The Edge

by SJD Peterson

  “I don’t know. When I was real young, I always wanted one like Old Yeller. Then as I got a little older, I wanted one like Benji. You know, super smart but small enough to crawl up on my lap. Then….” Joshua shrugged and moved on.

  Nash could tell by the way Joshua’s voice trailed off and the sad tone in it, the good memories had morphed into bad. Probably the one where he gave up his dream of owning a dog. Nash didn’t say anything further. He followed Joshua around the room as he carefully checked out the pups. He oohed and aahed over a couple, and he looked happy enough, but he never spent much time with any one of them, nor did he open a cage or ask for assistance.

  A second pup grabbed Nash’s attention. It was a furry-eared Dachshund that had big soulful eyes, and the best part, she licked Nash rather than bit, then rolled onto her back to show her belly. Nash briefly considered begging Joshua to pick the Dachshund but decided against it. This wasn’t his day or gift; it was Joshua’s. Plus, Nash didn’t beg, but damn it was cute.

  “Mind if we go check out the older dogs?”

  “I don’t mind at all,” Nash said. “This is your day.” He walked over to the door that read Doggy Dorm and held it open. “After you.”

  The Doggy Dorm was exponentially louder. The cages were larger as were the dogs. Some enclosures contained two or three dogs, all of whom seemed to be trying to bark over everyone else. There were hounds, boxers, German shepherds, pit bulls, big, big dogs with big, big voices, the sound echoing around the concrete room.

  At the beginning of the next row, Joshua stopped outside of a cage and squatted down. His face lit up with excitement—the most reaction Nash had seen from Joshua since they’d entered the shelter.

  “Hi, sweetie,” Joshua murmured and held out his hand. The small reddish-brown dog with rosebud ears licked Joshua’s fingers and whimpered.

  Three cards were clipped to the cage and Nash studied the one with the picture of the dog Joshua was interested in. “It says her name is Hazel. She’s a five-month-old terrier mix.”

  “Hazel,” Joshua repeated, still petting the dog. “It fits her.” Hazel went up on her back legs, rubbed her face against Joshua’s hands, and continued to whimper. “I wonder if they will let me take her out of her cage.”

  “Hold on. I’ll go find someone.” Nash looked around until he spotted two young girls with Volunteer printed across the back of their shirts. He headed for them. They turned around when he approached, and the dark-haired girl’s name tag read Missy. The blonde was Abi. “Hi, I was wondering if you could give us some information about one of the dogs.”

  “I’d love to,” Missy said. “Which one are you interested in?”

  “Hazel.”

  Missy smiled broadly. “Oh, she is such a sweetheart.”

  “You think we could take her out to the play yard?”

  “Oh, for sure.”

  “I’ll grab a leash,” Abi offered.

  Nash followed Missy to Hazel’s cage. “Joshua, this is Missy. She can answer any questions for you.”

  Joshua stood, wiped his hand on his thigh, and waved.

  “You have a good eye. Hazel is my favorite,” Missy told Joshua and scratched Hazel’s head through the chain link.

  “Here ya go,” Abi said, handing a leash to Missy.

  Missy opened the cage door a crack and slipped the lead over Hazel’s head. Once Hazel cleared the door, Missy closed it and handed the leash to Joshua. “You can spend as much time with her as you like, just don’t let her off her leash or walk her around the other dogs.”

  “I won’t.”

  Hazel was pulling against the leash, paws ineffectively scratching against the concrete floor.

  Joshua laughed, followed Hazel, tossed his thanks over his shoulder, and was gone.

  “Thank you,” Nash told Missy.

  “No problem. Just let me know when you’re ready to put her back in her cage.”

  Nash went to join Joshua. He had a sneaking suspicion that Hazel wouldn’t be going back into that cage.

  OUT IN the play yard, Hazel jumped up on Joshua, her tail just a-wagging, then darted off before he could pet her. He led her to a covered area that had wooden benches set up. The moment he sat on one of the benches, Hazel jumped up next to him and put a paw on each of Joshua’s shoulders. Joshua’s heart melted. She was literally hugging him, making a small whimpering sound, and out of nowhere, Joshua began to cry. He wrapped his arms around the little dog and just bawled. He had no clue why, and the pup only made it worse when she started licking the tears away.

