“What?”
“You’re totally dating him! Maybe you’re not quite at boyfriend-girlfriend status yet, but y’all are dating. You
’re going to his game, so you’re getting more involved in his life. You’re meeting his mom and spending a holiday with him. He’s paying for you to spend Thanksgiving with him. You’re totally dating if you aren’t already his girlfriend.”
My heart seizes for a moment before I realize I like how things are with Brayden. The label freaks me out. Thinking about dating him freaks me out a little bit. Thinking about being his girlfriend freaks me out, too. Sounds like I need to stop thinking.
The workday flies by as I do what I love. I couldn’t imagine spending four years in college. I do just fine with this. Why my parents still wanted me to go to college when this is what I love and working here was the best decision for me is beyond me. College isn’t for everyone.
I’m at home, playing fetch with Otis, if you can call me throwing the toy and him keeping it once he gets it fetch, when my dad pulls into my driveway.
“Dad, hey. What are you doing here?”
“I want her diaries back. I’ve decided to keep them.”
“Oh, okay.” I don’t want them anyway. I usher Otis inside and meet my father once again with the books in my arms. “How are you doing?” It’s the same question I asked him yesterday.
“Fine.” Same answer. He looks terrible, though. At least it looks like he showered today. I couldn’t say that before. “Thanks,” he mumbles as he takes the books and heads for his car. No goodbye or anything.
With a sigh, I head inside, change my clothes, grab Otis and his leash, and we head out for a run around the neighborhood. The trainer Brayden set me up with has been so helpful. She knows her stuff, that’s for sure.
“For fuck’s sake, Otis, you have to slow down.” I tug on the leash, which tugs on his harness, and he slows down a bit to match my pace. He gives me a bit of a pitying look for being unable to keep up with him. I haven’t ran since they forced us to do it in high school. Starting up again for Otis sure has shown me that I am not in shape!
Otis is tired when we get home. He walks straight to the couch, hops up, and plops down with a thud. I head to my bathroom, thinking a bath is in order. I’m naked and the water is perfect when Otis barks and there’s a loud knock on my door a second later. Crap! I grab my bathrobe, clutch it together in the middle because I long ago lost the tie, and run to the door. Who would be here? I peer through the peephole to see Brayden. Otis wiggles so much in excitement that I drop one hand to push him back and use the other to open the door.
“Otis, back up damn it!” He runs past me to greet Brayden. “Otis! What happened to listening to me? We were doing so well! Get back in here!” I lean over and pat my leg. What if he gets distracted? He doesn’t have his leash on or anything. He could run off and be lost forever! Otis is too busy walking circles around Brayden. I stand upright, about to stomp my foot, but I’m interrupted.
Brayden’s hands are suddenly on my waist and he pushes me into the house, causing Otis to follow. “You always answer the door naked?” The words are gritted out, snapping my eyes to his face.
“What?”
One hand moves over my stomach, up to my breasts, which are on clear display now, and the other goes to my ass. “You answered the door like this.”
“It’s Otis’s fault,” I breathe. Where’d all my air disappear to? “I had a hold on it before he went rogue.”
“Why are you dressed in this?”
I open my mouth to answer, but he pulls me against him. “Because—” His hand moves between my legs. “Because I went—” His magical fingers drag a sigh out of me.
“Hmm, Deanna?”
I grab his wrist and take a step back so I can think clearly enough to answer him. “I went for a run. I was about to take a bath. What are you doing here?” Without waiting for an answer, I pull my robe closed and stalk off to my bathroom.
“I’ve been texting you; I came to check on you since you didn’t answer.”
I don’t even know where my phone is at the moment. “Well, as you can see, I’m fine!” Why am I snappy all of a sudden?
Brayden laughs as I sink into the tub. “Are you flustered, Deanna? You like to show up unannounced, but you’re not a fan when someone else does?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m flustered because I answered the door with everything hanging out! What if my neighbors saw? What if it was someone else who was here to see me? And then, you groped me!”
Brayden grins as he sits down on the floor with Otis next to my tub. There’s not a lot of room, and I struggle not to smile at how funny he looks. Why is he in such a good mood anyway? Where’s my grouch?
“I did not grope you,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Then what would you call that?”
He pauses as he thinks about it. “A greeting. Our special little greeting.”