"Nate, how do you feel about animals?" I lurked in the doorway of his office. He peered up from his desk with a brow raised, mostly wondering what I got myself into now.

"What did you do?" He asked and that was when the barking ensued. Shitshitshitshitshit!

"Don't be mad buuuut I got a dog. Please don't be mad." I rushed over to him and dropped to my knees as he sat in his seat.... If anyone is watching this from the corridor, this probably looks really wrong.

"Bonnie, I'm not mad... I'm just shocked is all. I can't stay mad at that face. Especially when you do your puppy dog eyes and stick your bottom lip out." He chuckled as I pouted at him. Whenever I wanted things to go my way, I pouted. Nate is a sucker for my pouts.

"Soooo....." I pondered, hoping he would let me keep it.

"Yes." And that was all I needed to hear before I jumped on him in pure excitement. As a kid, I was never allowed to have a dog because Zeke was deathly afraid. Even when his ex-girlfriend had a teacup Yorkie, he refused to go to her house. What a wimp.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH NATE!" I grinned as I hugged him tightly while he patted my back.

"It's no problem. Can you tell me what made you get a dog?" He asked. He just opened a whoooole can of worms.

"Well me, my brother and my mom decided to go to the mall..."

***
"Mom, you already tried on those jeans and I told you that they are good!" I rubbed my temples while Zeke counted the number of tiles on the floor.

"But does my ass look flat? I can't go out looking like I have a pancake butt!" She whined as she tried on the same dark blue jeans for the THIRD TIME.

"I get my ass from you. When has it ever looked flat?" I let her think for a while until she nodded her head.

"You're right. This ass drove your father wild when we were your age." She checked her self out and I pantomime gagging because that is gross.

"Yeah, I'm aware. The number of times he said it to you because he thought I couldn't hear him is laughable. Dad believed the younger you are, the worse your hearing was. Dad was so wrong but I wished he was right. I wished he was wrong every Saturday, Valentine's Day, or you guys' birthday." I shook my head with a slight shudder. I hated being home sometimes.

"Yeah. Bon, isn't dad's birthday in May? And mine is in October...... Mom's is in November and Cali's is in July? You don't see anything odd?" He said to me but was only met with a blank stare. I don't know what the fuck he's saying to me."Your birthday is nine months after dad's, Cali's is nine months after mom's and I'm nine months after yours. You see it? We're nine months apart...Well, not exactly nine months but you get it."

"Oh, I get it alright. Me and Cali were conceived out of birthday sex. And you were Valentine's Day sex. That is just...disturbing. Mom, that's disturbing. You guys couldn't just give each other actually gifts or something? Ewwwww."

(Uhh, Bonnie? What does this have to do with you getting a dog?)

(It's very essential, Nate. It'll be important later...Not really. Now shhh!)

(Sorry, sorry! Go on.)

"We were kids! We didn't believe in gifts! Besides it was the 90's." My mom turned around to face us both.

"What?! You did not just try and blame the time period for not buying gifts!" I laughed in my seat, hoping that she was joking but I don't think she is.

(She's not wrong, you know. Troy's birthday is nine months after mine.)

(TMI NATHANIEL! Back to my story!)

"Would you just shut up and go hold a spot in the line for me? I'll be right behind you." She disappeared back into her changing room to collect her things for checkout. I picked up the clothes she had nicely stacked and held it in one arm.

"Sure man. Zeke....You're ugly." I mushed his head with a free hand then went over to the checkout line. Putting the clothes on a nearby shelf for a second, I rolled up the sleeves of my oversized red and black flannel shirt. I felt the cold air of the ac on the holes of my distressed boyfriend jeans. I almost buttoned up the flannel but I wanted to show off my flat stomach. It's fall and I'm still wearing a crop top... It's California!

After five minutes or so the line was moving up and still no sign of my mama. Shit. I'm getting grocery shopping flashbacks. The panic of being next with no money and your mom is nowhere to be found.

"Next customer!" The guy called out. Oh shit, that's me. And my mom's not back! Oh wait, I'm a working adult now. Why was I so worried? Silly Bonnie."Ma'am?"

"My bad. Uhhh what's up? I wanna buy all of these. All of these clothes. Right now." I smiled placing all of the clothes on the counter.

"Alright, beautiful. Let me just ring these up for you...." He said hitting some keys on the computer as I tapped my nails on the slick, white counter."That'll be $247.42"

"What the fuck? There's just three tops and four jeans!" I went into my inner pocket to pull out my credit card from my wallet. I don't like purses too much but it would've thrown off my look today."God damn, here."

"Yeah, I feel you. It's pretty bullshit but I only work here." He slid my card in and pressed a few buttons.

"I used to work in retail too. Hated it. Thank god I escaped." I chuckled with him.

"Really? What do you do now?"

"I'm a nanny for Nathaniel Kane. Pretty sweet job."

"No shit! You work for him and he's filthy rich. Can we swap jobs?.... or numbers?" He handed back my card with a smirk.

(That was so lame....Wait, did you give him your number?)

(Nate! Don't interrupt!)

"Awww I would but I just got out of a relationship. He's a dancer and had to go on tour so I'm not ready to get back into the whole....dating thing." I watched him bag up the clothes as he gave me an understanding nod.

"Ohhh, I understand. But still, let's swap jobs." He laughed handing me the bag."Have a great day."

"Same to you, dude." I waved and made my way back to the fitting room where Zeke still sat."What the hell happened?"

"She's been on the phone since you left. She's talking to dad. I only know because she kept saying his name really low but I could still hear. I don't know what they're-"

"Bonnie, didn't I tell you to go wait on line? Why are you still standing here?" Mom walked out with her hands on her hips.

