Page 115 of That First Night
“Yeah, you got a point.” She laughs.
“Besides, I think I am going to let James pick.”
“Do not let him name that dog Dooky-West, Peyton! I swear to God.”
“Oh my god,” I cry out in laughter. “I forgot about that.”
“I can never forget that,” she scoffs.
“Listen, I’m getting off the exit in a couple minutes. I will call you later.”
“Okay, love you, bitch.”
“Love you too, bitch.”
* * *
“Honey, I’m home,” Thomas yells as he walks through the front door.
“Honey, I’m home,” James repeats as he steps in after him.
I jump off the couch with a little too much excitement. I take a mental note to bring it down a notch because I was supposed to be watching movies all day.
“Hi, you two,” I squeak out before I wrap my arms around Thomas.
“Hi?” He pulls his head back to take in my features as if he’s trying to figure me out.
“Can you two sit down? I have something to tell you.”
“Peyton.” His eyebrows furrow. “What’s going on?”
“Am I in trouble for something?” James frowns.
“Absolutely not, buddy.” I give him a reassuring smile. “As you know, I was supposed to be sitting home today and watching movies…” I pause as I assess their body language.
“Oh, no.” James starts fidgeting in his seat. “I hope you didn’t go through a playroom clean up. I don’t want to get rid of my toys.”
“What?” I shake my head. “What makes you think that?”
“Robbie at school. His mom went through his toys and threw a whole bunch out.”
“I did not throw your toys out.” I chuckle. “But I did go out and get you a new toy.”
“A new toy?” Thomas raises a brow.
“Stay here,” I tell both of them.
I shuffle down the hall into the spare room to take the little puppy out of his crate. Thankfully he’s crate trained already and he also doesn’t bark. The foster parents told me that the only time he barks is when you are playing with him. Another box that was checked off for me.
I snuggle him in my arms as I nervously make my way down the hall. As soon as I turn the corner and make eye contact with both of them, all the nerves I felt before disappear.
“IS THAT MY NEW TOY?” James jumps from the couch and runs to where I stand at the end of the hallway. “A PUPPY?”
“Yes.” I smile down at him, and then move my gaze to Thomas still sitting on the couch with a questioning look on his face. “I have been looking for a certain dog for months to surprise you with. I found this little guy and I knew he would be the perfect addition to our family.”
“You got James a puppy?” Thomas asks. He has no emotion on his face and the nerves come back.
“I… yeah,” I frown. “I hope that's okay.”
