Page 6 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Six

Demetrius

“ N o problems finding the place?” Foster offered a broad smile when he opened the front door Monday night.

“Not at all. Glad you didn’t set the time earlier, though. Some yahoos were setting off firecrackers half the night. I hadn’t thought to bring earplugs—which would be helpful with the trains as well. This seems counterintuitive, but apparently downtown Mission City can be a noisy place.”

Foster laughed. “Especially the corner where the Grand Hotel is located. That’s a major intersection—and there are few of those.” He gestured for me to follow him in. “I’m also from Vancouver and accustomed to more noise. Up here, where we’re near the end of a dead-end street? Barely a whisper.”

As if on cue, two dogs came tearing into the foyer, yapping like crazy.

My host slammed the door. “Queenie!”

The smaller dog’s jaw snapped shut .

“Good girl.” Foster pivoted his attention. “Taffy.” Less bite and more…pleading?

She eyed him before finally closing her mouth as well.

“You’re such good girls.” He cooed that, producing some kind of bacon-resembling thing from his pocket. He broke off two pieces. “Sit.”

Both dogs plopped onto their butts.

“Down.”

Again—compliance.

“Good girls.” He gave them each a piece.

Taffy licked her chops and then headed back from where she’d come.

Queenie continued to stare.

Foster held out his hands. “Nothing.”

She eyed the pocket where he’d tucked the rest of the treat.

He shook his head.

After what felt like forever, she eyed me for a moment, then headed toward the back of the house.

“Did your dog just shrug?”

“As in I had to try? Yep, that’s Queenie. All rescue and all attitude.”

“She’s adorable.” I didn’t just love human pups.

“She’s a handful. We got her as soon as we moved in. I always wanted a dog as a kid. As did Arnav. Next, we’re hoping to be blessed with foster kids. Or adopting. We just want to help kids in need. I know what it’s like. Being a foster kid,” he clarified.

I held up the fruit tray I’d brought because I wasn’t certain how to react to that level of pain—even if transitory.

His face lit. “Blueberries!”

“And cherries, watermelon, as well as strawberries. No cantaloupe. That stuff’s nasty. ”

Dark-brown eyes flashed amusement. “Don’t tell Arnav that.”

I mimed zipping my lips.

“Come through to the back. Fortunately the bugs aren’t too bad yet. Near the end of the season, it can get nasty.”

“How long have you had the house?”

The sand-colored two-story brick house resembled the others on the street.

Kind of like Nan’s house back in East Van.

I’d been sorry to sell it, but I’d needed the money to pay for Imani’s and Malaya’s educations.

No bank would give a twenty-one-year-old, who was supporting his eighteen-year-old twin sisters, a mortgage.

Even if the property was paid off. And I’d been forced to sell during a downturn in the economy.

Today that house was worth five times what I sold it for nearly twenty years ago.

Yeah…that still stung.

But Imani was a forensic pathologist for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Malaya was an urban planner for the City of Langley. Both important jobs that required serious amounts of education.

Which I’d been happy to pay for. They’d graduated debt-free and were able to start their new lives, far away from East Van.

Imani lived in a condo in the west end of Vancouver, while Malaya, her engineering husband, and their two sons, lived on a farm near Langley.

My sister was not a farmer. At all. Instead, they leased their blueberry fields to a local grower.

Along with the extra income, they got free berries for about a month a year.

“We’ve been in the house about six months.” Foster put the tray on the counter.

I pulled my thoughts back to the present.

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret—Arnav and I haven’t been together that long. We met and…” He interlaced his fingers .

“Ah.”

“I’d given up looking. I considered myself washed up—”

“Hey.” I frowned.

He wagged his finger at me. “I considered myself. I’d been out of an abusive relationship for almost five years, but I still hadn’t come out.

I rented a nice place in Mission City, but I didn’t have deep roots here.

Hell, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere—except the construction sites.

The company I work for focuses on low-income housing.

I got a sense of satisfaction from that, at least.” He opened the fridge.

