Joycelyn woke up to the sound of Ellison’s voice, and her eyes fluttered open to see him standing in the doorway, his expression a mixture of surprise and irritation. The warm, comforting feeling she had shared with the puppy the night before quickly evaporated as reality set in.
The puppy, still nestled in her arms, stirred and stretched, its tiny paws digging into the blanket. Joycelyn’s heart sank as she realized just how ridiculous the situation must look to Ellison. She tried to sit up, but the puppy’s little body made it impossible to move too far without disturbing it.
“Uh…” she began, feeling the need to explain herself but unsure how to put it into words. She smiled sheepishly, “I didn’t want it to be lonely. It’s just a baby, and it was really scared last night.”
Ellison’s gaze didn’t soften, though his voice became more controlled. “So, you decided to sleep in a dog bed?” His words were calm, but the tension in his posture was palpable.
Joycelyn winced. “I know it’s probably not ideal, but I couldn’t leave it alone. It was crying, and I didn’t want to get in trouble for it… I just wanted to make sure it felt safe.”
Ellison let out a slow breath, stepping into the room but keeping his distance. “Joycelyn,” he began, his voice low and firm, “this is a little too much, don’t you think? You’ve let this dog take over your whole routine.” His eyes flickered to the puppy, who was still nestled contentedly in her arms.
She frowned but didn’t argue. She knew he had a point. Perhaps it was getting out of hand. But the puppy was just so sweet, and the idea of it being alone in a new place, scared and confused, tugged at her heartstrings.
“I promise it won’t be like this again,” she said softly, a hint of pleading in her tone. She shifted the puppy carefully in her arms, as if it might somehow ease the situation.
Ellison’s expression softened for a moment, though the tension remained. “You really have a soft spot for it, don’t you?” he asked, his tone quieter.
Joycelyn nodded, looking down at the puppy. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just… I just want to make sure it’s okay.” She glanced up at him, hoping he could see how much she cared.
There was a long pause as Ellison stared at her. He seemed to be thinking something over, his jaw tightening slightly. Then, to her surprise, he sighed.
“Alright,” he said after a moment, his voice more resigned. “But only for now. If it’s going to stay here, we need to set some ground rules.” His gaze shifted back to the puppy. “No more sleeping in the bed, and definitely no more sleeping in your arms. It needs to be in its crate, and it stays outside the bedroom, understood?”
Joycelyn bit her lip, reluctant but understanding. “Okay, I’ll make sure it stays in the crate from now on. Thank you, Ellison. I promise it won’t be a problem.”
Ellison gave a curt nod, though his features remained stern. “I’ll expect you to keep your word,” he said, his voice slightly warmer than before. “I don’t mind it being here, but it has to stay within reasonable limits.”
Joycelyn felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she smiled, feeling grateful for his compromise. “I won’t let it become a problem, I swear.”
As Ellison left the room, Joycelyn snuggled the puppy a little closer, feeling the weight of her promise settle on her shoulders. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, especially with Ellison’s clear reservations about dogs, but she was determined to make it work.
She didn’t want to be the cause of any tension between them, but she also couldn’t just turn her back on the little puppy who had found its way into her heart.
