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“Oh, just you wait. We’re going to meet your besties, aren’t we, Mabes?” he asks, addressing his dog as if she’s an actual person who knows what the fuck he’s saying.

I sigh as I take the next right. Honestly, I should have seen this coming. I’m also aware that Rovvy has probably talked about Mabel and his life as a dog dad many times since I was traded; I just…never listened.

“And who are her besties?” I ask reluctantly.

There’s a part of me that hopes he’s going to say Storm and Monroe. But I know that’s not what’s about to happen.

“Charlie and Buddy, obviously.”

“Obviously,” I mutter as the arena comes into view.

I don’t ask any more questions. I figure I’ll see for myself in a few minutes.

“Ah, look. She’s so excited, she’s trembling,” Rovvy says, gazing at his girl with hearts in his eyes.

“Bet women don’t do that around you very often.”

“Fuck off, asshole. I’ll have you know, I’m great in the bedroom. I never get complaints.”

I glance at the dog, suddenly wishing I could read her mind, because if anyone knows just how much Rovvy is lying about how good he is with the ladies, it would be his number-one girl.

“You know what they say about dudes with big dogs, right?” I taunt.

“Yeah, I fucking do,” he confirms as I pull into my space in the garage. “Big hearts and excellent lovers.”

The second he slams the passenger door, my deep chuckle fills the car.

“Ah, Mabes. I think I touched a sore spot there. What do you think?”

She continues staring at me with her huge tongue hanging out the side of her mouth before Rovvy opens the back door and instructs her to get out.

I join them a few seconds later and discover that Rovvy is clipping something around Mabel’s neck.

“Is that…a rhinestone collar?”

“What? It’s her going-out collar. All the boys love it.”

They take off ahead of me, and I watch as owner and dog strut like they own the place.

As we approach the ice, the noise from those already here gets louder and louder.

There are skaters that I recognize dotted between others who aren’t quite so steady on their feet little ones that are chasing each other around and others who are too scared to let go of the edge. It’s a very different sight from what I’m used to seeing here. And right in the middle of all the chaos are two other dogs.

“There they are, Mabes. Are you excited?” Rovvy asks.

As if she fully understands what he’s saying, Mabel lets out the deepest, most unladylike bark that scares the shit out of me.

My heart lurches into my throat as the two dogs immediately turn toward her. They’ve clearly spent a lot of time on ice, because they don’t even come close to slipping.

Until this moment, if anyone tried to tell me that dogs could smile, I’d tell you to fuck off. But I swear to God, both of those dogs actually do as Rovvy releases Mabel and allows her to race onto the ice.

Unfortunately, she isn’t quite as steady, and she slips and slides for a few seconds before she finds her feet.

The three of them yap happily, drawing everyone’s attention.

When I scan the ice, I see that everyone is smiling at them, and before I know it, I realize my lips are lifting a little at the edges, too.

“Come on,” Rovvy says. “Let’s go and find our skates and get out there.”