Page 302 of Hide and Keep

“What’s he doing?” I ask through a giggle.

“You never had a dog sniff you before?”

“No.”

“Your scent’s new to him. He’s just checking you out.”

“Oh, yeah? How do I smell?” I ask Zeus, petting his floppy ears. His fur—hair?—is a beautiful shiny gold and wavy. I never understood people’s desire to pet dogs until now. He’ssosoft, softer than Crue 2.0.

“Probably a lot like me.”

“But he can tell the difference?”

“Yeah. Their sense of smell is supposed to be something like a hundred thousand times better than ours.”

“Wow. You’re amazing,” I tell Zeus, earning myself a lick on the nose. And maybe up it? Yuck.

I keep a smile on my face though so I don’t hurt his feelings.

“He likes you.”

“How can you tell?” I ask.

“Because right now, my dog looks like what it feels like to be in love with you.”

Zeus walks forward, causing me to fall back on my butt, more giggles erupting out of me, then next thing I know, I’m flat on my back and Zeus is standing over me, his entire body wagging as he licks my face.

“All right.” Crue starts backing him up. “I get it, Zeus. Trust me, buddy. I get it. But she’s mine.”

With Zeus off me, Crue towers above me, holding his hand out to me, but I take a minute to stare up at him from down here.

“You’re amazing, too.”

“Is that your way of telling me you want me to lick your face?”

“No,” I say, but Crue seems to take my ear-to-ear smile as an invitation to drop down on top of me and do it anyway.

The squeals that leave my mouth don’t sound human whatsoever but apparently something dogs understand because Zeus’s wet nose is suddenly in the mix again, trying to shove Crue’s out of the way.

Between laughs, Crue sends his dog away again as he holds himself suspended over me.

“Let’s get out of here.”

I reach up to pull Crue closer by the back of his neck, wanting to stay just like this for as long as possible.

“Ever.” He looks at our position. “We’re disgusting.”

“I know. Just…”

We’re in the prickly, swampy grass that doesn’t smell particularly good, probably what I imagine wet dog to smell like, and it feels itchy and gross and, yes, beyond disgusting. But this is one of those moments in life that are special in a way that’s indescribable. It’s a core memory in the making. How can I not stretch it just a little bit longer?

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I promise him.

His response is immediate. “There’s nothing you need to do for me. Whether you’re up on your throne or down here in the mud, I love you the same…unconditionally.”

I gaze into his eyes, only seeing pure, unequivocal love staring back at me.

“Thank you.”

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