Page 26 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Demetrius

“ S top fidgeting. You look amazing.”

Jai pursed his lips.

“I think you look handsome.” I eyed his brilliant-blue sherwani with its intricate silver thread. “You’re doing this for Arnav.”

“Ha.” Jai rolled his eyes. “He probably won’t even be here.”

“Want to bet?” I arched an eyebrow.

“He’s here.” Another eye roll.

“And he looks just as good as you.” Arnav’s sherwani was a deep burgundy and suited him. Foster held his arm and grinned.

He probably feels as lucky as I do.

“You knew he was going to be here.” I feathered Jai’s hair.

He bristled.

I grinned. “This is Rashmi’s shindig.” Arnav’s sister had organized this fundraiser for a not-for-profit language school she was opening .

For which Jai had done all the accounting. Once the school was up and running, he would be able to put it into caretaker mode. It would require an hour or two a week and more during tax filing season.

Alessandra and Smith, thrilled with the project, had donated money. They were in attendance this afternoon—Smith in a tux and Allie in a shimmering silver ball gown. Truly, they were the fanciest dressed in the room.

Arnav and Rashmi’s sister Beena had worn jeans.

Most of the guests were somewhere in the middle.

I’d dug out a suit, had it dry cleaned, and now tried to look grown up.

Keegan and Alaina were in the playroom with Arnav’s more than a dozen nibblets. Parvan, now a confidant of Keegan’s, was helping corral the masses. How Arnav kept them all straight was beyond me.

“I’m glad Stephanie and Taryn are watching Gus and Gizmo.” Jai brushed at his sleeve.

“Jesus, stop fidgeting. Yes, the dogs are better off with Taffy and Queenie.” Gus was Alaina’s dog while Gizmo had bonded to Keegan instantly.

Torah was keeping every member of our family busy learning how to train these two wonderful—but incredibly obstinate—schnauzers.

School was starting next week, and the kids were ready. Keegan was even talking about getting a part-time job—since he was of legal age to work. I got the feeling he wanted to contribute . He was growing up way too fast. If he did work, I’d encourage him to save for either college or a car—or both.

Alaina, for her part, wanted to operate a dog-walking business.

Jai was taking her through how to start that up so she’d be ready—when she turned twelve—to launch her venture.

“What are you doing here?” A cultured woman’s voice caught my attention.

Jai stiffened.

Well, this isn’t going to be good.

Together, we turned to face an older Indian couple. Despite the gray hair and slightly stooped stature, I had no doubt I was facing Jai’s father. And, therefore, likely his mother as well.

“Hello Mother. Father.” Jai did a weird head bob.

“Why are you here?” Her voice was a little shrill, and her scowl didn’t match the happiness of her vibrant pink sari.

“Rashmi invited me. You remember I’m friends with Arnav?” He pressed his hand to my arm. “May I present my boyfriend? This is Demetrius Fulton. Demetrius, these are my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Prasad.”

“That boy was a bad influence on you. Look how you turned out.”

Apparently she was simply going to ignore me.

That was fine—I didn’t care for her much either.

But, red flashed before my eyes. How dare she insult two men I cared for deeply?

Jai, obviously. We were headed to the altar in the not-too-distant future.

The sooner the better, as far as I was concerned.

As well, Foster and Arnav had become dear friends.

We went back and forth between our houses all the time—them claiming they needed practice parenting.

For which Keegan and Alaina were mighty pleased to get the extra attention.

Which gave Jai and me desperately needed alone time as we worked to establish a relationship that worked for both of us.

Before I could react, though, she continued. “Does this one know you pretend to be a dog and like it?”

My jaw dropped.

Jai’s cheeks turned dark crimson .

I cleared my throat. “Oh yes. Jai is my beloved pup. And since you’re his mother, I guess that makes you a bitch.

I ask you to steer clear of Jai and my family.

We don’t need people like you in our lives.

Good day.” I grasped Jai’s arm and guided him away from the two people who were supposed to love him the most in the world.

“Jesus Christ, is she always that bad?” I’d maneuvered us right out of the hall and into the bright daylight.

The water reflected off the water, as we were down at the wharf.

A long silence followed, and I worried Jai might be in trouble, but he started laughing.

“You just called my mother a bitch.”