  Jesus H. Christ, you’re hopeless.

  The emotional roller coaster he’d been on lately apparently wasn’t going to stop at the gate anytime soon. He was a hot mess. Even though he didn’t know the reason behind the outburst, he didn’t try to hide the effect Hazel had on him when Nash sat next to him. Nash laid his hand on Joshua’s lower back, caressing soothingly in a silent show of support. It felt right, as did the way his heart swelled with pure love for the pup in an instant. This is what they must mean by love at first sight.

  “She’s so damn sweet,” Joshua sniffed.

  “I think she has claimed you as her human.”

  Joshua lifted his head and met Nash’s gaze. “You really think so? Do dogs really do that?”

  “Yeah, they do, and yes, they can. Dogs have a great sense for people, and the way that one is hugging you, I’d say she’s pretty happy she found you.”

  Joshua wiped his cheek on the top of Hazel’s head. “I think there may be something wrong with her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s chosen a blubbering crybaby.”

  Nash slid his hand up Joshua’s spine to his neck, gripped his hair, and tugged gently until Joshua looked at him. Nash pressed a quick kiss to Joshua’s damp cheek. “She picked someone with a damn big heart. I don’t know, but if I was you, I wouldn’t talk bad about her human around her. Have you seen those teeth?”

  Joshua turned his head and kissed Hazel’s head again so Nash didn’t see him roll his eyes. Silly man. It was so weird. Normally it pissed Joshua off to no end when he cried, no matter the reason. He had always associated tears with weakness, a belief pounded into him by one of his foster dads—literally. However, it didn’t bother him that Hazel had made him cry. They were happy tears, dammit. He had a dog. I own a dog! Holy hell, if that wasn’t enough to be emotional over, nothing was.

  Hazel licked Joshua again, then hopped down off the bench. Joshua went to his feet and followed her as she sniffed around the yard. A man and woman brought out a large white Shepherd-type dog, but Hazel didn’t seem interested in the newcomer. She seemed happy to walk around, looking back at Joshua every now and then. It was a strange feeling walking a dog, but one that wasn’t unpleasant. After a while, Hazel rolled onto her back and rubbed it against the ground, cute puppy paws batting at the air. Joshua chuckled at her antics until she righted herself, ran at Joshua, and jumped up, tail wagging. Joshua bent to rub her back, and his laughter died in his throat when he was hit with a stench that made his eyes water.

  “Oh damn, what the hell is that?” He smelled his hand and gagged. “Whoa, that’s ripe.”

  Hazel seemed happy about her new scent, jumping on Joshua, spinning around in a circle, then jumping up again. Joshua couldn’t stand it a second longer and went to his feet, waving his clean hand in front of his face. He scanned the yard, found Nash still sitting on the bench, and headed toward him.

  “C’mon, Hazel, say hi to your other human.” Joshua steered Hazel toward Nash.

  Hazel complied easily, jumping right up onto Nash’s lap.

  “Hey, gi….” Nash’s face contorted into an expression of utter disgust. Joshua couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing.

  “What the hell is that!” Nash said. He pushed Hazel off his lap.

  “I don’t know,” Joshua got out between snorts of laughter. “She rolled in something.”

  Nash went to his feet and tried to get
away from Hazel, who was suddenly very interested in getting up close and personal with Nash. Joshua laughed harder.

  “No way is she getting in the car stinking like that,” Nash insisted.

  That had Joshua working to get his giggle fit under control. He couldn’t imagine leaving Hazel at the Humane Society, but Nash was right. They’d both be puking before they made it home surrounded by the stench.

  “Maybe we can see if they will bathe her,” Joshua suggested, hopeful.

  “They’re going to have to. C’mon, bring your mutt and keep her close to you,” Nash demanded, hurrying away from Joshua and the stinky pup.

  Luckily, Missy had no problem with arranging for Hazel to get a bath after she got a whiff of her. While Joshua and Nash waited for her return, they sat at a table with Abi. Joshua filled out the adoption papers while Nash went over Hazel’s intake form.

  “It says here she is untrainable,” Nash pointed out.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Joshua replied without looking up from the form. “How can a puppy be untrainable?”

