Page 104 of Finding Hayes
“You know we can hear you, right?” Kingston barked out a laugh.
“We all know the dude hates parties,” Nash said as Cutler stood beside him.
“Not anymore. My uncle likes anything our girl Savvy does.” Cutler beamed. He was wearing a white tee, a black leather coat, and a pair of jeans and boots. His hair was slicked back with extra gel, and he was the cutest little guy I’d ever laid eyes on.
“You know it, little dude.” Hayes high-fived him.
Ruby got the music going, and everyone was having a great time and walking around to see the latest updates at the farmhouse.
“Hey, I want to give you your gift. Will you come with me?” I asked, as I took his hand and led him toward the laundry room.
“Oh, does this mean I get to drop to my knees and bury my face between your thighs in the laundry room? Because I’m here for it,” he whispered in my ear.
“No. We’re having a party. But I’m all yours later.”
“Fine. What do you have hiding in here?” I opened the door and pulled him inside.
He just stood there, gaping at the cute chocolate lab sitting in the corner of the room. He was a puppy, so he was still pretty small, but he was adorable.
“Sav,” he whispered. “What is this?”
“It’s a dog.” I laughed and shook my head.
“I know it’s a dog. But why is he wearing a blue bow and sitting in the laundry room?”
“He’s your birthday gift.”
“No fucking way. You got me a dog?”
“Yep.” I turned to face him. “You have a wife now, so when you’re away at the firehouse, he’ll be with me. He’ll be part of our little family. Saylor already agreed to watch him when I go to Dallas and you have a shift.”
His gaze softened, and there was so much emotion there.
“Our family,” he whispered.
The pup trotted over and started biting at Hayes’s ankles as he bounced around, squeaking and attempting to bark.
“He’s fucking cute.” He bent down before completely sitting on the floor as the little guy climbed all over him.
“Happy Birthday, hubby. Cheers to many more.” I went to sit beside him, and we stayed there for a few minutes before Saylor knocked on the door.
“Hey, we all want to meet your new addition,” she called out through the door.
We made our way out, and everyone took turns holding our new pup, but Hayes kept taking him back, keeping him close.
He loved him already, and I hoped that this was the start of many more birthdays together that he allowed me to celebrate him.
His mom walked over and petted the top of the pup’s head, as her son kept him in his arms.
“You got your dog after all,” she said. “What are you going to name him?”
Hayes glanced over at me and then down at Cutler, who was standing there beside him. “Beefcake and I were just talking. Tell them what you came up with.”
“Ride or die for all of my uncles is Rod, like my dad and Uncle King’s business. But a puppy needs a better name, so we think we should call him Roddy!” Cutler shouted.
“I like it.” I petted the little pup on the back of his neck.
“Stop cradling him like a baby,” River said. “He’s a dog.”