"I did! I just came back from buying the clothes!" I raised the bag to show my accusing mother.

"You paid for all those clothes for me?" She smiled then wrapped me in a tight hug."Aren't you the sweetest!"

"Sweeter than Grandma's Kool-aid. Let's leave this place. I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry." Zeke scoffed, standing up so we all could leave. Thank god, I couldn't stand being in there for another minute. We walked to the food court so I can get some food and by some I mean a lot. I'm a growing girl, I need food. We sat down to eat our lunch and that's when something licked my ankle.

"What the fuck?!" I screamed and jumped backwards only to fall on the floor. Lying on my back, a white blur runs up my chest and began to lick my face. What's happening?

"Bonnie made a friend." I heard Zeke laugh as I looked at my chest to see a puppy. A husky. A husky puppy is licking my face. I can die happy.

"Heeey, there, man. How's it going?" I giggled and it barked in response."Well, I'm great, thanks for asking! Such manners!"

"Oh geez! I'm sorry, ma'am! He managed to escape once again. Get over here now!" An older woman with a yellow shirt that had a cartoon dog on the front shouted at my new friend. He growled in response so she tried to snatch him up but I grabbed her wrist."Wha-"

"Don't do that. Treat the little dude with some respect." I sat up and let the furball sit in my lap.

"That little dude has caused me so much trouble. That's why no one wants to buy him. He's going to the kennel tomorrow." She said and I swear to god he understood what she said because he got so sad.

"Like hell he is. Hey, buddy, how would you like to be my child? I would love you unconditionally and treat you better than my own self. How does that sound?" I ruffled his fur only for him to attack me with dog kisses. I love him already.

"R-really? You'll buy him?! Lady, I fucking love you! Let's go get you all set up with your lovely new pet!" She lifted me up from the ground by my arm with ease. Damn, lady, chill.

"Honey, shouldn't you tell your boss first?" My mom said as I cradled my new pup in my arms. I could get used to this.

"Mom.... the puppy chose me. Why would I go against what he chose? Besides, Nate loves me. All I have to do is pout and I got it....I hope." I smiled then raced behind the bright shirt woman who was selling me an actual ball of happiness.

***
"The end." I smiled as Nate just looked at me with wide eyes. He finally let out a laugh. A laugh that made me laugh and we just sat there laughing together.

"That was such an interesting story. Tonight when I go to sleep, I'll call you into my room to tell me some bedtime stories." His hand sat on my lower back as the other was the arm on the chair. Wait....ohmygod. Oh god. Oh god. I just realized I've been sitting on his lap the ENTIRE TIME. When I jumped on him, I was too excited to get up. But he never said anything or tried to get me off....?"Where's the little guy?"

"I'll get him!" I slide off his lap and crawled on all fours to the doorway. I drummed on the floor and I could hear him running towards the door. He ran straight to me and immediately licked my face once again."Come down here, Nate."

"Coming, ma'am." He slid on the floor and crawled over to us. He smiled when he reached me but his smile grew wider when my little precious baby ran to him."What's his name?"

"I don't know. Pleeease help me."

"Uhhh, okay! Uhhh, Oscar, Peter, J.D, Allan, Scott, George, Fitzgerald, Edgar, Harper, Ste-"

"No! Too classic! Try again!"

"Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Basquiat, Picasso-"

"I like Picasso but let's keep tryin'! We're on a roll here, Nate!"

"Uh, uh, um, Zeus! Hermes, Dionysus, Hades, Poseidon, Apollo, Adonis, Hercules-"

"WE GOT IT! Picasso Apollo Hercules Sinclair. It's perfect for him. And he has a long name just like me." I looked down at Picasso who barked happily at his long ass name."Thanks, Nate."

"It's no problem. Picasso is actually my favorite artist so I'm glad that's his name. Right, buddy?" He ruffled his fur as Picasso tried to lick his hand.

"And Hercules is my favorite Greek mythology figure. And my favorite Disney movie." I giggled with my boss. We both sat on the floor across from each other on the floor playing with Picasso.

"You're really good with animals and kids. It's really endearing to watch you interact with both. You do a great job with the kids and from what you told me even Picasso knew you were amazing." Nate cradled the blue-eyed puppy in his arms as he looked into my eyes.

"Amazing is an overstatement." I blushed.

"No. It's an understatement because you're beyond it. Don't downplay yourself so much. You're so much greater than you think." He looked at me deeply but then his eyes dropped down to my lips and I was looking at his. We both were moving in closer to each other like we were being pulled in by magnets. The moment we were a breath away, Picasso decided to kiss him. I couldn't help but laugh at the whole thing.

"Someone likes you a lot. Geez, buy him dinner first before you try and get to second base, Picasso." I patted his back.

"He basically said fuck that and went straight for it.....Are you busy today?"

"Nope! I don't have a thing planned. Why? what's up?"

"Wanna go out? Me, you and Picasso can just hang out together.... if you want to...." He tried his best not to look me in the eyes but I wanted him to especially after what almost just happened.

"S-sure. I'd love to. That'll be..." I tried my best to find a word to fit this amazing situation of being able to hang out with the guy I have a huge crush on and a cute ass dog. Someone pinch me.

"Awesome?" He finished with a chuckle and a then blushed a little. I see him blush all the time but it gets cuter every time.

"That's one way to put it but yes it'll be awesome. When do you wanna go?"

"Now. Right now." He placed Picasso down then stood out. He stuck his hand out to help me up also but then crouched down to pick up the happy husky."You ready, Sinclair?"

"I'm ready, Kane."

***

Meet the newest addition to the group! Isn't he just adorable?!😍😍😍😋😋😋💖💖💖I LOVE HIM ALREADY!