  “The previous owners were idiots,” Abi remarked. “No dog is untrainable with a little work and patience.”

  “It also says aggressive and hyper,” Nash added.

  Joshua looked up just in time to see Abi roll her eyes. “Again, I say, the previous owners were idiots. Puppies are hyper. It’s part of their charm, but she is most certainly not aggressive. If you ask me, they were making excuses on why they were bringing her back without taking any blame for their idiocy.” Abi looked around to make sure no one was listening. “You didn’t hear me say that,” she said in a low voice, then winked.

  Joshua winked back. Their loss was his gain. He’d seen such wisdom in Hazel’s big brown eyes, and he swore he’d also seen pleading, like she was begging for a chance. She didn’t have to beg. Joshua was prepared to work hard and be the best dog owner ever!

  Thirty minutes later, Joshua was walking out with a freshly bathed Hazel, sporting a new pink collar and matching leash. Nash followed, his arms loaded down with a crate and a bag containing food, bowls, and toys. Joshua’s belly flip-flopped with guilt at the expense. He hadn’t expected Nash to spend so much on his birthday gift. Yet he wasn’t about to let Hazel go, so he’d just have to figure out how make a little money of his own. He couldn’t allow Nash to pay for everything Hazel would need going forward. Vet bills, food, grooming, and basic care would add up quickly. He’d figure it out, but today, he was going to enjoy his gift to the fullest.

  Best birthday ever!

  THE BREEZE from the ceiling fan cooled Nash’s sweat-dampened skin, causing him to shiver. He grabbed the sheet, pulled it over them, and hugged Joshua close. A marathon session of lovemaking had left him sated and boneless. His boy had been extremely appreciative of his birthday gift and thanked Nash in a mind-blowing way. Not only had Joshua been enthusiastic, he’d actually initiated the sex, even getting a wee bit dominant. It was hot as hell. Not something Nash would tolerate on a regular basis, but as an occasional treat? Oh hell yeah!

  Nash snuggled in farther and closed his eyes. Just as he started to doze off, Hazel began another round of barking and howling. “Ugh! She sure doesn’t sleep very long.”

  “She’s scared and lonely.”

  “Yes, well, she’s going to have to get used to the crate. I’m not sharing my bed with a dog.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I’m sure she’ll settle down soon,” Joshua replied.

  “I hope so.”

  Hazel had other plans. Her howling increased, and fifteen minutes later she was still at it. The longer she cried, the tenser Joshua became. It was no doubt killing his boy not to run to his baby girl. Hell, Nash wanted to rescue her. The pitiful sounds she made were shredding his heart, but he held fast and stayed where he was.

  After a few more minutes, Joshua whispered, “Maybe I should go check on her.”

  Nash kissed Joshua’s head, refusing to turn him loose. “If you give in to her, you’ll be sending the wrong message.”

  “It’s hard not to.”

  “I know.” Nash kissed him again. “She has a warm bed, a full belly, and an empty bladder. I promise you, she’s fine.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Joshua said, but Nash heard the sadness in his tone.

  Nash wasn’t heartless. He did feel bad for the pup. Being in a new home with new sounds and smells was no doubt scary. However, he also knew if they gave in to her tonight, it would be all the easier for her to woo them again in the future. Nash was not having a dog in his bed. Having to sleep with one was an intimacy killer, and he wasn’t having it. What they needed was a distraction from the woeful sounds.

  Nash rolled Joshua onto his stomach and straddled him. “Let me help you with that tension.” He laid his hands on Joshua’s lower back, pressed down firmly, then moved up Joshua’s back and down again. The muscles beneath his palms were hard with tension. He worked his fingers into the taut muscles, massaging each one until it yielded to his ministrations and Joshua began to relax beneath him. Hazel continued to cry but with less intensity and frequency.

  “That feels good, Sir. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, boy. You’re doing the right thing by Hazel. A well-mannered pet is a benefit to the entire family. I remember when I was growing up, the kid who lived next door got a puppy. A golden retriever if I remember right. Anyway, that dog ran, barked, and bit. They thought it was so cute, but puppies grow up and before long it wasn’t so cute anymore. About a year later, the dog and the kid were out playing and the dog clamped down on the kid’s arm and wouldn’t let go. I’m sure the dog was just playing as he’d always done, but this particular day caused some serious damage to the boy. The police got involved, and the dog had to be euthanized. Poor dog suffered a death sentence simply because he’d had the misfortune of having irresponsible owners.”

