Page 20 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

“That’s great.” He put the first plate in the microwave. “Do you have two chopping blocks? I’m awesome with tomatoes.”

“Fantastic, I’m good at peeling carrots.” I handed him the tomato and a knife.

We washed our vegetables and then set about fixing them.

He cut the tomatoes into chunks while, after I removed the top layer, I then peeled the carrot—planning to add the peels to the top of the salad.

Since he finished first, he tackled the green pepper while I swapped out the lasagna and heated the garlic toast in my mini oven.

Within about fifteen minutes we had piping-hot lasagna, toasty garlic bread, and a fresh salad.

Demetrius assured me he was a fan of vinaigrette dressing, so all was perfect. He grinned after the first bite of lasagna. “Allie didn’t lie.”

I laughed. “No, she did not. If you text to check on the kids, maybe compliment Smith? This is amazing.”

“It is. I still can’t believe they offered to watch the kids for the night.”

“I would’ve come into Vancouver if that was the only way to see you again.”

He licked his lips. “I might’ve had to ask. The kids are okay for a few hours, but I don’t want to leave them overnight.” He held my gaze. “We’ve decided to move to Mission City.”

My heart kicked into overdrive. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I would say it was two-against-one, but my heart wasn’t in it.

After two weeks in town, even though I was staying in the hotel, I could admit I saw us living here.

It’ll be an adjustment. For all of us. I’ve barely left Vancouver over the years.

Born and raised. Then raised my sisters and now my kids.

East Van is all I’ve ever known. And I haven’t traveled much—not like you. ”

“Toronto and Nova Scotia are hardly traveling.”

“You’ve never been anywhere but Canada?”

His question startled me. “Well, sure. Texas and New York for business. With the family to India every couple of years. Although my grandparents immigrated to Canada fifty years ago, my family still has strong ties to the old country. Obviously I haven’t gone in about eight years.

My last visit was the summer before my third year at university. ”

“Would you go back?”

I blinked. “As a tourist?”

“Well, yeah. Say if you had a couple of teenagers interested in getting outside of Vancouver…?”

“Uh, sure. I doubt I’d see my family. I mean, maybe my parents didn’t tell them about me…but I haven’t done anything to keep in contact with them. I sort of assumed everything had been severed. ”

“If going back would be too painful—”

“It’s not that.” I shook my head. “Until I took this job, I didn’t have the resources to pay for a trip.

To visit a country I’ve been to almost a dozen times and family members who might reject me.

” I looked away. To the sliding glass doors at the back of the cabin that led to a little private outdoor space that was away from the campers and prying eyes. “We should’ve eaten outside.”

“And get eaten ourselves by bugs?”

“I have stuff for that.” I directed my gaze back to him. “If you want to take Keegan and Alaina to India, I think that’s a great idea.”

“I’m getting ahead of myself.” He laid his fork by his plate. “I’m trying to discover more about you.”

“Just ask, Demetrius. Despite the fact I hold myself apart—for reasons we both know—I’m actually pretty honest about my life.”

“Okay.” He picked up his fork and poked at the last bite of lasagna. “Did you ever play again? After your last visit to What’sUp Pup?”

I speared a piece of lettuce with my fork.

“That’s a loaded question. The simple—and obvious—answer is no.

Gary threw away all my equipment, costumes, and toys.

Everything was gone when I packed up my things.

Well, I assume he threw them out.” I eyed the lettuce.

“I went to the Mission City Library and finally did an incognito internet search for him. Turns out he’s in jail for embezzlement.

Millions of dollars. I was like…” I flailed my arm around.

“I’ve only been gone six years. Fraud usually takes a long time to discover and investigate.

Unless the fraudster is stupid and gets caught easily. ”

“Well, you probably have your answer.” He swirled some cheese onto his fork. “So, no regrets?” He offered me a devious smile.

