Page 24 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jai

I would never have suggested Demetrius drop that little bombshell in a crowded restaurant in front of strangers. His kids needed time to process. To express how they really felt.

Or so I’d believed.

Then Keegan said his mother had asked him to make sure his father found someone new to love. As far as he was concerned, apparently, he was off the hook.

Erlene never should have put that on his shoulders.

But if the end result was casual acceptance, I might be coming around.

Now we stood in front of D’s favorite of the two top choices. Alessandra, Smith, and Wesley had headed home after lunch.

We’d loaded the kids’ bags into their dad’s trunk and driven here—Alaina chatting the entire way, sharing everything she had learned about Mission City .

I’d caught Keegan’s gaze in the rearview mirror, expecting exasperation. Instead, he had a grin on his face. Something I had seen at camp—something I was grateful to see now.

“The other house was nice.” Alaina scrutinized the front of the second house we’d seen. “But I prefer this one. I love the front porch. We can sit out here with the dog—”

“On a leash.” Keegan’s contribution. He was very safety conscious. Almost too much. Something probably stemming from his mother’s untimely death. Something we’d have to keep an eye on.

“Right.” Alaina rolled her eyes. “But we can sit out here.” She gestured up and down the street. Several clusters of kids were doing…kid stuff. She turned to her dad. “Where do your new friends live?”

He pointed three houses over and across the street. “Arnav is best friends with Jai.”

She pivoted her attention to me. “Your friend who owns the dog?”

“Yes.”

“Can we go meet the dog?”

“We can go knock. Cadence and your dad have adult stuff to talk about.”

Demetrius met my gaze. “You like?”

“It’s your decision.”

He arched an eyebrow.

“Front porches are lovely for sitting and watching the world go by. A couple of rocking chairs and you’re good.”

Cadence chuckled.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Demetrius squeezed Alaina’s shoulder. “Good call.” He pivoted his attention to Keegan.

“As long as I get the blue room. I don’t want to repaint it—I love that color. ”

That bedroom happened to be a bit larger than the one Alaina would likely choose. The fourth would be for Demetrius’s office.

“I like the yellow room. Can I keep that color?” Alaina turned to me. “I don’t do pink.”

Cadence smothered a laugh.

I offered a bright smile. “Neither do I. I’m all about yellow or green.”

“Well then that big bedroom is perfect for you and Dad.” She pointed. “You said, dog?”

I blinked. Just like that? You and my dad are going to share a room? There’s no way that’s normal. Kids don’t just accept huge changes like that.

Demetrius caught my gaze as if asking what I thought.

I tried to convey my panic.

“Alaina?” He watched her as she turned to him. “You’re okay with Jai…?”

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 the move in with my dad conversation 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.

“Taffy, this is…?”

“Keegan.” He also crouched. “Hello Taffy.”

The woman guided the dog over. “She’s my beast. Whom I adore,” she quickly added.

I grinned as I met Foster’s gaze.

Taffy made her way over to Keegan.

“You’re so pretty.”

The dog cocked her head.

Keegan held out his hand.

Clearly, despite the fact their condo didn’t allow any pets, the kids had learned how to approach strange dogs.

Once Keegan was petting Taffy, the woman stood and offered her hand to me. “Stephanie.”

“Jai.”

We shook.

“Jai went to school with Arnav.” Foster grinned. “He’s recently come back into my husband’s life, and he’s tickled. Oh, Arnav is.” Clearly he felt clarification was necessary .

“I’m tickled as well. It’s nice to reconnect with good parts of my past.”

“So you’re from Mission City?” Stephanie smiled, her bright-blue eyes shining. “I am as well. Oh, and my brother Cooper. We were well behind Arnav in school, though.”

“Hey, babe… Oh.” A lovely redheaded woman stepped from the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her jeans and pointed to herself. “Taryn.”

“My wife.” Stephanie grinned.

I cocked my head. “You were on your honeymoon at the beginning of the month. That’s when I met Taffy.”

The dog woofed.

Both women laughed. “Uh, yes.” Taryn smiled. “My girl doesn’t always love strangers, but she seems good with your two.”

Before I could correct the assumption, Foster met my gaze. “Maybe you should introduce them?”

I laughed. A little awkwardly. “Yes. These are Demetrius’s son and daughter—Keegan and Alaina.”

Neither child looked up—both were clearly enthralled with the dogs.

Stephanie turned to Taryn. “Did you need something?”

“I was just going to head next door to grab the marinade. I completely forgot it.”

“I can go.” Stephanie gestured to the door.

Taryn shook her head. “You have fun with the pooches. I’ll be right back.” Carefully, she slipped past everyone and out the front door.

Neither dog attempted to follow her.

I apologized, “We’re interrupting—” Obviously some kind of meal.

“Not at all.” Stephanie glanced at Foster. “Sorry, it’s your house. I shouldn’t just be making myself at home. ”

He grinned. “You’re family.” He pivoted back to me. “Does everyone eat chicken or beef? I mean, unless you have other plans…”

My mouth sort of dropped open.

Stephanie pressed a hand to Foster’s arm, but held my gaze.

“We’re inviting you for dinner. My brother Cooper and Taryn’s brother Lachlan—who are now a couple and wow that’s a crazy story—were supposed to come over, but they got caught up in doing some renovation thing.

They’re getting ready to sell Cooper’s house and buying a bigger one, but they decided to just push through and finish the flooring.

It’ll take them until about midnight at the rate they’re going, so they bailed on us. We have enough food for ten.”

Foster waved. “We always cook way too much and love sharing.” He gave me a meaningful look.

“I’ll have to check with Demetrius.” I directed my gaze meaningfully at the kids. “Not my call.”

“Well, I want to stay.” Alaina didn’t break her loving gaze at Queenie. “Like, forever. Oh!” Now she did look up. “We’re buying the house down the street.” She pointed.

“The Singhs’s?” Stephanie nearly squealed.

“Demetrius is putting in an offer.” I was quick to make the correction, lest anyone think this was a done deal.

“Wow.” Foster slowly smiled. “We’ll be neighbors.” He cocked his head. “You and…” He winced.

“Dad and Jai are a couple.” Keegan grinned. “Jai’s moving in.” He frowned. “How does that work with camp?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “We haven’t worked out the details. I’ll need to stay at camp while the campers are there. Possibly during the entire summer season.”

“But we’ll see you, right?” Alaina pursed her lips. “I haven’t even seen this place. ”

“You might.” Keegan again smiled. “They’re thinking about a camp with siblings of queer kids. Right?”

I blinked. “Well, yes. That’s under consideration for next year.” But we hadn’t told anyone.

“Alessandra.” Keegan shrugged, as if sensing my confusion. “She said something about it. I think it’s a great idea.”

“That’s right.” Alaina nodded. “I said it would be cool.”

Stephanie cocked her head.

“I’m gay.” Keegan puffed out his chest. “That’s how Jai and Dad met. Jai’s the director of the camp.”