Fake Empire(76)

Once I’m a couple of feet away, I sink down to my knees.

“He’s cute,” Crew comments.

“I know.”

“You wanted a dog?”

“A cat, when I was younger. My mom said no. I don’t know anyone with a dog. Anything about dogs.” I wrinkle my nose. “It was stupid. Impulsive. I wasn’t really thinking.”

And it’s Crew’s fault. Lately, I’ve changed. I leave work at a reasonable hour. Worry less. Smile more. Make the spontaneous decision to adopt a puppy. They’re healthy changes. Changes I wouldn’t have made on my own. Reconciling who you are with who you were is uncomfortable. Especially when you’re not certain it’s a permanent change.

“I’ve always wanted a dog,” he tells me.

“You have?” Surprise saturates the question.

Crew scratches Goldie’s chin. The puppy stretches. “Yeah.”

“They gave me a whole packet of stuff. He needs food and training and vaccinations.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“To a pet store, Red. To get all the shit he needs.”

“Like what?”

“Like a bed and a crate and toys and a collar and a leash and food?”

Yeah. Definitely didn’t think any of this through. “Oh.”

“We don’t have any of that, right?”

I appreciate the we. “No.”

Crew stands and holds out a hand to pull me upright. “Let’s go shopping then.”

“You were trying to work earlier. I can just…”

He leans down and scoops up the dog. “You coming?”

Without waiting for an answer, he heads for the stairs, carrying Goldie.





An hour later, we stand side by side, staring at the wall covered with dog toys.

“Wow.”

“Should we get him one of each?” Crew jokes. There are dolphins and condiments and emojis. Dinosaurs and beer bottles.

Our dog will be spoiled. There’s no other logical conclusion, looking at the overflowing cart. It took us fifteen minutes to decide on the right brand of puppy kibble. We spent another ten minutes in the treat aisle. Choosing a crate was quick because we got the biggest one. Ditto with the bed, because there was only one that fit the largest crate. And now we’re stuck in the toy aisle with way too many options.

“Who would buy their dog an eggplant emoji?”

Crew smirks. Grabs the purple plush toy and tosses it in the cart.

I laugh. “We’re not getting that.”

“I’ll give it to him when you get home from work.”

I fight it, but I’m smiling when Crew’s phone rings. He tugs it out of his pocket. “Asher.” He doesn’t answer it.

“Work?”

“Nah. He probably wants to go to a bar.”

“You can…if you want to. Not that you need my permission.” With one sentence, I spread the insecurities I’ve tried to bury. In the two months since we got married, Crew hasn’t gone to a club. He works, and he spends time with me. I’m waiting for it not to be enough.

“I don’t want to.” He grabs a bear and an orange rope. “Good?”

“Sure.”

We move to the next aisle. Crew looks through the harnesses as I pick out a blue collar and matching leash. In line for the checkout, his phone rings again. This time, he answers. “Hey.”

I pet Goldie and pretend I’m not listening.

“No, I can’t.” A pause. “Asher…we’re too old for this shit.” He glances at me. “Okay. Fine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Crew hangs up the phone and sighs. “Asher needs a ride. He went to dinner with his folks. His dad, well, he makes mine look like a teddy bear sometimes.”

I look down at the dog resting his chin on my shoulder. “Teddy.”

“Huh?”

I nod toward the dog. “You said you wanted to rename him. What about Teddy?”

“I like it.”

“Good.”

“I can drop you guys off before I get Asher.”

“I don’t mind.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah.”

We check out and load everything into the car. It takes me most of the drive to figure out how to put Teddy’s new car harness on. I snap the carabiner to my seatbelt right as Crew pulls up outside Pastiche.

“This place is nice,” I comment.

“You’ve been here before?”

“Once. With some friends.”

Asher appears.

“Ignore anything he says about us,” Crew advises.

I raise both eyebrows, but I don’t think he can see in the dark car. Asher walks my way, veering toward the backseat at the last minute, when he sees me sitting up front.

“Can’t go anywhere without the missus these days, Kensington?”

“Yeah, you’re welcome.”

Asher laughs as he spreads out in the backseat. A bag crinkles. “What the hell?” A light shines. “Why is your backseat filled with…stuffed animals and bones?”

“We got a dog,” Crew replies, smoothly turning into traffic.