| October 23 | Monday |

~ Sam's POV ~

The ringing of Megan's alarm disrupted my sleep. My body was begging for just a few more minutes as I groaned and rolled towards her side of the bed.

"Megan, turn-"

My words were cut short by the sensation of a small tongue running up my lips. The smell of puppy breath caused my eyes to shoot open.

"Oh God!" I said as I pulled back.

"She's just giving you morning kisses," Megan answered as she flicked on her lamp.

I wiped my mouth as I glared at my girlfriend. "I told you she wasn't allowed in the bed."

"It's my bed." Megan leaned over and kissed me, then Charlie. "I determine who sleeps in it."

I frowned.

Megan yawned. "Would you mind bringing her outside?"

Charlie sat near Megan's pillow, still and calm as she gazed at me. Her ears were perched and folded on the top. Only for a moment did I think she looked cute.

"What's in it for me?" I asked.

"You won't have to change and wash the sheets, because if you don't bring her out, she's gonna pee on them."

I looked at Charlie as she wagged her tail.

"Fine," I complied. "Let's go little devil!"

"Do not call her that."

"She likes it!" I claimed, pointing out Charlie's enthusiastic behavior. "Look!"

Megan just rolled her eyes before disappearing into the bathroom.

I hooked Charlie to her leash and carried her outside. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't six in the morning. Or if she would stop gnawing at her collar long enough to actually try and use the bathroom. God, why did I let Megan talk me into this?

Then after ten minutes of circling the same patch of grass, Charlie finally went.

When she was done, she looked up at me.

"You deserve a medal," I claimed before scooping her up in my arms.

It's not that I hated dogs, or animals in general. I just didn't trust myself.

Megan was responsible. She was punctual and able to multitask. Plus, she had those maternal instincts I seemed to severely lack. So it only made sense that she would be all for raising a dog.

But I knew it wouldn't be her who would be with Charlie the most. It would be me. And I was nothing like Megan.

What if I accidentally fell asleep and Charlie tore up a sofa cushion? Or peed on the nice rug because I forgot to let her out? What if she started choking on a bit of plastic!?

I flopped back down onto the bed and watched Charlie bury her face into the comforter. She sniffed around and continued with her puppy antics.

There were just so many things that could go wrong at the expense of my lack of responsibility, and Megan would forever be upset.

As I laid there and forced my eyes to stay focused on Charlie, I wondered if Megan looked at this as more of a test than just "raising a dog together". Kids were obviously something she had hinted at multiple times. I of course agreed because I loved her and didn't want to push her away.

Don't get me wrong, a puppy was one thing, but kids? That was an entirely different story.

But maybe Charlie was a test. Something to show Megan that I could take care of another life and enjoy it. Maybe she wanted to see if I could handle it.

And that thought alone motivated me to reach over and scratch Charlie's head.

She nibbled on my finger.

"You may be cute enough to fool Megan, but not I," I said. "I know you're not as innocent as you look."

Her light brown eyes just watched me as she continued to gnaw on my finger.

"It's too early to play," I protested.

Charlie continued to jump around on the bed.

"Come here," I demanded.

She refused to listen.

"Charlie."

She rolled onto her back.

"Charlie."

Her head popped up.

"Come here." I patted the spot next to me. "Sleep. Now."

Her ears were perched on top of her head. Those big brown eyes just stared at me.

I patted the bed again.

She pulled herself over to where I was and I smiled.

"Good girl."

She licked my face.

"Now lay down," I ordered while pulling her into my chest. "We'll play later."

I seemed to have succeeded in coaxing her to fall back asleep. Her head fell down and her body stretched out adjacent to mine.

Thank you, I thought.

But as soon as I closed my eyes, Megan walked out the bathroom, disrupting the silence.

Charlie's head popped up, and then she scrambled to her feet, which then trampled over my face as she raced for Megan.

"I'm not gonna be able to go back to sleep, am I?" I groaned.

"Not until she wants to nap," Megan said as she petted Charlie. "It's like a baby. You nap when they nap."

"I didn't sign up for this.

Megan looked at me. "Yes, you did, when you agreed to date me."

"The dog was your decision."

"The dog was a compromise."

"A compromise my ass!" I scoffed.

Megan just picked up Charlie, gave me her infamous eye roll and headed out the bedroom.

"I was talking to you, woman!" I continued, following behind her.

"You were being mean," Megan responded. "And I don't want Charlie being around all that negativity."

I watched my girlfriend set Charlie down and give her a play toy to occupy her. Megan then started her morning routine in the kitchen as Charlie teethed her bone.

"You and Charlie have so much in common," Megan claimed.

"Oh yeah?" I asked. "Like what?"

Megan started the coffee pot before walking over to me.

"You're both awfully adorable, really energetic, lovable..." Her finger tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "... still learning how to be domesticated."

I pulled away. "I am fully domesticated, thank you very much."

Megan laughed. "I'm teasing."

The morning proceeded as I accompanied Megan before she inevitably had to leave for the day. I was nervous to be left alone with Charlie, but Megan made sure to encourage me before she left.

"You'll be fine. Just pay attention," she claimed before she headed out the door. "Oh, and please don't forget to feed her."

So I fixed her breakfast as she sat at my feet, eyeing her as she eyed me from the floor.

"Alright Charlie," I said. "It's just me and you, and I need to get some things straight."

One of her ears perched up.

"Rule number one: Don't be a cock-block." I recalled yesterday morning. "That's the most important."

