Page 32 of Until Joy

I heard them all shout ‘Polo.’

I headed for Hope, knowing she would love being chased. I cried out ‘Marco’ again. I heard her respond. I was close, but not too close.

I lunged. “I’ve got you!”

I splashed the water and came up empty. Hope’s joyful giggles filled the air. “You missed me, Aunt Joy.”

Keeping my eyes closed, I called out. “How did you escape? That’s not fair.”

Hope laughed louder. “I’m really good at this game.”

“She is, Aunt Joy,” one of July’s sons shouted.

I turned around and shouted, “Marco!”

I felt something touch my leg and whipped around. Strong arms hooked around my waist. “Polo,” Graham whispered into my ear, and I melted into his chest.

“You lost, Uncle Graham,” Hope yelled.

“I’m thinking he won, Darling,” Jax told his daughter.

Chapter 9

I jumped when I heard a knock at the front door of the clinic at eight o’clock. It took more than a minute for my heart to stop racing. Logic told me that everything was fine. It wasn’t the first time that someone had come late with a sick or injured pet. But still, being here by myself at night wasn’t always my favorite thing, despite all my babies.

I went over to the CCTV panel, where I could see who was out front.

Graham!

What was he doing out there?

I didn’t remember him having a pet. And he wasn’t holding a pet carrier; it looked like a bag. I looked closer. It was a brown bag with a receipt stapled to the front. That crazy man brought food.

Giggling, I headed to the front.

“Hello? Can I help you?” I asked through the glass door.

“Yes,” he answered politely. “You could let me in before our dinner gets cold.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s eighty degrees outside, I don’t think it’ll get cold. Do you have a pet emergency? This is a veterinary clinic.”

Graham pursed his lips. “It’s going to be like that, is it?”

“Be like what?” I answered innocently.

“You blew me off for lunch this week, so I figured I would find a way for us to have dinner instead.”

My hands hit my hips. “I’ve explained this already. I did not blow you off. I had already promised to babysit. I couldn’t back out for a date. It wouldn’t be right.”

I watched as Graham’s finger tapped against the bag. It was the only sign of irritation he showed.

“You’re right. When you make a commitment, you shouldn’t back out.”

I smiled reluctantly. “Even if I would have preferred going out with you.”

His eyes brightened. “You would have?”

“Absolutely, I would have.”