Page 28 of Pooch Planet

Benji pulled back to look up at Antoine. “Why not?”

Antoine furrowed his brow. “Because…it’s your home. I assumed you’d want to stay here.”

“Not really. I’d never thought about going to another planet, since I figured I’d never have enough credits and wasn’t likely to get hired on a cargo ship because I’m so little, but I’d already planned on getting out of Small Breed Village. It’s never felt like my true home. I’m an orphan, remember? I’m only here because the shelter took me in.”

“What about Shep, and your other friends? Your job?”

Benji barked out a laugh. “My kibble factory job? I was getting ready to leave that as soon as I had enough credits to start traveling around. And I love Shep, I’ll miss him, but he’s due for his first heat too. He’ll end up with a mate, fated or not, then start raising his own pups. We’ll always be friends, but he’ll be busy with his own family.”

Benji detected Antoine’s excitement and it fueled his own.

“We could come visit when I have time off.”

“Sure.” Benji grinned. “That works.”

Antoine’s eyes misted over. “Then you’ll come with me when I have to leave?”

Benji threw his arms around Antoine’s neck. “Just try and stop me.”

Antoine framed Benji’s face with his palms. “Not in a million light years.”

Then Antoine sealed his promise with a searing kiss that would’ve made Benji’s tail wag if he was in his Chiweenie form.