Chapter Fifty-Two

Bec

“ Y our dad’s been gone a long time, Hop. You ready to give him the cold shoulder when you see him?” I look down at Hopper, whose only response is to let his tongue flop out of the side of his mouth and wag his tail back and forth across the kitchen tile. He sits patiently, waiting for scraps to fall from the counter where I’m making breakfast.

Aiden has been gone for several days playing road games, and I convinced him to leave Hopper with me since Evie’s schedule was busy and she couldn’t be around for him much. He says he doesn’t want to overstep and inconvenience me.

Me. A dog trainer.

Inconvenienced by this sweet baby angel of a dog.

The man is confused .

I forgot how much having a dog in my space makes it feel like home. Since I lost Lucy, it’s been too painful to imagine living with another dog again. Bringing Lucy home was the most special moment I’ve ever experienced. But while welcoming a dog into your life is incredible, the worst day inevitably follows when you have to say goodbye. It’s been too much to imagine going through that again. Thankfully, having Hop around has slowly started to heal a small piece of my heart.

Hopper hasn’t left my side since Aiden dropped him off. He’s come to work with me to help demonstrate the skills we cover in my classes, he’s sat by my side every night while I binge-read the dark romance we decided on for this month’s book club pick, and every night he snuggles into my side to sleep. When I wake up, he’s sprawled out, usually with his paws digging into my side. I figure we must be dueling it out for bed space throughout the night while we sleep.

I love having a companion again.

“All right, boy, you ready for a special day today?” I call out to him.

Again, those warm, brown eyes meet mine. His happy wiggles barely contained by his big, furry body.

Dogs. We’re just not worthy of their loyal, patient, exuberant love.

* * *

The stadium’s family section is crowded. Dogs, kids, and their parents all mill around singing a chorus of happy greetings and excited squeals, interrupted by the occasional playful bark.

When Aiden mentioned that the Aviators host a dog-friendly game every July, I practically begged him to let me bring Hopper. Again, he didn’t want to give me the extra work. Again, he is confused . This is my Disney World.

Plus, bringing Hopper here is a great opportunity to continue working on his socialization skills, especially if Aiden is serious about wanting him to become a therapy dog. Like I expected, Hopper has done well, enjoyed himself, and greeted both pets and people like a pro. He’s the cutest show-off in the stadium today. Well, at least the cutest dog.

Watching Aiden on the field is a huge distraction, but one I welcome.

“Did you know a beer here is like twenty dollars? I think I was just robbed by a college freshman who’s pulling a cut while working concessions,” Dee says over the buzz of the crowd as she approaches with two beers in her hand. “Little shit didn’t even discount it when I told him I know one of the players and I offered to bring him something signed.”

“I bet he’ll tell all his friends about the crazy lady double fisting beers claiming to know one of the players after his shift. I’m telling you, there’s not a version of that story where you come off as the reasonable one,” I say.

“Shit, you’re probably right. You’re buying the next round then. I don’t want to look crazy twice,” Dee says before handing me my drink. “So, when do you two need to head down there?” she asks.

“After the next inning.” Aiden said it was no big deal and all I had to do was meet him to hand off Hopper, but my gut is still twisted up in a giant knot.

When the Aviators’ media team heard that Aiden’s dog would be in the stadium today, they added him to the list of players who would take their dogs onto the field in between the seventh and eighth inning for some promotional photos.

“Hooooly shhhhit…” I hear Dee draw out as I cue Hopper to sit at my side while a few younger puppies run past us.

“What, what’s going…” I look up and I’m rendered speechless.

One half of the giant screen above the bleachers is lit up with the logo for New Hope, while the other screen shows Tonya, New Hope’s director, being interviewed by a woman in an Aviators polo. Their voices, ringing out through the stadium speakers, are muffled by the roar of the crowd—that, or I’m in such a state of shock that my ears are ringing—so I can’t make out what they’re saying. Thankfully, there’s closed-captioning on the screen.

Dee reads aloud and it feels like the whole world is spinning around me as I will my brain to keep up and take in everything she’s saying, but I can’t even manage that.

“Oh my god, did you know about this?” She looks at me, the shock evident in her expression, I’m sure a mirror to my own. “Did…did they just say that a portion of proceeds from today’s sales will go to fund the New Hope animal shelter?”

“I-I had no idea,” I stutter.

What the fuck is going on right now?

Dee whistles. “That dude loves you something fierce.”

Her statement snaps me out of my frozen state. “No, no, he doesn’t. It’s too soon for that. We’re still getting to know each other?” I squeak out like a question. “This has to be a crazy coincidence. I haven’t talked to Tonya in two weeks or so…”

“Okay, Bec. Okay,” Dee says as she pats Hopper’s head. “Your momma has gone and lost her mind over your daddy, don’t you think, handsome?” she asks Hop, kneeling next to him to scratch under his chin. He soaks up the attention and falls to his side in a plea for more affection.

