Page 177 of 10 Rings I Hate About You
The entire class froze.
Cheryl did not. “Okay,” she said calmly, like this was all part of the lesson. “We are going to acknowledge the goat and return to our breathwork.”
Delaney had both hands pressed to her mouth, laughter barely contained, her shoulder shaking as she tried—and failed—to maintain any kind of authority.
Chaos exited on the far side, mission apparently complete, and reentered the main crowd like a conquering hero.
Two toddlers spotted him right away. “Doggy!”
Chaos accepted their overt affection with surprising grace, soaking up the attention for a full three seconds before his head lifted.
He stopped, gaze locked with that annoying lift of his lips like he was actually smirking at me. The little jerk. I stood near the donation table, refusing to take my eyes off the escape artist. Refusing to make a move and provoke him.
With a little hop-strut, he crossed the Commons toward me. I stayed where I was, waiting to see what he’d do next.
He closed the distance without breaking eye contact, stopping directly in front of me. For a second, neither of us moved. Then he tipped his head forward and gently nudged my knee.
I let out a quiet breath, afraid to ruin the moment, and dropped into a squat, one hand coming up to rub at his head as he pushed his body into mine, tucking himself against my chest like that had been the plan all along.
Just like that, he stayed. His eyes slid shut, the pandemonium gone as quickly as it had come, and two stolen scarves draped around his neck like trophies.
I ran a hand down his back and looked down atmygoat.
My goat leaned into me.
As much as I wasn’t looking to become a goat owner, Chaos had chosen me.
I slowly became aware of people watching us, phones raised, every movement being documented, and I didn’t care.
I put my hand on Chaos’s back and scratched his favorite spot.
“Are you done now?” I asked.
He didn’t move except to look up at me with a disbelieving stare.
We stayed like that for a few moments, and I thought about Chaos and how different today was than the first day we’d met. How my relationship, just like the one with Delaney, had changed so drastically.
Chaos, I was beginning to realize—now that he’d chosen me and Delaney—always came back. He caused mayhem, and then he pulled sweet little moments like this with his head against my chest.
I scratched behind his ears.
And then, because we were in Ruby River, people started clapping. I stood in the middle of the Commons, mortified that I’d become the center of attention when I least needed or wanted it.
Delaney appeared by my side. She looked at Chaos, then at me, and pressed her lips together.
“Don’t,” I warned. She lasted maybe four seconds. Then she laughed—full, deep, uncontained, and a smile quirked at the corner of my lips.
Chaos shifted out of my embrace to go to Delaney. He gave three insistent bleats, as though saying,I was looking for you, Mom.
I stood and hugged her. “How’s your day going?”
The biggest smile crossed her face. “It’s the best in all the ways possible. I talked to Cheryl, and she’s willing to meet with the lawyer so we can sign the contract that will transfer half the business over to her after her internship.”
My lips found hers. “That’s amazing!”
She grinned and pressed closer to me. Our tongues slid together, and our teeth clicked for a second. We both laughed. Then I went back to nipping her bottom lip, soothing it with my tongue, and loving the feel of her mouth against mine.
Cheers erupted all around us. The Commons was filled with more people than I ever could have expected. A local group with a sound that made people stop and listen started at noon, and I made a mental note to download their music.
