Page 40 of A Furry Thing Called Love
“I’ve heard a lot about you.Glad to finally put a face to the name.”
“You too.”
“Your kid is extra spicy today,” a new voice says from the doorway leading from the kitchen to the other part of the house.
Rory snorts.“Why is he my kid whenever he’s a bit sassy?”
“Because, cher, you are the reason he’s like this.”The voice and Luka enter the kitchen, Callum following behind.
“Are you ready to run yet, Arlo?”Luka asks.
I chuckle and shake my head.“No, not yet.I don’t know what that says about me.”
“Well, that’s good.We’ll see how you feel after dinner.You’ve met Rory, he’s Grae’s ex, in case he didn’t share that already.And this is Graeme, my boyfriend.”
The other man seems to be around my age.He’s taller than Luka, with light-brown hair and soft blue-gray eyes.“It’s nice to meet you both.”
“You too.I didn’t believe my cousin when he said he had not one, but two partners, and well…I only see one here,” Jordan teases.
Luka rolls his eyes.“Denver’s on their way.They got caught up in something, so they’re running a little behind.”
“Uh-huh,” is Jordan’s reply.
Luka huffs, even as his cheeks stain a little pink and his eyes seem to dance in amusement.
“Okay,” Rory says.“Introductions are over, all of you get outta my kitchen.”
“So bossy, cher,” Graeme teases.
Rory glares at him, making Graeme laugh and holds his hands up.“We’re going.”
Luka and Graeme lead us through the house to the living room.“That’s Rory’s room, the bathroom is the door right next to it,” Luka says.
“The sunroom was over next to the kitchen, which we can show you after dinner, if you want.Grae and my room’s downstairs, as is the laundry and office, along with the second bathroom.Upstairs is a guestroom and Callum’s room.”
“You can come check out my room if you want,” Cal offers.
Graeme says something in…French, I think?That has the teen rolling his eyes and replying in the same language.
“Can I play with the dogs now?”Callum asks once we’re all sitting in the living room.
Graeme says something else in French and Luka elbows him.“We have guests, can you maybe wait until later for that?”
Graeme’s cheeks flush.“Sorry about that.Rory and I decided early on to teach Cal French, and to do so, one of us will exclusively speak to him in the language, which he has to respond the same to.It’s also how we’re teaching Denver and Luka.”
I shrug.“It doesn’t bother me.I think it’s cool.And yes, Callum, you can play with the dogs.”
I unstrap Eli from his harness, and he gives a full body shake once I do so.Callum drops straight to his knees, and holds his hand out.Eli sniffs at him, and lets the boy pet him.
“You’re so gorgeous, yes you are.You want to live here with me and Jolene, don’t you?”
Indie, not one to be left out, makes her way over.Callum gives her attention as well.“You’re also gorgeous.Yes, the most prettiest pup I’ve ever seen.”
The cat, who’s now draped across Callum’s shoulders like a scarf, climbs down and sniffs at Eli, who stares back, but otherwise, doesn’t show any interest.
“Do you have any other pets?”Cal asks as he sits on the ground, a dog on either side of him, the cat in his lap.
Valery, Luka, and I all laugh at that.“Well,” I tell him.“I have another dog, Millie.She’s at the border's though, because she’s too young and a little too rambunctious to make the trip.Jordan, however, has a menagerie.”
