Page 50 of No Rhyme or Roughing
“Pee pads? A collar?” When he didn’t respond, she sighed. “What did you get?”
“Oh, I bought a lot.” He grabbed a bag by the door and handed it to Sydney. She rifled through it with her free hand.
“These are all toys.” She looked up at him, unimpressed. “You bought a dog and only thought to get him toys?”
Teddy jutted his chin out stubbornly. “I wanted him to be happy.”
“He’ll be happier if he doesn’t starve to death.” She stood, passing Guardian into my arms. “Ryder, you’re on puppy duty. I’m taking my idiot brother to the pet store.”
“Me? I—” I looked down at the puppy, at his tiny chest rising and falling as he slept. Damn, he really was adorable.
“He’ll be fine, Ted.” Sydney dragged her brother toward the door, grabbing her keys off the hook. “See? Ryder’s already a devotee to the almighty Guardian.”
I didn’t watch them leave. Instead, I focused on the little ball of fur. He was so soft, so tiny, so perfect. And ours.
Sitting there and staring at him for hours didn’t feel like a chore. But my reverie was interrupted by the doorbell.
“Come in!” I yelled, expecting one of my teammates.
But it wasn’t a teammate. It was my brother.
“Sullie?” I tried to stand, but Guardian made a small noise in his throat, so I stayed put. Babies needed their sleep.
“Uh, Ry? There’s a puppy in your arms.” Sullivan moved closer, his eyes wide.
“I’m aware.”
One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Finally got your golden?”
So, he remembered. It was odd sharing every childhood memory with a man I could hardly speak to now.
“Teddy got him as the new team mascot.”
Sullivan grinned. “That’s brilliant.”
“Really? You think Teddy Valentine having a living creature to care for is a good idea?”
“It’s not just him. You and Rowan are here. And Sydney.”
Guardian stirred and tried to crawl toward Sullivan. Traitor. I scooted away, holding him tighter until he settled.
Sullivan laughed. “You could loosen up a bit.”
“As if I didn’t just dance on the ice during a game.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, but there’s a reason you did it. You’ll do anything for anyone, Ry, but nothing for yourself.”
“That’s not me anymore,” I muttered.
His smile fell. “I know. And I know why.”
I’d tried to be everything for Sam, and it hadn’t been enough. She’d made the right choice, though.
“If you apologize again,” I warned, “I might break your nose.”
“I believe you would.”
“Why are you here, Sul?”
