Page 128 of Dr. Stone

“Oh, I read more on the website earlier,” Jace muttered. “He doesn’t train dogs. He aligns them with cosmic vibration.”

“So, do we Venmo him or sacrifice a goat?” Jake asked, crossing his arms while studying the psychedelic scene before us.

I crouched down slowly, watching Duke, who was now flat on his back, paws splayed out like he’d just received Reiki from one of the gods.

“Is he okay?” I questioned Orin.

“Better than okay,” Orin said without turning. “He’s rebalancing. Processing. This is a full-body energetic surrender. It’s beautiful.”

Ash whispered, “He’s giving the dog a chakra detox.”

“Oh, God,” Jake said.

“And Duke’s loving it, apparently,” I added with a laugh. “He hasn’t relaxed like this in months.”

“Nor have I,” Jace added. “Which is why we’re doing this.”

Orin finally rose from his kneeling position, the long folds of his robe floating around him like he was weightless. He faced us all, palms up in greeting.

“The trauma is leaving him,” Orin said softly. “He no longer feels your fear with him.”

Jace’s mouth opened. “My what? Huh?”

“Your fear. It bleeds into your scent,” Orin said gently. “You carry it behind your sternum. But you’re not broken, just heavy. Let the dog lead you back to lightness.”

“That little guy thinks I’m fearful of him?” Jace argued.

“No, good friend. He doesn’tthinkit, hefeelsit.”

“Shiiiit,” Jake said in a muffled laugh. “That dog has got your number, pal.”

Duke let out a sigh so long it sounded like he was releasing the grief of a thousand dog years.

“He really is amazing, isn’t he?” Ash said with her cute laugh.

“I don’t know if I want to tip him or run background checks on every dog he’s ever touched,” I said with a laugh.

“You mean healed,” Orin said, nodding in gratitude.

I looked back down at Duke—blissed out, eyes half-lidded, and snoring softly.

Jace did the same, looking past Orin when Orin returned his attention to Duke. “Well, Duke’s either channeling divine wisdom,” he said, “or he microdosed this morning and took us with him.”

Jake clapped his back. “Doesn’t matter. The dog’s chill, the girl’s smiling, and I haven’t been this entertained since Ash tried goat yoga.”

Ash nudged her husband in the side, “You make fun of all this shit, but look. It actually worked.”

“She’s not lying,” I said with a laugh.

“Well, Andie and I will put Orin’s work into action tonight and see if he’s cleansed of the past life demons he apparently dragged into this one,” Jace said with a laugh.

“Well, then, I expect a positive report on this bitch yapper in the morning,” Jake answered with one last sip of his coffee.

Jace

…later that night

We wereten minutes into what I knew was going to be a damn unforgettable night. Andie was beneath me, hair fanned across the pillow, with her breath catching in these soft, addictive little whimpers. Her legs were wrapped tight around my waist, her nails dragging down my back, and I’d just whispered something filthy about worshipping her until sunrise—when it happened.