaned up any evidence of mynoonerwith Chris. I sent a quick text to Cassie of a clock with its hands at twelve o’clock.

Moose, Rufus, and Luke’s heads cocked in curiosity at my cackle of laughter. I showed the meme Cassie responded with. It was a little girl doing a happy dance. “You’d get it if you were human,” I told them.

With another laugh, I bounded out the front door with the dogs in tow. Moose, alpha that he was, claimed the front seat. Luke and Rufus climbed in the back.

As I drove with the windows down, all three dogs hung their heads out the window.

“We’re going to get our boy,” I said to them.

Luke barked like he understood what I said.

We waited for fifteen minutes after I pulled up to Hudson’s school. I was so nervous about being late, but it didn’t matter. My chest went tight when the kids started exiting the front gate.

I hopped out of my truck, eager to greet him. I saw him from a distance and took a few steps forward, not caring in the slightest that I might be in the other parents’ way.

Hudson spotted me and waved. My chest tightened again, flip-flopping like an animated frog from his favorite cartoon. I waved, totally incapable of fighting my smile, as he ran to me.

He skidded to a stop, then wrapped his arms around me. An indescribable sensation of comfort and fulfillment spread from head to toe.

In this little boy’s arms, I was finally complete.

Moose and Rufus would always be my fur babies.

Now I had Luke, too.

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