Meanwhile, I can’t seem to form any kind of response. All I can do is stand, holding Hopper’s leash in my hand like a lifeline, staring at the screen. And when they cut to a shot of the team standing in the dugout, I catch a glimpse of Aiden watching the interview with a huge smile on his face. I feel my heart trying its best to beat its way out of my chest at the site of him, knowing in my soul that Dee is right and Aiden is responsible for this.

* * *

“Bec, is that you?” Tonya asks as she approaches me. I’m standing in a small room with several of the team’s families and their pets, waiting to hand Hopper over to Aiden for the promotional photoshoot.

I feel slightly uncomfortable and out of place realizing that I’m the only one here that doesn’t seem to be a family member. Players’ wives, kids, and pets mill around the space, and while everyone has been welcoming and kind, I’m still reeling over the shock of the massive amount of donations New Hope is bound to receive today to give my full attention to mingling.

“Tonya, what are you doing here? How did all this happen?” I ask.

She beams at me. “It’s incredible, right? A few weeks ago, the team’s community outreach liaison called me saying they were looking for a local shelter to partner with for today’s game. We made some commitments, and we’re setting up a contract to be community partners for the remainder of the season. If things go well, it might extend to next season too. Can you believe that?”

I shake my head, speechless. Because I absolutely can’t believe it.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am. I was worried for a while we’d have to start cutting staff and limit the number of animals we brought in. This popped up right in time.” There are tears in her eyes as she speaks. My gut twists knowing how much heart Tonya puts into her work at New Hope and how stressed she must have been facing this alone.

“I didn’t realize things were hitting that point. Tonya, you could have told us, you didn’t have to carry this alone,” I say.

“Of course I did. It’s my job. I didn’t want to alarm anyone until we knew for sure what needed to happen. But no matter, it’s behind us now. I’m not going to let yesterday’s struggle dull the shine of today’s opportunity.”

That’s the thing about Tonya, nothing ever stops her. A nonprofit like hers is fueled by crappy coffee and the pure determination of her and the team. My heart swells knowing all the good she’s going to do with this type of financial stability for her organization.

“Well, I better be off. I’ll see you next week.” After a quick hug, I watch her prance away to meet with more of the event staff .

“Excuse me, I don’t normally do this, but you might be the hottest fan I’ve ever seen in this stadium. Wanna come home with me later so I can peel these shorts off this perfect ass?” The rumble of Aiden’s voice in my ear sends shivers up my spine as he steps behind me and grabs my hips.

I turn to face him and don’t bother to correct Hop’s behavior when he jumps all over Aiden out of excitement. Aiden laughs and kneels to give Hopper attention. “Always the cock block,” Aiden jokes quietly.

“Aiden, did you do this?” I ask, ignoring his playful greeting.

I need to know.

He stands and hugs me close with his hand at the base of my neck. “Do you always look this beautiful when you’re surprised? I gotta admit, I like seeing you a little flustered.”

“How?”

He shrugs casually. “The team is always looking for local programs to support. All it took was a meeting with our community liaison. It wasn’t much, I promise. The guys who came with me to the adoption event vouched for the organization too. It was an easy call for them to make.”

“Wh-why?” I managed to whisper.

His smile fades and it takes him a minute to find the words he’s looking for.

“You’re important to me. New Hope is important to you. I’m in a position to help. Why wouldn’t I do this?”

“That simple?”

“That simple,” he says.

When he leans down to kiss me, it almost makes me believe him. Maybe it really is that simple. Two people caring for one another, supporting each other. I help take care of Hopper when he’s gone. He helps the shelter I adore get the donations it needs.

But maybe it’s more .

Maybe I want it to be more.

Does he feel this too? Is he craving my touch like I’m craving his? Is his day starting to revolve around the time we have together like mine is? Is he overthinking every gesture wondering if whatever we have between us is what people spend their lifetime searching for?

“I’m almost scared to ask based on your reaction to the first surprise,” he says against my lips when he pulls away from our kiss. “But will you come out on the field with Hopper and me?”

“Oh, isn’t that just for families?”

He looks almost hurt for a moment, before he recovers with that easy smile of his.

“Do me a favor and don’t overthink it. I want you with us.”

“Still that simple?” I tease.

“That simple,” he says with a smirk.

The practical part of me knows that neither of us wants to give voice to what’s left unsaid between us, both afraid for different reasons. But I don’t want to think about that, so I do what Aiden asks. I stop overthinking it. He wants me with them, and I want to be with them. For today, that’s enough.

* * *

Abby: Since when are the Aviators an official New Hope sponsor?!

Bec: I can barely believe it myself. Aiden and his teammates pitched it. I had no idea, but Tonya was all too excited to jump on board.

Dee: If that team asked me to jump on board, I’d be willing too.

Ellie: I’m starting a new album in my phone to store all these shots of Bec, Aiden, and Hopper together at the game. The media is eating this shit up.

Carissa: Seriously, Bec your face is everywhere. How does it feel to be Aiden’s hot mystery girl ?

Bec: Ugh, embarrassing. Why does everyone care?

Abby: Probably because he’s been keeping his personal life private until now. The last article I read said he barely shares anything online.

Dee: Congrats, gorgeous! You popped his publicity cherry!

Bec: Dee, you need help.