Chapter Thirty-Eight

Bec

T he morning of the adoption event, the drone of my apartment buzzer startles me, even though I’m already awake. I’ve been staring at the ceiling of my bedroom, unable to fall back asleep after a fitful night, racked with nerves. I drag myself to the intercom.

Who would buzz me this early? It’s seven in the morning.

“Hello?” I call out, voice still groggy.

“Good morning, sunshine. Caffeine delivery to the hottest dog trainer in town.”

His voice has me straightening up immediately. “Aiden? What are you doing here?”

He chuckles on the other end of the speaker, and I can practically hear his smirk as he replies slowly, enunciating every syllable, “I repeat. Caffeine delivery. Can Hop and I come up?”

“Uh, yeah, sure. Just give me just a second.” I hit the buzzer to open the entrance door and begin to run around in a flurry, trying to find some pants. I settle for a pair of pajama shorts and don’t have time to replace my holey, ancient T-shirt before he’s knocking at my door. Dammit, why don’t I sleep in cuter clothes? I haven’t had to worry about this since Josh.

I open the door to find Hopper sitting at Aiden’s side, but his paws start to dance with excitement while he tries to restrain himself from leaping on me. Aiden is dressed in joggers, a sweatshirt, and a simple jacket. He shouldn’t look that yummy in lazy clothes while I look like something that crawled out from underneath the bed on Halloween.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says. Aiden cues Hop to follow while he walks through the doorway, pressing a light kiss to my forehead as he passes me by. A familiar flutter starts in my stomach at the simple, sweet gesture. The enticing aroma of coffee pulls me into the kitchen, and I join Aiden while he unpacks a drink carrier. “This is for you. They added sugar, but I thought you could use extra…get over here.”

He reaches out, wrapping his hand around mine and hauling me into his firm chest. His fingers find their way from my jaw to the back of my neck as he leans down, kissing me with unsatiated hunger. I kiss him back with enthusiasm and use my hands to pull him closer to me by the front of his sweatshirt. A small moan escapes me as he pulls away, both of us breathing each other in.

When I open my eyes, his are still closed. He leans farther into our embrace, tucking my head against his chest. We stay there, in no hurry to separate, and he holds me tightly in his arms. I love a steamy kiss, but you can tell a lot by the way a person hugs too. The feeling of Aiden around me is comforting and exhilarating all at once. His hold on me tightens briefly for a moment before he pulls back.

“I missed you,” he says.

“It’s only been a few days since I’ve seen you.”

“I’ve become addicted. A few days feels like a lifetime.” He reaches around me to grab my coffee and hand it to me. “Big day today. You ready?”

I sigh and take a sip. “You couldn’t have picked a better day to save me with coffee. I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I’m exhausted, but I’m ready.”

“You should have called me. I could have come over to help you work through those nerves.”

I smile at him over the lid of my drink. “Yeah, I bet you could have. But then, I don’t think that would have helped me get any more sleep.”

“If I can’t exhaust you to the point of sleep, I’m not doing my job, Bec.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Tonight? Come over after the event,” he says.

“Okay. Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Me too.” The grin beaming from his face is infectious as I feel my own blooming. “Okay, well, I’ll get out of here and let you get ready. Is this the New Hope uniform? I like it.” He teases, tugging on the bottom of my holey T-shirt.”

“Smart-ass. Everyone knows the uglier the pajamas, the more comfortable they are.”

“Hey, I said I like it and I meant it. Especially the sneak peek I’m getting right here…” I gasp as his fingers graze the side of my left breast through one of the holes in my shirt and he leans down to kiss my neck. “I’ll see you soon.”

“You’re coming?” I pant out. He smirks down at me, chuckling.

“Yeah, babe. I’m coming today. And later tonight, you will be too.” He winks at me, calls Hopper over to follow him, and walks to my front door, leaving me breathless in the kitchen. “I’ll see you soon.” He smiles before closing the door behind him and Hopper, who follows him happily.

