Page 73 of Beginning Fate

“The doghouse always pulls in a crowd.”

He held tight to my hand as he expertly wove us through the sea of people. When we reached the hall, it thinned drastically.

“Mostly everyone respects our space. No one is supposed to come back here unless invited.”

“So, am I invited?” I teased him.

“Residents don’t have to be invited. This is your home now, at least for the week, right?”

I could tell he was hinting for more.

“Right.”

I could sense his disappointment with my response, but now was not the time for that conversation.

Once inside his room with the door closed, the noise was virtually non-existent.

“The wall thingy?” I asked.

“Dampener, yeah. It helps block out the noise from the outside, but not entirely. Mostly it keeps everything that goes on in here quiet. No one can hear us.”

“That sounds kind of ominous. Should I be scared?” I teased.

I wasn’t scared of Denny. Not even a little. I was scared of myself and facing the feelings he managed to bring to the surface.

“You never need to be afraid of me,” he said seriously.

“I know that. I was teasing.”

He relaxed a little.

“Do they give everyone beer here?” I asked, setting the still full cup down on his desk.

“No. Those under twenty-one will have an X on their hand so we know not to give them alcohol. It’s not a perfect system, and it still happens all the time. I drank more under twenty-one than I have as a legal adult, if I’m being honest.”

“Kylie?”

He shrugged. “If she wants it, she’ll get it. I can put someone on her to watch and make sure things don’t get out of hand, but it’s college, Lauren. If Kylie wants to drink, she’ll find a way.”

I sighed. “I know, and it wouldn’t be the first time. I just worry about her. That’s all.”

“I love that you worry so much.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, you don’t. It makes me sound like a little old mama bear.”

“I’m okay with that. You’ll be a great mom someday to our pups.”

“Wh-what? What did you say?” I stammered.

He laughed. “Someday.”

There was promise lining his voice.

Someday.

He wanted me to bear his pups someday? That was crazy. I couldn’t be someone’s mother.

But yeah, I could. I’d been doing it my entire life. I’d just never allowed myself to think about life after Kylie. She had been my world for most of my life.

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