“Uh…” I winced. “Sometimes I speak before I think. It’s a fault of mine.”

He shook his head. “That was fucking brilliant. I could never have done that…but I’ll never regret that you had the courage to.

I’ve been worried about what might happen when I ran into them.

Mission City is small enough that it’s bound to happen.

” He grinned. “And now I know. I’ll just remind her she’s a bitch, and he’s… ” He frowned.

“The bitch’s husband.” I wrinkled my nose. “Or something. Oh, I know. We’ll ask Arnav—he has the best lines.” While Foster was placid, Arnav could stand up to anyone. With all those sisters, as well as a thriving law practice, he’d had plenty of experience.

“What if…” He winced. “What if one of the kids overheard? What if they tease Alaina and Keegan?”

I sighed. “That’s a legitimate concern. No one was near us when we spoke.

If your mother insists on telling everyone, there’s not much we can do except be honest with the kids.

I hope, though, that my comment gives her pause.

There’ll be blowback, and it’ll hit them right in the face.

You know Arnav’s not going to put up with that shit either. ”

He pursed his lips. “The kids.”

“Will always be our top priority, Buttercup.” I feathered his hair and used his nickname since we were alone. “We’ll deal with this when and if it comes up. Personally, I’m just fine with my kids never knowing what we’re up to in our own time.” I pressed a kiss to his temple.

“Is all okay here?” A tall Black man in jeans, a T-shirt, and a windbreaker approached.

I cocked my head.

“Oh, I’m Isaac. The harbormaster. I did the setup for the event, and then I’ll hang around in the background until it’s over.” He shrugged. “I apologize for intruding—”

I stuck out my hand. “Demetrius. And this is my boyfriend, Jai.”

Isaac shook first my hand, then Jai’s.

“Do you ever hold wedding receptions here? Heck, maybe even the ceremony?” Jai held the man’s gaze.

“If you want something small, we can certainly do that. There are larger venues—”

“No.” Jai shook his head. “This place is perfect. Small. Intimate. On the water. At sunset, I think.”

I blinked several times. “Yes. Just a few close friends.”

“We have openings for that.” Isaac eyed us. “For yourselves?”

We nodded.

I grinned. “So, I guess that makes us fiancés.”

“Yeah.” A grin spread across Jai’s face. “I guess that does.”

“Think Arnav and Foster will stand up for us?” Excitement rose within me. “Of course, Stephanie, Taryn, Alessandra, and Smith need to come.”

“And Kennedy, Cody, Grey, and Makenna.”

“Of course.” His camp family had warmly embraced my family, and we’d all celebrated when the last camp group had gone home last week .

“I know a celebrant, if you need one.” Isaac smiled.

“Oh, do you allow dogs? I’d love if Gus and Gizmo could come.” More excitement at the prospect of making our family complete.

The harbormaster nodded. “My dog Buddy frequently visits me at work. With my husband Ben, of course.”

I squinted. “Okay, that wouldn’t be Ben the French Immersion teacher at Cedar Street Elementary, would it?”

Isaac’s face broke into the widest grin I’d ever seen. “Why yes, that’s my husband. Damn fine teacher. Great guy. You have kids in the school?”

“Our daughter is starting next week. We’re new in town. Well, I am. Jai’s newly come home.”

“Ben and I were new to town when we arrived a few years ago. Mission City is a great place to raise kids.”

“ Our daughter. ” Jai repeated the words.

I nodded.

He turned to Isaac. “We have two amazing kids.”

“What are their names? How old are they?” He grinned. “I love kids. I mean, unless… You don’t need to return to the party?”

Jai shook his head. “We’ll collect the kids when it’s time to leave. So Alaina’s eleven going on thirty…” He continued on for several minutes about our kids.

Isaac asked insightful and kind questions—truly curious about our two.

I let the words wash over me as I gazed out over the bright blue of the Fraser River. I might not have brought Keegan to Mission City—and Pride Camp—with the intention of finding a new home…but we had. I gripped Jai’s arm as he talked about Torah training the dogs and how wonderful life was .

I had to keep blinking so I wouldn’t cry. I told myself the reflection of the sun off the water was the cause.

In truth, I just hadn’t realized that, in finding my Buttercup, I’d find my happily ever after as well.

But I had.