“Cola, diet cola, ginger ale, fizzy orange, root beer, or an actual beer?”

“Not a drinker.” I put the fruit tray on the kitchen island.

“Neither are we.”

“But you have a sweet tooth.” I had to tease.

“We have so many nieces and nephews I can’t keep track—all Arnav’s. He loves to send them home high on sugar. Somehow thinking his sisters will never send their children back.”

“And they continue to?”

He offered me a wide grin. “Funny that—free babysitting.”

“Orange fizzy sounds great—I haven’t had one of those in ages.”

“They’re nice. One of Beena’s girls likes them. And…” He squinted. “One of Minal’s boys.”

“How do you keep them straight?”

He gestured to a drawer. “I have a notebook. A very full notebook.” He offered a hint of a smile. “I want to be the best uncle ever.”

I cocked my head. “I’m sure you are.”

“How do you know?” He didn’t appear offended…just truly curious.

“Instinct. I mean, anyone who keeps a book with notes about someone else’s kids is pretty damn special.”

“That’s what I keep telling him.” Arnav opened the screen door and stepped inside. He removed his sunglasses. “Glad you’re here.”

I pointed to the fruit tray. “No cantaloupe.”

His face fell.

Foster laughed his ass off.

I sipped my fizzy orange drink, hiding a smile.

“Just see if I give you the prime cut of beef.” Arnav jutted his chin.

Foster slung an arm around his waist and placed a kiss to his husband’s temple. “Be nice.”

“I’m always nice.”

The doorbell rang.

The two dogs, who had been snoozing on respective beds, leapt up, started barking their heads off, and tore off toward the front of the house.

Arnav pointed at Foster. “You’re the bad influence.”

“You’re really going to try that with me?” He grinned. “I blame Taffy.” He turned to me. “My neighbor is on her honeymoon with her new bride. As a gift, we offered to watch the holy terror.”

“Hey.” Arnav called over his shoulder as he walked down the hall. “Taffy is a sweetheart. Aren’t you, darling? Now, can you please stop barking?” All said in a very sing-songy voice.

“Queenie? Taffy? Treats.” Foster winked.

Nails clacked on the hardwood floor as the two dogs raced into the kitchen. Both dogs dropped to their butts.

Foster removed the jerky, split it in two, and eyed them.

They vibrated with excitement.

“It’s just this way.” Arnav’s voice carried.

Foster gave each dog her treat.

“Oh.” A startled exclamation had me turning.

And facing Jai .

Who appeared stunned.

“You two know each other, right?” Arnav moved to the fridge. “You still like root beer?”

“You remembered? Uh, yeah. Thanks.” Still Jai held my gaze.

“We should’ve probably told you Demetrius would be here.” Foster took the can from his husband and poured the drink into a glass. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. You don’t have some kind of conflict of interest or something, do you?”

“They’re not dating.” Arnav snagged a strawberry.

“It’s, uh, fine.” Jai shook his head.

But didn’t look the least bit at ease.

“I’m Foster.” The man stuck out his hand.

Jai shook it.

“I’m looking forward to hearing about all the shit my husband got into during his misspent youth.”

“Hey. My sisters have shared all.” Arnav gazed at me. “Seriously. Six sisters. Zero secrets.”

Slowly, Jai smiled. “I can think of a few—”

“Oh no, you don’t. We’re heading out to the barbecue. I have chicken marinating. Grab a strawberry.”

Jai complied and let himself be ushered out the back door.

“We can join them.” Foster offered a smile. “I told Arnav surprising each of you wasn’t a good idea.”

I waved him off. “No worries on my end. Jai sent me a report this morning. My son’s struggling, but did some canoeing yesterday. At least the boy knows how to swim. His mom was good about preparing them for life.”

“But not you?” He cocked his head .

“What? Oh, right. I didn’t get involved with the kids until they were five and three. Just an honorary uncle at first. Then I married their mom.” I shrugged. “Then she passed.”

“I’m so sorry. Must’ve been really tough, raising kids on your own.”

“Yeah, had its moments. Especially when some fine folk saw me out with two little white kids.”

