Page 68 of Click of Fate

“And I’m not ready to?—”

“Look, she has eyebrows.”

Stella glares at me. “You’re cheating.”

“She picked you, Trouble. Not the other way around.”

Stella sits down on the floor, crosses her legs, and the puppy crawls right into her lap, then stretches up and starts licking Stella’s neck and face. She starts talking quietly to the little pup and that tail just wags and wags.

Game over.

I make sure to give some of the older dogs attention and scratch as many ears as I can, because Stella is smitten, and the puppy doesn’t give her a chance to look at any other dogs.

The adoption papers are filled out before we leave. Stella doesn’t even argue.

Much.

PetSupply smells like rubber toys and anxiety.

Stella’s pushing the cart with one hand, chewing on her lip while scanning the aisle like she’s trying to memorize the nutritional value of ten different dog treats. I’m carrying the puppy—who’s already passed out in my arms like she’s had a long day of wooing her new family. Which, I guess, she has.

“She needs a name before we pick a tag,” I say, holding up a heart-shaped one that saysPrincess.

Stella arches a brow. “You really think we’re heart-shaped tag people?”

I glance down at the little lump of fur in my arms. “She’s literally shaped like a heart. It feels thematically appropriate.”

“She’s Lilly’s dog,” she says, tossing a plush squirrel into the cart. “Which means she gets to name her. And we don’t interfere.”

“I don’t know… what if Lilly names her Sparkle Pants?”

“Then we smile and call her Sparkle Pants.”

I gasp. “You’d just roll over like that?”

“She's six,” Stella says, deadpan. “This is her dream. If she wants to name her Cupcake Rainbow Glittershine, I’ll buy the tag myself.”

“I’m just saying, she’s got Tank energy. Maybe even something like Moose.”

“She weighs less than thirty pounds.”

“She’s small but terrifying. It’s a vibe.”

“I’m vetoing Meatball, by the way.”

“Bold of you to assume you have veto power.”

She glares at me, but there’s a laugh threatening to escape. She knows that I could easily see Lilly go for Meatball.

I sneak a squeaky donut toy into the cart. She sees it and narrows her eyes.

“She needs enrichment,” I say, totally serious.

“You need adult supervision.”

“Also true.”

Here to buy everything Stella needs for a six-month-old pitsky puppy. The cart is nearly full already. A husky–pit bull mix should be fun and will probably keep Stella on her toes for a while. But I don’t think she could have picked out a more loving and loyal dog. This little pup is already in love with her—and I think it might be mutual.

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