Page 103 of Hey, Daddy

She rolled her eyes. “Your body was pressed against me, Haze. I’m not quite sure how you expect me to think so clearly.”

I chuckled, and she responded with a sweet, “I love you, too,” back.

The drive to Julia’s house was weird.

At one point, that place had been my entire life.

Now it was just fuckin’ nothing.

A memory.

Desi and I both got to the door at the same time, and I knocked on the door instead of letting Desi allow us straight in.

Julia opened the door with a scowl.

I immediately looked down, expecting to see Finn, and didn’t.

“Where’s Finn?” Desi asked as she pushed past her mother, who was reaching for a hug.

“In his kennel,” Julie said. “No hug?”

“Sure, just let me let him out so he can see Dad.” Desi totally disregarded her, which pissed Julia off.

Julia’s fiery gaze turned to meet mine, and she nearly spewed venom before she said, “Well, go check.”

I rolled my eyes and did just that, checking everywhere to make sure that there wasn’t a sick fuck hiding in any corners.

Only after I made my rounds did I greet Finn, who looked less enthusiastic today.

“Poor guy,” I said. “Being stuck here without your girl.”

Finn shook his tail and leaned into me, his soft fur now against my beard.

“Missed you, big guy,” I crooned.

“It’s time for you to leave,” Julia hissed.

I ran my fingers through Finn’s fur and stood up. “You want to come with me?”

“Oh, Daddy. Please let him stay.”

I looked up to find Desi’s pleading eyes on me.

She didn’t want to be here alone without him.

That was understandable.

I gave Finn one last scratch behind the ear and said, “See you both tonight.”

I left them there, alone, and I shouldn’t have.

Had I taken Finn with me, I might not have had to say goodbye to him later.

“You want me to take over Daniels’s job,” I said. “That’s a lot more responsibility than I want, Chief.”

The chief of police looked at me like he wanted to pull his hair out.

“Just give it a try for a while,” he said. “If you don’t like it, we’ll reevaluate.”

---