Page 36 of Fragile Hearts

That little shit.

“Mochi!” I whisper-shout, hoping he listens and just comes back in here, but that’s wishful thinking.

Climbing from my bed, I tiptoe down the hall, calling Mochi’s name, but he still doesn’t appear. Luckily, I can hear Owen’s shower running, and I poke my head into his bedroom and find it empty.

Mochi’s on Owen’s bed, his fluffy tail wagging like crazy, so damn proud of himself, but I need to get him out of here before Owen gets out of the shower.

I scoop him up, tucking him into my side, and we return to my room, where I promptly set him down on the bed, telling him to stay put.

But he has other plans, and again, he jumps off the bed, the sound of his claws scampering to Owen’s room filling the silence of the house.

Instead of going back to get him, I call out, “Fine, stay in there, you little shit.” Letting out a laugh, I close my door and get back in bed.

Seconds later, Mochi’s scratching at my door. And I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to have trouble falling asleep, but it wasn’t Mochi that I thought would be keeping me up.

“Oh my god, Mochi,” I groan, dragging myself from the bed. I open the door to let him in. But instead of coming back in, he runs from me, tearing down the hallway like it’s the Indy 500 and straight into Owen’s room.

“I’m not chasing you!” Laughing harder now, I shake my head at Mochi’s silliness, but it’s late, and I want to go to bed. “I’m closing the door. You get to sleep with Owen tonight.”

I feel ridiculous talking to the dog, but I still do it.

And I repeat what I just did a few moments earlier. Closing the door, I’m back in bed, smiling as I think about this night.

The kiss.

Sharing with Owen.

His body warm and comforting.

I close my eyes only to have them open a second later when a soft knock comes on my door.

“Sloane?” I hear Owen’s voice, and again, I’m laughing.

“Come in!”

He pushes open the door, standing in the doorway, Mochi under his arm. Owen has the cutest smile on his face, that dimple that I love appearing on his cheek.

“Someone is being a little needy tonight. He doesn’t seem to want his mom and dad apart. I tried to boot him out into the hallway and close my door, but he just scratched at it. And every time I got in bed, he just barked at me and ran toward your room.”

“Mochi is trying to be a little matchmaker. And now you’re calling yourself a dad, huh?” I say, trying hard not to let Owen shirtless in my doorway distract me.

But shit, it’s so damn hard, and before I know it, the words are out of my mouth.

“Why don’t you just sleep in here with me tonight?”

“You sure?” I blurt out, surprised she’s even suggesting it. I know we had a moment before and everything, but this feels like a whole new level now. Sharing a bed together.

“I mean, only if you want to. It’s fine?—”

“I want to,” I quickly say.

Sloane smiles, giving me a small nod as she says, “Okay then.”

I step into her room, Mochi bouncing in my arms, already excited because he’s figured out what’s happening. I do have to hand it to the little guy. He did well to orchestrate all of this.

I drop him on the bed, and he dances around, yipping his cute little bark as Sloane slides over to make room for me. Lifting the duvet, I slip in beside her, resting back against the headboard as Mochi turns in a few more circles before finally settling at Sloane’s feet.

“He seems happy now,” I say, pointing at the dog.