Don't Explain

thirteen.

One afternoon, Prince summoned me to his house with one of his usual, short, cryptic messages: "Come by later."

I smirked at my phone, lounging on the couch while Snowball, my new fluffy companion, dozed peacefully beside me. The past few weeks with him had been so full of joy and companionship that the idea of leaving him alone for even a few hours tugged at my heartstrings.

Without thinking too much about it, I texted back: "Can I bring the puppy?"

I stared at the screen, waiting for his reply, imagining his reaction. Not two minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Prince. Of course.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice low and slightly incredulous, but with that unmistakable undertone of amusement.

I stifled a laugh, biting my lip to keep from sounding too eager. "Yes, I'm serious," I said, leaning back into the cushions. "He's adorable, well-behaved, and he misses me when I'm gone. I think you'd like him."

There was a pause on the other end, the kind of pause that meant he was weighing something, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "You want to bring a dog to my house?"

I could hear the faintest trace of exasperation in his voice, but it only made me grin. I knew how particular he was about his space, how everything in his house was curated to perfection, from the art on the walls to the furniture placement. The idea of disrupting that with a tiny ball of fur probably wasn't appealing to him.

But I wasn't backing down. "Prince," I said, my tone softening just a little. "You got him for me. He's part of the package now."

There was another pause, and I could almost picture him sitting there, rubbing his temple, trying to figure out if I was being serious or just messing with him.

Finally, he let out a sigh, the kind that let me know I had won. "Fine," he said, and I could practically hear the smirk forming on his face. "But if he chews on any of my stuff, you're taking the blame."

I laughed, feeling a rush of victory and excitement. "Deal," I said. "We'll be there in a couple of hours."

As I hung up the phone, I looked down at Snowball, who was now awake and blinking up at me with his big, dark eyes.

"Looks like you're going to see Prince again," I said, scooping him up into my arms. Snowball wagged his tail, oblivious to the fact that he was about to charm the most composed, controlled man I'd ever met.

This was going to be interesting.

I spent the next hour getting ready, excitement bubbling inside me. I wanted to look my best—not just for Prince but also to showcase Snowball. I slipped into a tight, short dress that hugged my curves just right, the fabric soft against my skin. My hair was straightened to perfection, cascading down my shoulders, framing my face beautifully. I finished off the look with a pair of nude, tall So Kate heels that elongated my legs, giving me an air of confidence and sophistication.

With Snowball nestled securely in his carrier, I grabbed my keys and made my way to Prince's house. The little furball peeked out, his tiny nose twitching as he caught whiffs of the outside world. I felt a rush of affection for him; he was the perfect accessory, a cute little companion to brighten my day.

When I arrived at Prince's place, I knocked lightly on the door, and within moments, it swung open to reveal him standing there, dressed casually but still looking effortlessly handsome. His eyes widened in amusement when he spotted me, taking in my outfit and the little white fluff peeking out of my bag.

"You're really bringing a puppy to my house?" he said, shaking his head slightly, a bemused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Absolutely," I replied, grinning back at him. "I figured you could use a little cuteness in your life."