Page 148 of Played
I scoop him up. He's heavier than I expected, all solid muscle beneath soft fur. He immediately licks my face, his breath warm and puppy-sweet.
I bury my face in his soft, fluffy coat— he smells so good. His ears are so adorable, floppy, not yet standing upright. He stares at me with dark curious puppy eyes, as if to say, "Who the heck are you?"
"Oh my god." I bury my face in his neck. "Oh my god, Julian."
"Surprise."
I look up at him through tears I didn't realize were there. "You didn't."
"I did."
"When?"
"This morning. Six this morning. Picked him up from a breeder about an hour outside the city." He steps closer, scratches behind the puppy's ears. "Figured you deserved him."
"I can't believe you remembered."
"Of course I remembered." His voice goes soft. "You told me all about Milo. And it’s about time for another Milo in your life.”
Amadeus squirms in my arms, licking every inch of my face he can reach. I'm laughing and crying at the same time.
"And you named him already?" I ask.
"It's temporary," he tells me. "If you don't—"
"I love it!"
Julian wraps his arms around both of us.
"This is real for me, Liza."
I look up at him.
"You. Me. Amadeus." His eyes are so dark, so serious. "I want us to be a family. I'm in this for the long run… if you'll have me."
My throat tightens. "God, I want that too… so much."
He kisses me. Slow and deep, his hand cupping my jaw.
I melt into him, the puppy pressed between us.
The kiss deepens. His fingers thread into my hair. My free hand grips his shirt, pulling him closer.
Amadeus yelps.
We break apart, laughing.
"Sorry, buddy." Julian takes him from my arms, sets him on the floor. The puppy immediately attacks his shoelaces.
I wipe my eyes. "I've never been this happy."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
He pulls me close again. Kisses my forehead, my nose, my lips.
"Good," he whispers against my mouth. "Because we're just getting started."
