Mine

Chapter Sixty Four

I pick up Dixi and open the car door. Her nose starts going, but she keeps her eyes closed. Dirk leads the way to the house and I follow close behind him. "Take her up to her little room, and I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay." I swap out Hal's shades for mine before heading up the steps while Dirk heads into the kitchen. He's got her papers with him so maybe he's going to register her.

I set my shades in our room before I bring Dixi into her giant room and set her down on her oversized bed. I know she'll grow into it, but right now she looks really funny. As soon as I set her down she pops right up. I bet she was awake the whole time and was tricking me. Dixi sniffs her new bed then looks around at her new surroundings. She jumps off her bed and starts sniffing around the room. I stretch out on the floor and watch her explore. I must start to doze off because the next thing I know Dixi is licking my nose.

"Hey girl, what are you doing?" I reach out to pet Dixi and she leans into my hand. Then her ears go up and she looks at something over my shoulder. She crouches down and barks as I hear the door open. "Go get him Dixi." She just keeps barking and then as Dirk gets closer she runs off wagging her tail.

"She's funny."

"Mhmm."

"Are you seriously falling asleep right now?"

"Yeah." I feel Dirk moving behind me, then I feel his elbow bump mine as he lays down.

"So what's Dixi been doing?"

"Exploring."

"That's all?"

"Well I kind of dozed off."

"Yeah I can see that. It looks like she's getting pretty tired too. Let's take her outside then leave her in here for a while."

"By herself?"

"Yeah. She's gotta learn. Plus then I can give you a back massage."

"Mmm that sounds nice."

"I bet." Dirk rubs my shoulder then starts to get up. Dixi runs over to him with a toy, and he plays with her for a few minutes. I sigh and get up myself. Then I follow Dirk out the door and down the steps. With Dixi following right on our heals. Or so I thought. When I get about halfway down the steps I look back to see her still at the top. She sees me looking at her and whines.

"Come on Dixi." I bend down and make grabby hands at her, but she jumps along the top step and barks. "What you've never seen stairs before?"

"Probably not that many. You could just carry her. She'll probably go up them on the way back."

"Okay." I grab onto Dixi and pull her to me. She chews on my hand as I carry her down the stairs.

"Dave!"

"What?"

"Don't let her do that!"

"What do I do then?"

"Tap her nose."

"Rude."

"Well if you teach her to bite she'll have to find a new home."

"Fine." I tap Dixi's nose, but it's barely anything. She looks so offended at me that I cuddle her close and apologize in her ear. I hope Dirk doesn't hear me, but he gives me a funny look. I don't set her down when we get to the bottom of the steps. Instead I carry her all the way outside. She runs around the yard like a lunatic before rolling around in the grass. Then she lays down and watches Dirk and I as we sit in the grass. Dixi starts chewing on grass and I smile at her.