Better Than People (Garnet Run 1)

Inside, the animals had been fed and Simon was standing by the fire, holding a bowl.

“Look what Charlie gave you. Isn’t it beautiful?”

It was a large, hand-turned wooden bowl, polished to a soft shine. Jack had seen smaller ones that Charlie had done, but he was getting very good.

He nodded in agreement and walked over to Simon. The dogs scented the air.

“Can I give you your present now? It’s a bit time-sensitive.”

The puppy picked that moment to poke its little head out of the top of the box.

“Oh my god.”

Simon reached out a shaking hand and ghosted it over the puppy’s tiny head. She sneezed. Simon’s face lit with a look of pure joy.

“She’s yours, if you want her,” Jack said. “I know Jean’s allergic, so she could stay here for...”

Jack trailed off because it was clear Simon wasn’t listening to a word he was saying. He reached into the box and pulled out a small black puppy with a white belly, floppy ears and paws too big for her body.

“Oh my god,” Simon said again.

He cradled the puppy to his chest and closed his eyes when she licked his chin and then yawned. Simon looked at Jack with love in his eyes and the puppy in his arms and Jack thought his heart might burst from his body.

“I thought since, you know, since Jean’s allergic, she could stay here. And maybe... Um, maybe when you’re ready, you could stay here too. Live here, I mean. With me.”

Simon’s eyes were electric blue, shimmering with tears.

“You want me to... You’re asking if... I...what?”

He was cradling the puppy to him like a security blanket and Jack took them both in his arms.

“Move in with me, darlin’. Come live here with me. With us. We’ll have Jean over for dinner all the time so she’s not lonely. Whenever you’re ready. It doesn’t have to—”

Simon silenced him with a salty kiss and pressed their foreheads together. Jack closed his eyes in relief, then felt a tongue that he was fairly sure wasn’t Simon’s licking at his chin.

Simon laughed and cuddled the puppy closer.

“That a yes?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup.”

“Then...yeah. Yes. Hell yes.”

Simon’s smile was goofy and soft and he was bouncing—almost dancing—with the puppy.

“I’m moving in with Jack,” Simon told her. “Did you know that? Yeah!”

Tears flooded Jack’s eyes. He knew it was fast. Knew they still had things to figure out. But he also knew, in his guts, in his balls, in his bones, that it was right. That however many days he had on earth, he wanted to spend them with Simon as close by his side as he could get him.

“Are you crying?” Simon said, instantly attentive. “What’s wrong?”

Jack shook his head.

“I’m so fucking in love with you.” He wiped his cheeks. “So when do you think you might wanna—”

“Now. I live here now.” He turned around the room, addressing the animals. “Pack! I live here now!”

Bernard howled, which made Dandelion bark. Rat jumped up to see what was happening, which stirred the cats. Puddles trotted in from the bedroom with Louis and sidled up to Simon.

Very slowly, Simon crouched down and held the puppy where Puddles could reach her. Puddles sniffed her small form, then licked her face. The puppy wriggled toward him to try and return the favor but Simon held her fast. He sat down with her in his lap and called the animals over, introducing her scent to them.

In his head, Jack ran through what they’d do over the next few days to make sure she was safe and welcomed as Simon worked his magic.

Pirate peered suspiciously at the puppy over Simon’s shoulder for a few minutes before jumping into his lap and licking her from toes to nose. Rat ran in excited circles around Simon and the puppy. Dandelion approached the new addition with as much chill as he approached everything else. Pickles didn’t care at all, and Mayonnaise sniffed her politely then went to the kitchen in search of food. Bernard nosed her curiously but when a friendly lick nearly sent her rolling across the room, Jack called him away.

Puddles lay down on the floor next to Simon as if he’d appointed himself the guardian of the new puppy and Jack realized that had been Simon’s intention all along. Louis, the least welcoming to all but Puddles, in the face of his protection, sniffed the puppy, stared her down, then wandered into the kitchen after Mayonnaise.

Jack got out the puppy food he’d hidden under the kitchen sink and made a bowl for her. He put it in the opposite corner of the kitchen from the other animals’ bowls and called Simon in.

The puppy attacked the food the second Simon set her down, all paws and ears and fumbling.

Simon pressed close to Jack and slid an arm around his waist.