I set her bowl down.

"Rule number two: I'm in charge here. I like to let Megan think she's in charge, but it's really me."

Charlie's face didn't look up from her bowl.

"And rule number three: No licking my face. Seriously, that's just gross."

I let her eat in peace as I saved the dishes in our dishwasher and picked up her bowl after she was done. As I rinsed it out I could feel sleep threatening me again.

But Charlie seemed ready to play.

I threw myself on the couch and watched her battle with some toy Megan and I had bought her yesterday.

"Rule number four: Don't make a mess while I take a nap."

Then before I knew it I was out.

* * *

I woke with a jolt. Wait. Where was I? Where was the dog? And what the hell was that all over the house?

I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

Charlie sat there, on her stomach with a line of toilet paper hanging from her mouth. It made a trail from our bedroom to the living room, with flakes scattered all over. There was also a hole in a sock she must've found. Oh God, how long had I been out?

"Charlie no!" I scolded, snatching the toilet paper from her and cleaning up what I could on the way. I picked up the sock and trashed that as well.

After I finished cleaning, I heard my phone ring.

It was Megan.

"Hey," I answered breathlessly.

"You okay?" she asked. "How's Charlie?"

"Oh, she's great. We were just uh..." I looked at Charlie. "Playing. I'm trying to wear her out."

"So you're bonding?"

I sighed. "I guess you can call it that."

Charlie wasn't impressed with my lying.

"Okay, well, I just wanted to check on her," Megan claimed.

I sat on the couch. "I'm starting to think you like the dog more than me."

There was a pause. "It's a... possibility."

"Megan!"

"I'm just kidding!" She laughed. "I love you both equally."

"Sure," I replied.

"I gotta go," Megan said. "But give Charlie kisses for me."

I sighed. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

"Stop being such a meanie, Samantha!"

Then she hung up.

I peered down at my phone in disbelief. How dare she hang up without telling me she loves me!

I picked up Charlie to bring her outside.

"Rule number five: I get kisses before you when Megan comes home."

* * *

" – and so I told him; If you don't like the way my drinks taste, you can shove it up yours!" Quinton exclaimed.

Apparently, the joke was supposed to be funny, but I was too exhausted to laugh.

Sara nudged me. "You okay? Usually you would've found that hilarious."

I sighed. "Yeah, it was. I just... I'm exhausted."

"Long day?"

I leaned against the counter. "Megan and I got a new puppy and she's a handful."

"You got a dog!" Sara exclaimed. "Oh, show me some pictures!"

I peered down at my phone and realized I didn't have any. Suddenly, I felt bad.

"Ah, I don't have any."

"You didn't take any pictures of your puppy?" Quinton wondered. "Who does that?"

"A heartless person!" Sara shoved my shoulder. "You better text Megan and have her send you some pictures so we can see her."

I did as I was told because the last thing I wanted was for Sara and Quinton to nag at me all night while I was already too exhausted to run the floor of Jinx.

But they were right. How could I not have any pictures of Charlie on my phone? Was I seriously that callous?

When Megan sent over pictures I allowed Quinton and Sara to fawn over them.

"It's so precious!" Sara said. "What's its name?"

"Charlie," I answered. "And she's not as innocent as she looks."

"Oh, I'm sure," Quinton answered.

Once they were finished with the pictures I took back my phone.

"Why do you seem so opposed?" Sara wondered.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's just... we have a lot going on right now. Megan with school and me with this place... I just didn't think it was time to adopt."

"Maybe..." Sara leaned on the bar. "But when has something great ever happened when you were comfortable?"

I remained silent as I heard the chatter of a booth on the far wall. Quinton poured a beer as he eyed me.

"Never," I answered.

"So, look at Charlie as a great thing that came along when you most needed it." Sara shrugged. "Dogs can also be great stress relievers."

"You've obviously never raised a puppy," I countered.

"Yes, I have," she protested. "It gets better after a few months of training."

"A few months?"

"It passes fast." Someone walked through the door. "But you've gotta work with her every day."

Maybe Sara was right. Maybe I was being a little too harsh on the dog. Granted, I had never raised one or had one while I was a kid. My parents weren't animal people either. Plus, after I got trampled by that Great Dane when I was a kid, they were afraid of adopting in fear of scarring me any further.

But if what Sara was saying was true, then maybe Charlie just had to grow up a bit. Once she was trained and actually listened, then maybe she would grow on me more.

I just had to give her a chance.

* * *

I quietly let myself into the apartment and locked up. I figured Megan and Charlie were asleep in bed, which still annoyed me. I didn't like the idea of Charlie sleeping between me and Megan, but I knew fighting with my girlfriend about it would be pointless.

I crept into our room and saw the lamp was still on, which allowed me to see Charlie curled up into Megan. They were both fast asleep as I moved closer to them.

Megan's eyes popped open before Charlie's.

"You're home," she whispered, which then woke the dog.

I moved onto the bed. "I wish I could've taken a picture of you and Charlie just now."

"Did we look adorable?"

I laughed. "Yes."

I kissed Megan and Charlie tried to kiss me. At first I pulled away, but when I remembered what Sara said, I decided to stop being such a scrooge.

"Hey Charlie." I laid down and petted her. "Did you miss me?"

And I let her lick my cheek. She still had that distinct puppy breath, but I looked past it. Megan beamed as a wide smile stretched across her lips.

Okay, maybe I could get used to coming home to this.