Dom laughed. "I think a full grown Aikita and Great Dane are a little large to be called fur balls. It would be great to get things back to normal though. Irisa has been busy with the band working on a new record. I know she'll appreciate it when you can help out again."
Adam picked up his glass. "You're one of the few people Bear trusts when Gemma and I aren't around. Having you back would help out a lot. I hope it works out by then."
"Cool." Feeling more settled, Liam dug into his food. Watching his friends' dogs had started a few years earlier when the guys needed someone they trusted who would be home in L.A. during the team's road trips. He loved those dogs. They helped fill the hours when his friends were away.
Slade raised his brow. "Does Claire even like dogs?"
Liam paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "I don't know."
He'd never even thought about it, but considering he had the dogs with him for essentially half of baseball season, he'd better find out. If their relationship continued the way it had been, they'd be spending a lot of days and nights together. She would probably have an opinion about two dogs that each weighed over one hundred pounds wanting to sleep in their bed. "I'll text her now. What time were she and Savanna supposed to be finished at the spa?"
Slade shrugged. "Beats me. She said she’d text me after they’d finished."
He patted his pocket and swore. "Damn phone is still in the car."
Adam turned to Slade. "Speaking of Savanna, you seem more settled lately. Is she why?"
Slade spent a minute poking his food with his fork. "She matters. A lot. But I don't know what I'm doing there. Feels like I'm at the plate, with a full count, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, and my next swing has the potential to win us the championship or lose us our chance."
Liam exchanged glances with Adam and Dom. He didn't have any advice to offer his best friend. He wasn't an expert on relationships.
Dom patted Slade's shoulder. "But you're a pro at remaining cool and patient up there, even when working on a full count or fouling off ten in a row."
Adam nodded in agreement, but Liam frowned. "What the hell does that even mean?"
"That he won't be able to predict what's thrown at him, so he needs to relax and enjoy the relationship, not freeze up and over-think his every move."
Liam was impressed. "You're pretty smart about this relationship stuff."
Dom chuckled. "I don't know if I'd go that far. But I do know that if you're always focused on what's coming next, you miss a lot of great moments along the way."
When they returned to Slade's car, Liam hopped in the passenger seat and grabbed his phone from the console.
Missed call: Claire. Three hours ago.
Slade slid his phone it the space Liam's had vacated. "Savanna just sent a text. She's at Claire's apartment."
"Oh, they're back from the spa already?"
"They didn't go. Seems Claire had car trouble on the way."
Frowning and concerned, he listened to Claire's message about being stuck and needing a ride. Her voice and tone were flatter and thinner, like she was upset but pretending hard not to be. He hated not having been there when she'd needed him. "We should go over and see them."
He made Slade stop so he could get flowers and wine. Half an hour later, they knocked on Claire's door. As soon as she opened it, he shoved his gifts at his friend and pulled Claire into his arms. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me."
"It's okay." Her voice was muffled by his shirt. "I managed. And Savanna came to my rescue."
"Still." He brushed his hand over her hair and continued to hold her against his chest. "What happened?"
"A dog ran into the road and I swerved to avoid it. Messed up my tire and rim pretty bad. I don't even care about the car. I'm just so glad I didn't hit the dog."
He leaned back enough to stroke her face. "You like dogs?"
"Love them. But I could never have one growing up because two of my sisters are allergic."
He grinned. He couldn't wait to introduce her to Champ and Bear. "You could get your own now."
Or, they could get one together.
The immediate suggestion popped into his mind and stopped his hand mid-caress. Buying a pet together was something people did after moving in together. He was jumping ahead, too far and too fast.
"I've been thinking about it." Claire unwound from his hold and stepped back. Hitching her head to the side, she motioned for them to come inside. "I can't decide if I want something huge or something tiny."
"We'd have to make sure it plays well with Champ and Bear." Still struck by the let's buy a puppy together thought, he followed her into her living room. "They're really friendly though. Good dogs."
"Who are they and why do they need to get along with my future pet?"
"When Dom and Adam go on road trips, they leave their dogs with me." He tugged his phone from his pocket and thumbed through photos until he landed on one of the dogs.
Her eyes widened, and then a smile curved her lips. "They're massive."
"They still think they're lap dogs." He tapped another photo of him on the couch, buried under the pair. "See?"
"Aww." Chuckling, she leaned against his side. "But I've been to your place when the team has been away. Where were you hiding the dogs? Your place is big, but I'm pretty sure I would've seen or heard them."
"Believe me, you wouldn't be able to miss them. I haven't been mobile enough to keep them since I've been laid up with the broken ankle. But since recovery is going well, I should be able to watch them during the first road trip after the All-Star game."
"I can't wait to meet them."
Liam pocketed his phone.
