How To Find Your Future

29 - A Bug Between Us

Charlie

Her eyes light up with more excitement than the sun shines brightly. I think I'm the planet orbiting around the sun. And Olivia is that sun.

I also think I screwed up.

"Not dating," she said, with disappointment in her voice. She wouldn't meet my gaze.

Does she feel the same way as me?

"Charlie!" she exclaims. She spins around, a puppy now in her arms. "We get to give them a bath!"

I grin. Her joy is infectious, and something I never want to live without. "That's awesome!"

She nods and strokes the pup's head.

"Alright," Milly says as she goes to hand me the other puppy.

I hold out my hands in the same peaceful way she did earlier. "Sorry. I'm not really good with dogs." I also don't really want to smell like a wet dog.

Milly shakes her head, a grin on her face. "That's silly." Then she shoves the pup into my arms.

I look down at it and realize it isn't the same type of dog that Olivia holds. It's a border collie, with black and white fur lining it and little brown like glove fur on its paws.

"He's adorable," I breathe before I can stop myself.

Milly smiles smugly. "Still don't want to give him a bath?"

I look up at her, horrified I ever thought that. "I will wash him."

Olivia laughs. She tries to hide it behind her hand but she fails.

I don't even care that I'm blushing.

"Alright you two," Milly sing-songs. "Follow me this way."

We follow Milly into a room that has a tiny dog sized shower. It looks like a tinier version of one you'd find in a rich person's house. She shows us how to use everything before helping Olivia clean her pup. I sit there watching them for a bit with the border collie in my lap.

Olivia is gentle and careful as she runs her hand through the pups fur as she sprays the water on it. A wrinkle forms between her brows as she focuses. It's cute.

I blush and duck my head. And then I get a paw in my face.

"Bark!"

I laugh.

"He seems to like you."

I look up to find both Milly and Olivia watching me. But it's Milly who talks. And who I tune out because Olivia is smiling at me with a soft hidden smile. My heart hammers in my chest.

"I like him too." I almost say her. As in Olivia.

"Have you thought about adoption?"

I turn my gaze to Milly. My eyes wide. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he is up for adoption. You can adopt him if you'd like."

I like down at the pup sitting in my lap. He gazes at me with the biggest puppy eyes ever. He sticks his paws up onto my chest and lifts his face to mine. We stare at each other before he licks me.

"I want him," I say.

Olivia loses it.

She throws her head back, her red hair falls behind her like a waterfall. Her mouth opens wide as a barking laugh escapes her. The pup she's cleaning startles and yips at her.

Milly rushes to get the pup under control and to make sure Olivia doesn't spray the water everywhere.

When she speaks she talks through her teeth, like she's trying not to lose it. "Why don't me and Olivia finish up here while you go sign the forms?"