“I did the search before we went to Stavros’s. I thought he might’ve been the one to leave the dog treats—that he somehow knew I was back and was taunting me. ”

Demetrius’s fork clattered to the plate. “Jesus. I never thought…I was just…” He rubbed his face. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“You had no way of knowing. I got the gifts, and I panicked. If not Gary—”

“The Gnat.”

“—the Gnat.” Somehow, that made me smile. “Yeah, him. But if not him, then who?”

“I thought you recognized me but weren’t saying anything. I just…wanted to give you something. To remind you of our time together. To remind you of happy moments.”

“Yeah.” I sipped my water. “So that was unexpected for me. And buying treats for Queenie and Taffy was the first time I’d stepped into a pet store in six years. That…hurt. I love being Buttercup. I just don’t know if he can be part of me anymore.”

Demetrius also sipped his water. “Well, we’ve got twenty-four hours to figure that out—if you’re game.”

Intrigued, I cocked my head.

He smiled. “Okay, I didn’t bring my overnight bag into your cabin because I didn’t want to be presumptuous.

I’ll do that after I show you what’s in my bag—if you want me to stay.

Otherwise, nabbing a room at The Grand won’t be a hardship.

Or you can throw me in a cabin here for the night—I promise to behave. ”

“You’re thinking I’m going to kick you out?”

He shrugged. “I’m never quite sure what’s going to happen in life.

I can plan and try to predict and do my best to influence things.

In the end, though, I feel like I have little control.

I mean, I can make the proactive decision to move to Mission City—after my kids spend four days hounding me.

I can make appointments to see five houses tomorrow morning with a realtor and then take the kids to see the top couple of contenders, but I can’t guarantee our perfect house is out there. ”

Again, my heart rate increased. He was serious. He was moving to Mission City.

“You’re selling your place in Vancouver?”

He shook his head. Then nodded. “When I talked to Alessandra about this insanity—because she’s a really easy person to talk to—”

“It’s the social worker in her.”

“There is that. Anyway, she recommended that realtor, Cadence Crawford, to help me find a place in Mission City and he, in turn, knew a realtor named Juanita in Vancouver. She normally handles, uh, expensive places. But as favor to Cadence, she’s taking my sale.

She’s in there with a staging crew today.

I told her to leave the kids’ rooms as they were, but to do whatever needed to be done with the rest of the place. ”

“You’re not letting grass grow under your feet.”

“Nope.” He popped the p . “I’ve got schools to register the kids in. Extracurricular activities to sign up for.”

“Your work…?” I still wasn’t entirely certain what he did.

“Work from home on a flexible schedule. As long as I’m in Canada, I’m good.”

I wasn’t going to ask. If he wanted to share, he would. “So that’s that?” Things felt like they were moving at lightning speed.

“Only to do with me and the kids. They made their case. I listened. I explained the reality of their choice. They pretended to listen. We came to an agreement. But that doesn’t affect you and me.” He gestured between us both. “Whether we even see each other again is entirely up to you.”

“But you want to see me?” He’s here, right? So that’s a pretty stupid question .

“I do. I want to feel out what kind of relationship we might have. I’m as attracted to you as I was six years ago.

Only now I’m free to take it beyond Daddy/pup play in a club.

But you need to tell me what you want. Because frankly, Jai, I don’t see you as an open book.

I see a man who’s been hurt. A man in need of love and healing.

Whether that involves puppy play, some kind of physical intimacy, both, or neither will be entirely up to you.

I can be your friend, your lover, your Daddy.

Just one of those or all three. Or some combination.

I know it’ll be incredibly challenging—you’ve got camp and I’ve got the kids.

They know nothing about my lifestyle. I’ve told them I’m bisexual—so that part of any relationship won’t come as a surprise.

That’s if you even want them to know. But I’ll warn you now, I don’t like secrets. ”

“I don’t like secrets either.”

He nodded. “So we’re in agreement.”

Having that out of the way, my impish nature burst through. “Is Big D going to show me what’s in his bag?”

An eyebrow shot up, followed by a huge grin. “Pup, I thought you’d never ask.”