When I get home, Ditra lets me cry on her while Billy keeps Lyric occupied. When they leave, Lyric and I gently take the bandage off Acorn’s leg and I explain to her that he’s very sick and needs to rest. I’m not ready to tell her yet that he’ll be leaving us. She’s tired and worried, and has asked if she can sleep on the couch in the living room with him. I want her to have this time with him so I pile the couch with pillows and blankets and put her favorite movie on.

After they’ve fallen asleep I kiss them both and then go to my room to take a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away the heavy burden of sadness I feel, but it doesn’t work.

I call Josh, not expecting him to answer since it’s Saturday night, but he answers on the second ring.

“I was just thinking about you,” he says when he picks up. “I’m eating the ice cream you left in the freezer.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Hey. Are you okay? You don’t sound right.”

“No… I’m not.”

“Christ. What did that asshole do now?”

“It’s not him, Josh. It’s Acorn. He’s really sick. He has cancer.”

“What? When did this happen? I just saw him two weeks ago when you moved and he was fine.”

“I know. It happened so fast. I can’t believe it. I’m going to have to put him to sleep, and I just don’t know how I’m going to tell Lyric or how I’m going to get through this…”

“Piper,” he says softly. “I’m sorry. I love that dog.”

“I know you do. My heart just hurts.”

“I’m gonna come over.”

“Really? Can you?” We haven’t had a chance to see each other since I moved into the new house. We haven’t talked about the date he mentioned, or the kiss we shared, but I would love to see him right now.

“Yeah. I’ll be there in half an hour.”

“Come in the back door. Lyric’s asleep on the couch.”

“Got it. See ya in a few.”

I wait in the kitchen for Josh to arrive, and we quietly go to my bedroom and close the door halfway so we don’t wake Lyric. He immediately pulls me into a hug.

“You’re so sweet for coming over,” I say, looking up at him. “Thank you so much.”

“Stop. I’m always here for you.”

I lean up to kiss his cheek and then pull away to sit on the bed, and he follows me. “I don’t know what to do, Josh. This is the worst decision I’ve ever had to make. I mean, this is his life.”

“What did the vet say? There’s really nothing they can do? Chemo?”

I shake my head. “No. It’s too far gone and he’s too old. She thinks he’s sixteen years old. I honestly had no idea he was that old. Blue told me he had him for two years so I just assumed he was two years old when I met him.”

“That is old for a dog, Piper. And he’s had a good life. You treat that dog like he’s a baby.”

“I know… I just don’t want to do the wrong thing.”

He reaches across the bed and holds my hand. “What does the vet think you should do? What does your heart tell you to do?”

“She said if it was her dog, she would let him go before he gets worse. And my heart wants to keep him because I’m selfish. I also want him to go peacefully and not suffer for weeks or months.”

He nods. “I think that’s the right thing to do. And think of Lyric, you know how sensitive she is with things like this. I don’t think she could handle watching him get worse. She loves that dog like crazy.”

“I know,” I say tearfully. “But how am I supposed to tell her I’m taking him away forever?”

“She’s a smart kid, Piper. She’ll be upset, but I think she’ll understand.” He pauses and locks eyes with me for a few moments. “We can tell her together, if you want.”

“Would you do that with me? I think hearing it from both of us would be better for her.” Having him here with me, being so understanding, is making me doubt whether I made the right decision by moving out. Josh may not be Lyric’s father, but he’s the closest thing she’s had. Now I’m not sure if pulling her out of his life was right or wrong.

“Of course I’ll do that with you. I love Lyric,” he says, then adds, “I love all of you.”

The way he says all of you makes my heart clench. I’m not sure what’s changing with him, but there’s definitely something going on.

“We love you, too.”

His gaze drops to our hands. “I think I’ve been falling for you,” he says. “And I’ve been in denial about it for a long time.”