When I hear the latch click, I can’t keep the dumb grin from igniting on my face or the butterflies from letting loose in my stomach. I hurry around my apartment getting ready. The coffee and food Aiden dropped off do wonders to revive me from my zombielike state.

By the time I reach the event center, my energy is peaking. My heart fills with a sense of pride and anticipation as I walk underneath the large banner on the outside of the building where large, scripted letters will hopefully draw the attention of interested families, Fall in love with your furever friend – Adopt today .

I leave my things with the rest of the volunteers’ belongings in the back room, and I don’t waste any time before jumping into the weeds; I work quickly getting signs posted, directing people where to go, making sure the display board I made for the entrance is up to date with any last-minute changes, checking in with the dogs still in training to see how they’re handling the change in environment, and prepping potential adoption paperwork.

Before I realize how much time has gone by, I feel hands squeeze around my waist. “Bitch, this is amazing . I’m so fucking proud of you.”

“Dee, you made it,” I exclaim, turning around to give her a hug.

“Of course, you and Abby have been killing yourselves to get ready for this. I wouldn’t miss it. You know I can’t take on any pets right now, but I at least wanted to come show my support and make a donation. I still can’t believe the Kellers pulled their sponsorship. Total dick move. If I didn’t need to suck at the corporate teat to survive, I’d quit my job in protest.”

“I promise, that’s not necessary. It’s been a hectic week, but we’ll get through it,” I assure her.

“Carissa wanted to make it, but she got called into work last minute. She asked me to tell you how sorry she is and that she’s proud of you too.”

“You guys are too good to me. It’s the same event every year, you don’t always need to make the trip.”

“Yes, we absolutely do. Look at all of this, it’s incredible,” Ellie calls out as she bounds over to us, Luca bobbing along on her chest in his baby carrier, Dom following closely behind. She wraps me in a quick hug, Luca drooling slobber onto my shoulder as she pulls away. “This must have taken forever to set up.”

“Most of the last two days. Oh, and I know how much you love Golden Retrievers, Ellie. The cutest little guy came into New Hope yesterday. He’s somewhere along the back wall.” I pinch her side and give her a wink.

“I am here for moral support today only,” Ellie says. “I can barely keep up with everything we have going on already. Luca just entered some type of sleep regression that everyone on the mommy boards is making a big deal about. I think Luca would need to have some sort of regular sleeping schedule for a regression to be possible. We just don’t sleep at all. There, problem solved, no regression.”

“Ellie, you’re a superhero. You know that, right?” I ask. “We should have a girls’ night at your place. We’ll stay up all night with Luca and binge rom-coms while you and Dom get some sleep.”

“I heard binging rom-coms and came running. When is this happening?” Abby asks as she approaches.

“You decide, Ellie. Tell us when you want a night off, and we’ll be there with snacks for the night shift,” Dee agrees.

Ellie laughs it off, but I can see her eyes welling with tears, and she gently bounces Luca and gives him a soft kiss on the top of his head. “I’ll let you guys know.” I make a mental note to check on her. My gut’s telling me she’s not okay.

Dom gives Ellie a look of concern, his eyes briefly meeting mine, and then turns back to her and says, “I love the plan. Luca is definitely a night owl, and we’ve been struggling. The place looks great this year. Nice work, you two.”

We catch up for a few more minutes before Abby and I get pulled away to check on a few dogs getting settled into temporary kennels. Dee, Ellie, and Dom stick around for about an hour before they head out, Luca out of patience and in desperate need of a nap and Dee following their rushed exit. My parents and siblings also visit and shower their praises on me and the other volunteers. My family and my girls and their unwavering support fills me with a surge of gratitude and pride. Being able to share my passion for my work with the Center and New Hope means everything to me. But no matter how hard I try, I don’t convince any of them to take home a pet. There’s always next year.

As I’m closing up one of the kennels, I hear rumbling of energized chatter from the entrance of the building. I make my way to the front and spot Aiden with several guys that I don’t know, all wearing Aviators apparel.

