Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
They should only come in nice, but Ashton got strong reactions from everyone.
“Would you like to come throw the ball for him?” Sawyer nodded toward the bottle that’d been left on the floor. “After you get a drink?”
More.
Okay…more drink? More pup?
Both.
Ashton tapped the puppy again and then pointed toward his bottle before making the more sign again.
“I think that’s a great plan.” Wrapping myself around him, I whispered in Ashton’s ear. “And maybe you can share your cookies with the pup?”
Sharing seemed to be questionable but he liked being a good boy and he liked the idea of getting his cookies faster, so I got a quick nod to the idea. “Perfect.”
Taking his hand as I rose, I let him give the pup one more careful tummy pat before helping Ashton stand up. “Let’s go find some place to sit.”
Because after all that even my anxiety was through the roof and I needed to relax for a minute. Ashton didn’t seem to notice and just started making gimmie fingers at his diaper bag as I gathered everything up, but Sawyer flashed me an understanding smile. “There’s a couch by where we were sitting on the floor. That should work perfectly. And I’ll introduce you to our Master again. Jackson. You guys met at the barbecue but there were a lot of people.”
“I remember that.” But again, names were hard. “He runs a dog training business, right?”
Wait.
Blinking, I glanced down at the wiggly pup who was now doing tricks for a giggly Ashton. “Maybe I’m not remembering that right. Sorry.”
Had I hallucinated that because one of them was a pup?
For fuck’s sake what had—
Sawyer laughed and a voice behind the doorway started coughing. “Oh, there’s a story there, but yes, he runs his own dog training business.”
Well, at least I hadn’t fucked anything up.
“Would it be rude to say I bet that comes in handy?” My dry response got another laugh from Sawyer and a giggle from Ashton.
And more coughs from Jackson who seemed to still be waiting out of sight.
I admired the restraint when he’d probably been worried about Sawyer and the whole situation, but Ashton was so distracted with the pup and his ability to sit, bark, and beg for his toy…and possibly the cookies…I didn’t think he’d notice another boring adult at all.
“Let’s get you a drink so you can share your snack.” More cookies would definitely need to go in the bag next time, but I felt better for having overpacked for our first club trip. “He seems hungry.”
Jackson stepped back from the doorway as we followed the pup into the room. “Don’t let that desperation fool you. He’s always ready for cookies and never as starving as he looks.”
Ashton registered he heard the words when he giggled but all his focus stayed on the pup as he rolled over and started begging for pets from his Master. Jackson shook his head, but leaned down and gave the pup enthusiastic tummy rubs. “Behave. Don’t shock your little friend.”
Oh.
He was a happy pup.
Ashton snickered but the binkie stayed firmly in place.
“While the pup isn’t as hungry as he looks, Ashton is not as easily shocked as he looks.” Or as innocent. “Even in this headspace, nothing you do with the pup will shock him. His first interaction with pups just didn’t go well, so seeing how happy they can be might not be a bad thing.”
If we could replace his stressful image of pups with happy little humpers who were excited all the time, that would be much better than the aggressive version he pictured since the munch gone wrong. Jackson seemed to understand the logic and maybe just the fear of dogs in general, even pretend ones, because he nodded. “That’s good because he’s always happy even when he isn’t wearing his inside tail.”
That got a bark from the pup and an evil villain snicker from the little.
And it seemed like we were finally going to be able to sit down and have someone to hang out with.
Maybe the night hadn’t been completely derailed.
Chapter 25
Ashton
Throw.
Pup run.
Pup come.
Cookie.
Yay.
Hahaha.
“The small snack-size cookies were a good idea.” Puppy’s Master was trying not to laugh. “But he’s going to fall asleep as soon as he hits the car.”
“This one too.” Daddy made a happy sound. “Between stress and our scene earlier, we’re both going to crash hard.”
No naps.
Not tired.
“You said you guys mostly just come here for your partner to play?” Daddy happy. Daddy talking. Daddy nosy. “Please feel free to let me know if something is too personal. I’m used to chatting with strangers at munches and other clubs, so knowing you on a casual basis is making it hard for me to figure out where the conversational limits are.”
Yep.
Nosy Daddy.
Faster, faster pup.
Throw.
Hahaha.
Good throw.
Good cookie.
Cookie for me.
Cookie for pup.
Daddy said no cookies for Daddy.