Page 92 of For the Win

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“I’m not goingto be very available for a while,” Harrison says the next day in his SUV.“We need to focus on the playoffs.We’ll be traveling to Vancouver.Sometimes the team even makes us stay in a hotel here in town instead of our own homes so we’re not distracted by family shit.”

“And you have a lot of family shit going on.”

“True that.”His smile is rueful.“Anyway, I want to spend time with you as much as I can the next few days, if you’re okay with that.”

I smile.“I’d love that.I don’t want to be a distraction for you.I know how important this is.”

“Yeah.”He reaches over and squeeze my hand.“I just don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you when things get going.”

“I’m okay with it.Seriously.I have my friends, I have my work...in fact, I just got offered a great opportunity.”

“Oh yeah?What’s that?”

“I’m going to do a rooftop sunset yoga class downtown once a week.”

He shouts a laugh.“No shit?That’s awesome!”

“I know, right?I just heard about it this morning.I’m excited.It’s a cool thing.So, um, where are we going?”He’s taking me out somewhere, but he’s been mysterious about where.

“You’re gonna love this.”He grins and twists his hands on the steering wheel in excitement.“Puppies and Pints.”

“Uh...what?”

“Puppies and Pints.We’re going to Last Glass Brewers.Once a month they have these Puppies and Pints evenings where they bring in rescue dogs and you can go and have a drink and play with the dogs.”

“Oh my God!”I press a hand between my breasts.“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”He slants me a smile.“I thought you’d like it.”

“Dogs!I miss my Roxy so much.”

“I know you do.And I know you want a dog of your own, someday.Maybe won’t be one of these ones, but you can enjoy them anyway and get some dog time.”He frowns.“That sounds weird.”

“No, it doesn’t.I need dog time.I need puppy hugs.I’m so excited!”I clap my hands.

The event is being held on the patio at Last Glass Brewers.The hostess shows us out there and seats us at a table.Before we even order drinks I’m eyeing the dogs.

My heart!

I can’t resist.I have to go see them.“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” I tell Harrison, leaving him to order.

I cross the patio and crouch down beside a beagle.“Hello, my sweetie.”

“This is Buster,” the girl holding his leash says.“He’s two years old.He’s very affectionate and friendly.”

I hold out my hand palm down which he sniffs, then I rub his chin.“Hi, Buster.You’re a handsome boy, aren’t you?”

He looks up at me with big brown eyes and I’m melting into a puddle of puppy longing.

Another dog comes over, tail wagging, eager for attention.He?—She?—is smaller, so I scoop him up.He lays puppy kisses all over my chin.I’m laughing as the girl from the shelter tells me this is Vita, an indeterminate mix of breeds who’s only eight months old.

“You are so sweet.”I cuddle him against me.

Harrison comes over with a plastic cup with beer in it for me.I set down Vita and take the beer.“Thank you.”I beam up at him.

He crouches beside me and holds out a hand for Vita to sniff.“Hey, little dude.”

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