Page 45 of October
“What?”
“Lie back,” Finley encouraged and moved to lie on the floor herself.
This wasn’t something Molly intended to do in a room full of puppies on her first date with Finley Storm. She’d done her hair for the night, and while it wasn’t perfect, she wasn’t going to ruin it by pressing it to this probably very dirty floor.
“Here,” Finley added, holding out her arm.
Molly realized what she was doing and couldn’t believe it. She lay down and moved into Finley’s side, resting her head on her shoulder. Before she even had a moment to revel in it, though, several puppies were around them. One had jumped on Finley’s stomach. One was sniffing Molly’s hair. One was licking Finley’s face. Another was trying to get Molly to pet it by rubbing against her arm. Molly laughed. Finley laughed as well and began to pet another puppy who had joined the group.
“You’ve got a good idea there,” a man, who had been there before them, said and promptly lay back.
A few of their puppies moved on to him immediately, but that was okay with Molly because the one who had been asleep was now heading her way, looking inquisitive and hesitant.
“What’s her name?” Molly asked the woman.
“Oh, that’s Wells.”
“Wells?”
“As in H.G. She’s one of our corgis. We have Bering around here somewhere.”
“Bering and Wells,” Finley said softly to Molly. “Are you the one who names them?” she asked the woman.
“Someone at the shelter does usually, butIdo sometimes. I named this bunch.”
Finley turned her head toward Molly’s and whispered, “Lesbian.”
Molly laughed as Wells approached her cautiously and sniffed her hand.
“Hey, buddy,” she said softly so as not to spook the tiny animal. “I’m a friend. Want to hang out with us?”
With the other puppies moving on, Wells was now the only one interested in them, and when she climbed onto Finley’s stomach and lay her head all the way down, Molly fell a little in love.
“I think she’s claiming you,” she said.
The dog’s eyes closed, and Molly ruffled her hair a little.
“Sorry, Wells. I’ve already got a date tonight,” Finley replied softly as well.
“She’s adorable,” Molly noted.
“Yes, she is,” Finley said, but she wasn’t talking about Wells, apparently, because then she added, “So’s the dog.”
Finley’s arm moved Molly a little closer to her, and she squeezed.
“This was a bad idea because now I want to take her home.”
“She’s available to adopt,” Finley reminded.
Molly pressed her face into Finley’s neck, breathing her in, and she still couldn’t believe that they were just lying on the floor in this strange place where a puppy was asleep on Finley’s stomach.
“I can’t,” she said.
“Why not? Does your building not allow dogs?”
“No, they do. Small breeds, at least. There’s a fee, but that’s not it.”
“Then, why?”
