Page 109 of Loco

Roque shrugged slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Saw a post online about a kid and his therapy dog—this goldendoodle— that helped him through panic attacks. I didn’t even finish the video. I just… yeah, I knew I wanted one for the kids.”

My throat tightened. The kids were seeing a therapist about what’d happened, even though they hadn’t had any issues, but I loved that he was prepared for their future like this, too.

He smiled, stepping closer. “He’s already ours, and he knows it.”

The puppy sneezed, then licked my chin again, like he agreed completely.

Kairo giggled and patted the puppy’s ear. “He’s squishy.”

Kaida added, “Smell like peanut butta.”

Roque laughed. “That’s because he fell in his food bowl earlier.”

I shook my head, still smiling. “So, does the new chaos maker have a name?”

Roque raised an eyebrow. “I figured we’d let the kids name him.”

Immediately, Kairo shouted, “Nugget!”

Kaida shouted, “Butta!”

The puppy barked, pissing Dog off enough into leaving the room with a haughty huff.

“What about Zeppelin?” I offered, sticking with the classic rock theme Lynyrd and Skynyrd had already started. “Or Jett, Floyd, Sabbath, maybe even Aero?”

Roque's brows climbed halfway up his forehead. “Have you been thinking about getting a dog?”

I shrugged, trying to look casual as I glanced at the kids. “What can I say, I think in band names.”

Kairo tapped his chin thoughtfully, then looked at Kaida. “I like Zep,” he said softly.

Kaida nodded instantly, clapping her hands like it had been her idea all along. “Zep! Zep!”

Roque chuckled, reaching down to rub the puppy’s fuzzy head. “Zeppelin it is, Zep for short.”

I snuggled the bundle of fluff closer and kissed his soft, warm head. “What breed is he again?”

“Miniature Goldendoodle,” Roque replied, watching me with that easy smile of his.

“How miniature is miniature? I thought Goldendoodles were huge.”

Roque shrugged. “He’ll be as big as he’s gonna be.”

It made absolutely no sense, but also, in a weirdly Roque way, it madeperfectsense.

Then something caught my eye, a glint around the puppy’s neck that was too shiny to be a regular collar tag. I frowned and gently shifted his fur aside to get a better look.

The tag wasn’t blank. Two simple and clear words were etched into it.

Marry Me

My breath caught, and slowly, I looked up.

Roque was no longer standing. He was kneeling on one knee on the floor, his eyes locked on mine with that same soft steadiness that had pulled me in from the beginning. Kairo and Kaida stood on either side of him, both holding small velvet ring boxes like they were guarding treasure. Kairo looked proud, but Kaida looked like she was about to explode with excitement.

I blinked, stunned. “Roque…”

“I was gonna wait until we moved back in,” he said, voice a little rough. “But when I saw you with them, withhim…”—he nodded at the wiggling puppy in my arms— “I just knew. You already love all of us like we’re yours, and we are yours, Sayla. Every day, in every way, if you’ll have us.”

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