I walk toward him hesitantly, not quite sure what to expect. But when he sees me, his entire face lights up.

“Bec, this is incredible. I was just showing the guys the board you made. It turned out great,” he says, pointing his thumb back over his shoulder.

“So, this is Bec?” The guy to his left asks. “I’m Roman, and this grump is Pete, don’t mind him. Great to meet you. I was promised there would be puppies here.”

“Uh, yeah,” I respond, still unsure what’s going on. “The youngest dogs are in the back section, over that way. We keep them in that area to make sure that our older animals have a chance to be seen as well.”

“I plan to post pictures with a few of the seniors, too, but I gotta get my puppy fix first. See ya later, Price,” Roman says with a clap on Aiden’s shoulder before striding away eagerly, the guy named Pete following him, shaking his head.

“Uh, what’s going on, Aiden?” I ask.

He tugs his hand over the back of his neck a few times before saying, “Please don’t be mad. I know you don’t want money from me, but there are other ways I can help. I asked a few of the guys on the team to stop by today and post some pictures from the event to help draw a crowd, maybe a few potential fans who may be looking to adopt a pet. They all agreed to link New Hope’s website, too, so that people who can’t come can still donate.” He drops his head back before looking at me and wrapping his strong hands around my shoulders. “Shit, you look mad…I can ask the guys not to post anything if it makes you uncomfortable. I thought…I just thought maybe it could help give you guys the boost you need—”

“Aiden, no,” I say to stop him. I place my hand on his chest, looking up into his worried gaze. “It’s just—I’m speechless. I don’t think anyone’s ever done anything like this for me before. Do you realize how helpful that kind of media attention would be for an organization as small as ours? Thank you for thinking of me. I mean…for thinking of New Hope. That was really thoughtful.”

His shoulders drop on a deep exhale, like all the weight just fell off him, and he hits me with one of his incredible smiles. I give him one of my own right back. I can’t believe he did this. Is this what it feels like to have a partner who supports you?

“I’m happy to help. Now, who should I post on my page.”

“I’ve got just the friend in mind. Follow me,” I say as I turn and lead Aiden to one of my favorite dogs. “Meet Charlie, she’s a twelve-year-old chihuahua with one eye, no teeth, no attitude, and no worries. She’s the biggest sweetheart in the place. All she needs is soft food, a warm bed, and a good snuggle.”

Aiden follows me into the kennel we have set up for Charlie, all of which are large enough for two people to visit each animal with a volunteer present. Aiden immediately drops to the floor, sitting next to Charlie. He waits for her to approach him in her own time. Of course, she doesn’t wait long before hopping onto his lap and smiling up at him like he’s her entire world. Aiden’s broad shoulders melt just a little, and he strokes her underneath her chin, gently showing her the affection she so desperately needs. The adorable moment nearly wrecks a piece of me, driving huge cracks through the walls I’ve built around my heart, the ones I’ve been clinging to in hopes of keeping some distance between Aiden and me, just in case.

“This girl. Yeah, this girl needs to find a great home today.” He smiles up at me, handing me his phone. “Can you take one of us for me to post so people can find her on my page and fall in love like I just did?”

I’m helpless against a man with a dog. Guys tend to think they need a big dog with a tough personality to prove they’re tough, too, but they’re wrong. Show me a man tenderly holding a tiny, fragile senior dog and my heart is a puddle on the goddamn floor.

I snap a picture and Aiden takes a few minutes to post it on his page with a link to our website for donations and Charlie’s adoption information. One of the newer volunteers calls me over to help her with a family who wants to finalize an adoption, and Aiden kisses me on the forehead before returning to his teammates. The flurry of activity that began when they first arrived increases the longer they’re at the event. As time goes on, I can’t help but notice an influx of people, many of whom are wearing Columbus Aviators gear.

