Page 44 of Good Time Boyfriend
“Damn it, we’re running late.”
“No worries, we assumed you’d be working,” Luca said, and I looked at the contraption on his chest.
“Please don’t tell me that is a dog in a baby carrier.”
“It’s not.”
“It’s a puppy,” Noah said and laughed.
“Are you kidding me?”
“What? You don’t have a no pets policy. You even have a lovely dog bowl outside in case it gets hot for the babies out there.”
“I have a vet for a brother. Of course, this place is pet-friendly. Still, though, a baby carrier?”
A little furry head popped up from inside the carrier.
“What the hell is that?”
“Hey, be nice to your nephew.”
“Really? You’ve adopted another baby?”
“Not exactly. He’s just with me for another hour or two, until my team can come pick him up. But this is the only place he likes sleeping, because he likes the sound of a heartbeat. That’s why we let him do it. Don’t we, Pongo?”
“Pongo? That’s its name?” I asked dryly.
“Pongo is very sweet, and loves us, doesn’t he?”
Pongo licked Luca’s chin. I just sighed before getting their drink orders.
“Boss, you’re not working. Let me do this.”
“I don’t mind. You can work on the other group. We’re going to be loud and obnoxious.”
“Oh, that’s just what I like to hear,” she said with a laugh as she went over to Luca and rubbed the top of Pongo’s head.
“You know, if I swung your way, the whole idea of a little puppy in a chest carrier would send me right over the edge.”
“Well, you just let me know if you change your mind. I’ll make sure to bring the cuteness.”
“Oh you. You’re adorable.”
“She’s talking to the dog, man,” August said, and he flipped him off.
I grinned and set everyone’s drinks in front of them. We were doing mostly beer tonight, and we had a few local brews that sounded interesting. I was trying a sour, because I was in the mood for it, and while it wasn’t my usual, it sounded good because it was a hot day outside.
“When do you start on the huge science project?” Ace asked, and August cleared his throat.
“Next week. It’s a month-long process for my AP class, and while it’s my first one at this school, I’ve done it before.”
“Are parents allowed to help?” I asked, sipping my beer.
“Yes, but not take over. I will be working late with office hours because some parents can’t help. Either they don’t remember the science, because who the hell is going to remember something from eleventh grade so long ago, or they just don’t have time.”
“See? That’s why I like you. You think about the fact that not everybody can step in as much as other parents.”
“And while we’ve already had some parent-teacher conferences where I’ve explained that while this project is going to happen a lot in class too, some of it does happen outside of class. I know these kids have sports and lives outside of school, so I’m trying to help while not being too much. You know?”
