Page 38 of Pretty Puppy

Ash elbowed him in the ribs and growled under his breath, “Shut it.”

Shane narrowed his eyes. “I suppose. But tell Darren to make it quick.”

Ash wanted to assure Shane that Darren would piss like the wind but decided not to push his luck.

Shane wandered off after giving Ash one more warning to get moving.

Owen turned to Ash after Shane was out of earshot. “Man, you aren’t kidding about that guy. He was giving me the ultra stink eye.”

“Yeah, well I hope he doesn’t put two and two together about you and your buddy.” Ash didn’t have time to worry about any fallout from Shane, though. He had plenty to deal with and not much time with which to deal. “Let me run you over there, introduce you guys then I have to jet backstage and get ready.”

“Sure.” Owen trailed after him as they headed back to the entrance of the hall. “Where’s Lee? It’s been forever since I’ve seen him, and I want him to meet Rick.”

Good question. Ash hadn’t seen him since shortly after they’d arrived that morning. Most of the time, he’d been so busy he hadn’t given Lee’s absence a second thought. But now he was beginning to get concerned. He’d put in his bid already, right? Ash had zero interest in being snapped up by some strange Master and he knew Lee would have a fit if one did.

“Oh, I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. It’s been so crazy all day, you know…” Ash cleared his throat. “With everything.”

Ash’s heart pounded. He wished Owen hadn’t brought up Lee’s absence. Now that it was only minutes away from the adoptions, he was becoming more worried.

“Darren? This is my friend Owen. He can spot you while you head to the restroom. But hurry. Shane’s about to wethispants over whether Owen can handle standing here for a few minutes.”

Darren giggled. “He’s always wetting his pants over something or another.” He stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Owen.” He was still hopping around. “I’ll be right back.”

Ash snorted. “I gotta run, too. I’ll barely have time to get ready and I want to look good when it’s my turn on stage.”

Owen nodded. “I guess even though you know already Lee is going to adopt you, you still have to put on a good show.”

Ash’s stomach swam with worry. He was overreacting. Lee wouldn’t leave him hanging. Especially not after how upset he was when the idea first came up. Ash swiped the back of his hand across his forehead. He was getting himself all worked up over nothing.

“Right. That’s it exactly.”

Owen inclined his head. “You okay?”

“Totally.” Ash’s laugh came out slightly hysterical. “Why wouldn’t I be okay? Everything’s going fantastic.” At the risk of sounding more unhinged than he already did to his own ears, Ash decided he needed to make a hasty retreat. “I’ll see you after the adoptions.”

Before Owen could grill him over his odd behavior, Ash rushed to the changing area. He barely had fifteen minutes which wasn’t enough time to become Champ—at least not the way he wanted Champ to be.

As he pulled the curtain to one of the small cubicles closed, he took a moment to take several deep breaths to calm his nerves. He could’ve used his Daddy’s presence before getting ready to go to the pens. At last, he felt he could go on.

For the show, he’d decided not to use his hood. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t been feeling the hood ever since coming back to Tahoe. When he became Champ, hefeltlike Champ, embraced his puppy self entirely. He wanted the ability to express himself without the hood, to be seen as the puppy he was with his own facial expressions.

At one time, the hood had helped him sink into his space, helped him keep that part of himself separate from Ash. But he wasn’t the same pup he used to be—not by a long shot.

Ash tugged on his dark brown bodysuit. Next, he added the belt with the long, curved furry tail. Then his floppy ears attached by an elastic headband and his mitts for his hands and feet. He also used thick knee pads, which helped him stay on all fours as much as possible. To him, that was half the fun.

Ash checked his reflection in the standing mirror, running his palms down his frame. He might not be as muscled as Lee, but he worked to stay in shape and had the flat stomach and tight abs to show for it. He hoped his Daddy would be pleased when he took the stage.

Shoving aside the dire thoughts trying to intrude on his fun, Ash quickly added some eyeliner. He’d barely put the top back on the makeup when a voice over the loudspeaker announced it was time for the adoptions. Ash plucked the laminated card with his show number on it and attached the metal clip to his belt.

Ten.

Plenty of time for Daddy to visit him at his pen and watch him when he took the stage. There was absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Not a damn thing.

“Everyone, take your places! We’re opening up the gate to the pens in five!”

Shane’s booming voice knocked him out of his reverie, and he rushed to get to his allocated spot. He grabbed his toy bag and made his way from the back to the pens. He spotted the number ten on the black, cage style pen and entered the open through the open gate. One of the volunteers would go around and close up the pens once all the pets were inside.

As he settled onto the soft, gray doggy bed covered with a pattern of white dog bones, Ash closed his eyes, struggling to find Champ, to sink into that safe place that allowed him to let go, to be happy and free, the place where worries didn’t exist and all that mattered was fun and playing and jumping and barking and treats and…

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