“I can’t promise that,” Cross said. “I’m not going to promise that at all.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
I did not want to feel jealous about the fact that they all had someone to go home to. They could talk to someone who cared about what they were feeling and what they needed.
I didn’t have that. But I did have Daisy. My girl licked my chin and then curled into a ball in my lap, promptly falling asleep.
“She’s too cute,” Arden whispered, reaching out to run her hand over Daisy’s nose.
“Yeah. And she’s all mine.”
“Put her back in her octagon on her little bed. That way, she knows she has a safe place.”
I nodded at Macon and did as he suggested before washing my hands and going back to the living room where everyone else had gone.
“I like that you can see her area from your couch,” Cross said.
I smiled. “I move it around depending on where I’m at. I want her to know that I’m here, but I also don’t want her to become too dependent.”
Macon nodded. “That’s a problem for a lot of puppy owners. As soon as Mom or Dad leaves, they whine and freak out.”
“Crate training sucks.” I sighed as I rubbed my temple.
“Is your head okay?” Arden asked, taking my hand.
“It’s fine. I was wearing my blue light glasses earlier, but then I took them off to go for a walk with Daisy and forgot to put them back on.”
“You know better than that,” Arden chided.
“I do. And I’ll be better. Promise.”
“Here, this will help.” Prior handed me one of my beers.
“Oh, thanks. So, we’re going to drink the entire six-pack?” I asked.
“You’ve got it.” Arden took a bottle for herself.
“Should you be drinking?”
She flipped me off. “I’m allowed to have a beer, asshole.”
“I worry.”
“I worry about you, too. So much that I’m going to help in this whole blind date thing that the brothers put you up for without consulting me.”
“We didn’t know if you would like it.”
“I’m not sure if I do, but I want to be part of it,” she said to Cross.
“I want to make sure Nate is as happy as the rest of us.”
“Thank you for making me feel like a pity project,” I grumbled.
“But you’re our pity project,” Arden said with a laugh.
I flipped her off and then took a sip of my beer.
“Just, whatever you do, make sure it’s not Myra again please?” I asked, doing my best not to look at Arden as I said it.