Page 75 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘Does he know it’s ribbon day today?’
‘He wouldn’t even know what that is.’
Maggie chuckled. ‘Buffy’s about to get him a beginner’s level ribbon.’
Ethan glanced back over his shoulder and gave Sera a wave.
She gave him a thumbs-up. ‘That’s the plan.’
Applause rang out across the park as the last of the beginners group accepted their ribbons.
Sera put two fingers in her mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle.
Ethan turned towards her, blue ribbon clutched in his hand, and gave her an exaggerated bow with a flourish worthy of the greatest Shakespearean actors. He jogged over, Buffy running excitedly beside him.
‘Check it out,’ he said, showing Sera the ribbon. ‘Pretty good for a first-timer.’ He turned to Maggie and smiled. ‘Hi.’
‘Impressive work out there today,’ Maggie said.
‘Thanks,’ Ethan said, a wide smile bursting across his face. ‘It was my first time. I mean, Buffy did all the work.’ He reached down and ruffled the dog’s head. ‘We’re a good team.’
Sera thought her heart would explode. Look at him, patting her dog.
‘A dog will only follow a strong leader. Don’t underestimate yourself,’ Maggie said.
His smile widened as he studied the shiny strip of blue material clutched proudly in his hand.
Sera turned to Maggie and mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
The woman rubbed Sera’s arm and winked.
Sera pushed off her chair and looped her arm through Ethan’s. ‘Come on, superstar,’ she said. ‘I told you that you could do it.’
He was still beaming. ‘I know. But I had no clue I actually could.’
She nudged him. ‘What are you going to do with your ribbon?’
‘It belongs to Buffy.’ He tried to hand it to Sera.
She pushed it away. ‘You did the work too. You keep it.’
‘Then I think I’ll put it next to my MTV Award.’
‘You have an MTV Award?’
‘Best Butt Scene.’ He grinned. ‘The butt scene you watched the other day.’
Sera laughed. ‘That’s really an award?’
‘Yep. I have an award-winning butt.’ He smiled, bent over a little and wiggled his arse at her.
She laughed, her bad morning mood completely forgotten.
‘How’d it go today?’ Carol asked from behind the rescue reception desk.
Sera dropped onto the couch opposite her with a contented sigh.
‘It went brilliantly. He took Buffy through her paces at training and they got a ribbon. I think he’s on his way home to frame it.’
