“I love the clinic,” Tyler sawed at his overcooked steak. “I’m home by five—plenty of time for a family.”

My mom’s toothy grin widened as she nodded. My dad grunted.

I felt a stream of sweat tumble down the small of my back, soaking into the itchy gray fabric of the dress my mom forced me to change into. It wasn’t meant for summer. The corn pile struggling to stay on my fork didn’t excite my stomach, but… 

“A few. I’d like to honor my father if we have a son.”

The corn, it’s… beautiful. Like his eyes.

I always knew he was handsome, but seeing him in front of me— his jaw, adoooorable dimples that I’d die for, those eyes filled with bad intentions—God would be jealous. His mane looks so…grabbable. I’d love to pull on it while he…

SAI.

Keep me, for the darkness is patient. I trust in you. I trust in the path you laid for me. I will not stray. I will not soil my family name. Keep me, for the darkness is patient. I trust in you. I trust in the path you laid for me. I will not stray. I will not soil my family name. Keep me, for the darkness is patient. I trust in you. I trust in the path you laid for me. I will not stray. I will not soil my family name.

“Sai? Youuu okay?”

“Hm?” I looked at Tyler.

“I asked if you had a favorite?”

“Oh… um. A favorite what?”

His blues were on me—his groomed fur as gray as his expression. He’s a normal guy. Fox. My height. His ears always perking forward, like nothing bothered him.

My mother cleared her throat, “Sai… help me in the kitchen.”   

I’ll apologize to him outside.

I stood from the table and followed my mom, her black dress flowing against her stiff walk.

In the kitchen, she said with a raised finger pointed at me, “You need to listen when Tyler talks to you. I thought you’d be excited, since this is your last chaperoned date.”

“Sorry. Bad timing brain ahaha.” I patted my head.

She frowned deeper, “I wish you didn’t shave half your head. It looks awful.”

My ears dropped. 

My mother reached to adjust her pearl necklace around my neck, and said, “We need Tyler to like you. Be present.”