Abby and I meet up to bring out another dog we’ve been working with due to some hyperactivity. We do our best during the event to make sure the dogs that have needed more intensive training are seen by families as well, walking them around the area and talking through their more specific needs with potential adopters. While it might take us more time to find the right fit for the dogs Abby and I tend to work with, I can’t explain how rewarding it is to see it all work out when we get a good match. I’m convinced there’s a family out there for every dog, and you can’t convince me otherwise. When we get to witness them finding each other, it’s simply magical. A moment that I know changes all of their lives forever in the most special way.

I glance up and spot a group of women looking to be in their twenties, walking over to Aiden and his teammates. A flare of jealousy ricochets through my chest, sending sharp pains through my insides. I pause, reminding myself that Aiden has fans approach him all the time. This is nothing new to him, even though it’s weird for me to witness. It’s clearly something I’ll need to get used to if I plan to keep seeing Aiden. Besides, this is what we wanted. The guys’ media posts are working, and there are more people at this event than in any year I’ve seen.

The women wrap up their goodbyes with Aiden and the guys, and then go to the information table. Abby offers to continue walking the dog around, seeing that I can’t keep my eyes off Aiden.

As I approach him, I can hear the man Roman introduced as Pete politely declining to sign an autograph for a fan, but offering to do so outside after the event is over. I inwardly thank him for not creating what I’m sure would be a frenzy, and a distraction to the goal of the event. Aiden catches my eye over the head of a fan and shows me a huge smile before he returns his attention to the young boy, telling him about how he had the same jersey number as Aiden last summer while playing in his T-ball league.

“I hope you come back to the adoption fair next year and I get to hear all about your next killer season, little man. Remember to keep your glove down and eye on the ball.” The little boy’s parents thank Aiden, and head in the direction of our kid’s area where we have a few games and activities set up to help the kids learn about taking care of pets.

“Next year, huh? You making plans or something, Price?” I shove his shoulder playfully, ignoring the flutter in my stomach and the way my nerves are buzzing at the implication behind his words.

“Or something.” His expression changes, from sarcastic to something a little more thoughtful and serious. “There’s no way I’d miss this. It’s inspiring what you’re doing here. I’ve seen three families adopt animals today, and it reminds me of when I found Hopper. Watching someone meet the newest member of their family…that’s something special.”

“It is, isn’t it?” My heart swells knowing he understands just how important all of this is to the animals who are so deserving and ready to find their safe place in this world, and the lucky people whose hearts will grow with every goofy thing their new pet does as they get more comfortable with time. “I look forward to this moment every year.” I take a look around the event center, really taking it all in. It’s astonishing how full the place is, baseball players mingling with staff, volunteers, and families. The dogs getting more one-on-one attention than we’re able to provide at any given point during the year. The hopeful looks on children’s faces as they pass each kennel, tugging on their parent’s clothes and pointing excitedly.

“What you did today, Aiden…it was unbelievably thoughtful. Tonya, New Hope’s director, just pulled me aside to say they’ve received an overwhelming number of online donations in the last two hours. The relief on her face…I can tell she is going to sleep better knowing she can keep New Hope afloat during this transition period. You made that possible. I don’t know how to thank you.”

He steps toward me, only a few inches separating us. His voice lowers as he says, “What the guys and I did today wouldn’t mean anything without the work you do and the passion you have to help these animals. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” He brings a hand to my jaw, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I didn’t do this so you would thank me. I did it so that you could feel how much I care about you, how much I want to see you succeed, and so that you know you can count on me. I want you to know that beyond any doubt.”

“I…I think I’m starting to see that.”

“Believe what you see. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“That’s because with you, it is. ”

He brushes my hair back, and then I feel his hand stroke down my arm until his fingers intertwine with mine. The closer I get to Aiden, the more having him at my side feels less like a risk and more like a comfort. Can I trust my heart that wants to fall for everything that he is and everything he says, or should I listen to my head warning me to wait for everything to fall apart? For now, I ignore the negative intrusive thoughts and let my heart race at the feel of his warm hand engulfing mine, and I squeeze his hand back loving the way it feels.