“I get that.” He winced. “Mission City is still primarily white folk. The East Asian population is next in size with Indigenous after that. Not so many Black people, although that’s changing.

I’ve met a bunch of people in my time here.

My dentist is Black. The harbormaster is.

The arborist my company contracts. Two lawyers Arnav is forever fighting in court…

” He grinned. “And others as well.” He scrunched his nose.

“And most of the guys I just mentioned are gay and married.”

“And all from Mission City?”

“Not one of the lawyers. Oh, nor the harbormaster. I’m not, as I said. Despite Cedar Valley being very conservative—and very religious—I’ve encountered plenty of accepting people. Live and let live .”

“That’s great. I’ll admit I was surprised to find Pride Camp in Cedar Valley. But I read about the founders, and they sound like great people. I hope to meet them before the two weeks is up.”

Arnav opened the screen door and stepped inside. “Okay, you’re not going to believe this.”

Jai followed him, carrying a plate piled high with sizzling steak and chicken.

“What?” Foster opened the fridge, grabbed a bunch of bottles of salad dressing, and put them on the counter. “Serve yourselves.”

“I totally forgot that Minal said Parvan is at Pride Camp.” Arnav grinned. “Jai didn’t mention him by name, but I suddenly realized…” He met my gaze. “Minal is the youngest of my many sisters. Her husband’s nephew is at Jai’s camp. Isn’t that cool? ”

I met Jai’s gaze. I wasn’t reading ease—nor was he as uncomfortable as he’d been initially. I didn’t see a conflict of interest—he clearly wasn’t sharing anything personal about my kid—or the other kids. We weren’t dating.

Hell, I wasn’t even sure if he knew who I was. Much of the time, I thought not. But then he’d look at me a certain way, and I was sure he remembered.

“What kinds of dressing do you have?” I meandered over, eyeing the green salad with lettuce, tomato slices, green peppers, and shredded cheese.

“Ranch, Caesar, Italian, Thousand Island, and Blue Cheese.”

Jai and I both winced.

“Blue cheese?” My gaze shot between Foster and Arnav.

Foster pointed to Arnav who shrugged. “In my defense, I don’t love it. But eating it pisses Rashmi off, and that alone is worth the price of admission.”

At my frown, Jai actually smiled. “Rashmi is the…least strident of the sisters.”

“Oh really.” Foster’s eyes widened.

Jai cocked his head.

Arnav hooted, then threw his arm around him. “My friend, has the world changed since you’ve been gone.”

“Oh.” For a moment, Jai appeared…disconcerted.

“It’s all good.” Foster grinned. “I only know her as…” He winced. “I’m trying to think of an adjective that’s not going to get me into trouble…”

“Friendly? Courteous? Kind.” I didn’t know Rashmi, but surely she could be one or more of those things.

“Right. All of the above.” Foster’s brow unknit—clearly from relief. “And honest. Rashmi is nothing if not honest. ”

Another hoot from Arnav. “Oh, that’s so true.” He grinned at Jai. “You’re coming for dinner one Saturday night with the family.” He pivoted to me. “You too.”

I blinked.

“Jai will need someone to protect him from Rashmi while Mama fawns over him.” Arnav rolled his eyes. “Jai always was her favorite.”

“I’m not sure—” Jai started to speak.

“You have no idea how often Mama would say, why can’t you be like that good boy, Jai? ”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.”

He wagged his finger. “And don’t go thinking this was because I was gay. I was just…a hellraiser. Came from having six older sisters.”

“You were spoiled.” Foster handed me a plate and gestured to the food.

Green salad, corn, mashed potatoes, barbecue chicken, as well as steak.

“I don’t even know where to start.” I eyed the food.

Jai smiled. “From the beginning. Let me tell you about the first time I met Arnav.”

Foster perked up.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

I straightened. Sure, I was curious about Arnav’s childhood. I was more curious about Jai, though. How he’d grown up. And I was quite certain he wouldn’t be able to spill the beans about his friend without revealing more about himself. So I was all ears.