  “That’s horrible. I’d never do that,” Joshua insisted.

  “I didn’t say you would. I was making a point—an extreme one, I know. But the bottom line is, teaching puppies to follow rules and respect your status as pack leader will make for a happy and healthy dog.”

  “Mmm, I kind of like the notion of being a pack leader.”

  Nash stretched out on Joshua, grabbed the back of his hair, and tugged. “Don’t get any ideas, boy. The pup is the only one you’ll be leading. I’m the boss, period. Got it?”

  Joshua grinned wryly. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Sir.”

  “Good answer.” He kissed Joshua until they were both breathless, before rolling over to lie next to his boy. “Hear that?”

  Joshua’s brows stitched together. “I don’t hear anything.”

  “Exactly. We won this round.”

  “Whatcha want to do to celebrate, Sir?” Joshua wiggled his ass, leaving no doubt as to how he wanted to celebrate.

  Nash slapped his ass. “Simmer down, boy. I suggest we get some sleep while the princess is dozing. I seriously doubt the quiet will last for long, and you’re still getting up in—” Nash glanced over at the digital clock on the side table. “—four and a half hours to get my coffee ready.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Joshua said, actually looking a bit relieved.

  Nash pulled him close once again and wrapped himself around his boy, taking in his warmth. “Night, boy.”

  “Good night, Sir.” Joshua pressed a soft kiss to Nash’s chest. “And thank you for the best birthday ever.”

  Nash’s chest tightened. “You’re welcome.” He drifted off to sleep with a pleased feeling filling him and a smile on his face.

  Chapter Sixteen

  RAISING A puppy was a lot more work than Joshua could have imagined. Hazel was super smart and eager to please, but holy hell, was she a bundle of raw hyper craziness. If she wasn’t chewing on the corner of the table, Joshua was chasing after her to rescue a shoe. One minute she was licking his face; the next trying to rip his fingers off. Outside to pee, inside, outside to poop, inside, outside to play, inside, outside t
o bark at a leaf, inside. In and out, in and out. Three days of rain meant dirty paws and numerous baths because puddles were just too tempting to resist running through. Still, Joshua wouldn’t trade her for all the money in the world. Those moments when he finally got a second to relax from his chores and sit down for a moment, there was nothing more satisfying than doing it with a snuggly pup in his lap. Another satisfying event was watching Hazel and Nash fight for the title of alpha.

  “Joshua!” Nash yelled from the other room.

  The irritation in Nash’s voice had Joshua dropping the towel he’d been using to dry dishes and rushing to Nash’s office. “What has she done now?”

  Nash sat back in his chair and pointed down. Joshua went around the desk to see Hazel trying to divest Nash of his sock. “She is having a difficult time with the rules. She simply doesn’t respect my authority.”

  “Now you can’t blame a girl for her fetishes, can you?”

  “The hell I can’t.”

  Nash sounded all growly, but he couldn’t hide the slight curl of his lip or the fondness in his tone. He wasn’t immune to Hazel’s charm. Joshua lowered his head and swallowed down his laughter. He went to his knees, and Hazel instantly released her hold on Nash to rush to Joshua. She jumped in his lap, laid her paws on Joshua’s shoulders, hugging him, and licked his ear.

  “I was just finishing up the dishes. I’ll take her out and let her run off some of this energy.”

  “I was about to take a break myself. I’ll go with you.”

  “Awesome, let me grab her leash.” He wished he could let Hazel run free. Eventually he’d be able to, but for now he simply didn’t trust her. Normally she needed to be near either him or Nash, but out in the open…. Squirrel!

  The ground was still damp from the rainy weather, but the sun was out and the temperatures were quickly moving toward the eighties. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and with Nash’s hand in his and Hazel running around happily, it made it all the better. Joshua couldn’t remember ever being this happy. Sure, panic and self-loathing tried to rear their ugly heads from time to time, but with how needy Hazel was and his adjustment to the added work, he would have little time to dwell on them.