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She rolled her eyes. “It’s so obvious. And, like, I want you to be happy. He obviously makes you happy.”

It couldn’t possibly be that simple.

Keegan held up his hand. “Like, I’m supposed to say it’s weird, right? My camp director moving in. Except Allie said we’d have a lot of changes. And that maybe making them all at once wasn’t a bad thing. If we’re pushing too hard…” He tapped his sister’s shoulder.

“It’s not that.” Demetrius gazed back and forth between his kids. “We shouldn’t have sprung this on you.”

“Is there ever a good time?” He held his dad’s gaze. “You taught me to accept who I was. I figure that goes for us accepting who you are.”

I held my breath.

Alaina scrunched her nose. “So you said two dogs.” As if she was quite over themove in with my dadconversation and ready to move on with what was really important.

“Queenie. She, uh, loves kids. Taffy lives next door. She might come over.” Because if they weren’t going to make a big deal out of it, I wouldn’t either. I had to trust Alessandra had known what she was doing.

Keegan’s eyes widened. “Two dogs? That’s so cool.”

I said a silent apology to Arnav and Foster for potentially disrupting them, but led the kids across the street.

Then that big bedroom is perfect for you and Dad. Just this easy acceptance from a young woman that she’d be sharing her father with a strange man. Keegan at least knew me—I was a complete outsider to Alaina. I couldn’t get over this.

We rang the bell and a chorus of barks came from inside the house. “I’d say it’s safe to assume Taffy’s over. Or another dog.”

“Oh hush.” A voice came from behind the door.

Foster’s?

“I’ve got them.” A female voice.

“Thanks Stephanie.”

Yep, Foster.

The front door opened and he greeted us with a grin. “What a lovely surprise!”

“You don’t mind—”

“Not at all. But I recommend you come inside before our wonderful pooches try to make a run for it.” He grinned as he beckoned us in and shut the door. “On their own, Queenie or Taffy would never bolt. Together? They’re hellbent on escaping.”

A stunning blonde woman loosened her grip on the dogs’ collars once the door shut.

Queenie attempted to make a beeline for Alaina, who had already dropped to her knees, and Taffy eyed Keegan.

“We should be making proper introductions.” The woman crouched. “Queenie, this is…”

“Alaina.” The girl held her hands in her lap, but clearly wanted the dog’s attention.

“Right. Queenie, friend.”

The dog’s tongue lolled. She gazed up at Foster.

He nodded.

She sniffed Alaina’s hand. Then rubbed against it.

“You can pet her.” Foster smiled.

“Thanks.” Alaina proceeded to do exactly that.