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It happens one day out of the blue. Kojo doesn’t even know what to think because that morning Tim left the house alone. He looked sullen like he always did, but he seemed different like he was debating with himself.
Kojo just laid down and went to sleep, and then the door opened and he heard voices. Tim’s voice of course but another one.
Her voice.
Lucy.
She had been missing for quite some time and Kojo missed her. Tim missed her too. He would tell Kojo that everyday, and the dog had to wonder what happened.
Kojo lifts his head as the voices get closer. “I haven’t been here since April Fool’s day.” Lucy says. Tim hums softly and pulls her closer. Kojo watches as Lucy wraps herself around him.
“You won’t need a hall pass again.” He says. “Or any excuse to come over.” Lucy grins at him, and Tim smiles back. It’s the first genuine smile Kojo has seen in a long time.
He looks happy.
Genuinely happy.
Kojo decides to get up and he trots over to them. He nudges Lucy’s leg and she looks down at him. A smile lights up her face and she bends down to pet him.
“Hi baby.” She says. “I’m so happy to see you. How are you?” She scratches his butt and he lets out a sigh.
“You weren’t that happy to see me.” Tim says. Lucy looks up at him, and there’s still a smile on her face as she stands up and wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down for a kiss.
“Do you want me to scratch your butt?” She asks a teasing smile on her face. Tim rolls his eyes.
“No.” He says. “But you can scratch an itch I have.” Lucy gives him a look and then she is backing him towards the bedroom. Kojo follows them—he feels like he should get more attention from Lucy.
After all she hasn’t seen him in a while.
Tim isn’t really that great.
Lucy scratches Kojo’s butt.
They reach the bedroom door and Lucy pulls Tim to a shop. “Tim?” She whispers but her eyes are on Kojo who is now sitting looking up at Lucy.
“Hmmm?”
“We have a problem.” She says. Tim’s mouth is on her neck and he lifts it.
“What?”
“Kojo.” She says. “I think he might be jealous.”
“Damn.” Tim says. He looks at Kojo, and the dog knows what he’s going to say before he says it. But Kojo isn’t ready to listen. He wasn’t done with Lucy yet, and it’s not fair Tim gets to have her all to himself.
They could share.
“Jealous dog.” Lucy mutters. Tim just keeps his eyes on Kojo, and his hands on Lucy.
“Kojo! Go lay down.” He says. “Now!” Kojo doesn’t move nor does he look away from Lucy.
“Kojo!” Tim says. But Lucy puts her hands on his chest, and pushes back. She bends down in front of Kojo and gives him a smile.
“It’s okay boy.” She says. “We will just be in there.” She jabs her thumb towards the bedroom. Kojo just sits there looking at her.
“Kojo—”
“Shhh Tim.” Lucy says. “Go lay down boy. I’m going to be here for awhile..” Kojo sighs but finally gets up and heads back to the living room.
“You live here now.” Tim says. Kojo pauses and turns back to look at them. “This is your home now.”
“Yours, mine and Kojo’s.” Lucy says. Kojo sighs softly as the bedroom door closes.
This was good. Very good indeed.
***
Kojo lays down underneath the table. His head on Lucy’s feet. He hears Tim and Lucy talking probably about work.
“See I told you this was a good idea.” Lucy says.
“Yes, the only place in the neighborhood that would accept two plus a dog is a food truck.” Tim grumbles. Kojo sighs when Lucy reaches down to pat his head.
“You love it.” Lucy says. “This is your life now. Me and Kojo.”
“Sometimes I would like it to be just you.” Tim says. Kojo sighs again, and he has the urge to bark.
Tim gets Lucy all the time. He gets her at night, and kicks Kojo out of the bedroom. He gets her in the morning when Kojo busts into the bedroom and the are both still in bed.
(Sometimes he jumps up on the bed).
“Careful.” Lucy says and Kojo sees her shift in her seat. “Kojo is jealous. He doesn’t want to share me.”
“Neither do I.” Tim grumbles. “You live with me.”
“And Kojo.” Lucy points out. Kojo lets out a whine. Lucy reaches down to give him a scratch. “There’s enough of me to go around.”
“I can’t believe I have to share you with a dog.” Tim says. “That just doesn’t seem fair.”
“He’s our dog babe.” Lucy says. “He lives with us.” Kojo lets out a sigh, he loves that Lucy is back and Tim isn’t so sad anymore. Kojo’s not sure he’s ever seen the man so happy. He gets this look on his face when he’s around Lucy. And it only fades when Lucy leaves and doesn’t come back.
But—
Kojo thinks Lucy is here to stay. It sounds like she will be around all the time which means the dog needs to learn to share her with Tim.
But Tim also needs to share with Kojo.
Kojo sighs and rests his head on his paws. Maybe if he’s lucky Lucy will drop something and he will have a snack before dinner.
That would be nice too.
***
“I get her tonight.” Tim says to Kojo as the dog lays on the couch. His head is on Tim’s lap, it’s one of his favorite places to be. It’s comfortable and Tim in this space makes him calm. “I know she’s had a long day.”
Tim scratches him behind his ears. “I know you love her but so do I.” He says. “And I just want to be with her. Ya know?”
Kojo looks up at him, and he gets it. He wants to be around Lucy too. Kojo lets out a sigh just as he hears the door unlocking. He moves and then jumps up as he sees Lucy come through the door.
“Hey.” Tim says. Kojo trots over and Lucy bends down.
“Hi honey.” She says. Kojo wants to bark in excitement (take that Tim!). “I missed you.” She scratches him. And then slides off her shoes before making her way to Tim. Kojo doesn’t follow, even if he wants to.
He did get love from Lucy and now much to his chagrin it was Tim’s turn. He goes over to his bed and lies down. He hears them talking, and then Tim is getting up again and pulling the food out of the oven Kojo saw him put in earlier.
It smells good and if he’s lucky, he will lick some scraps off the floor. He sees Lucy get up and she walks over to Tim.
“Thank you.” She says and he turns around. His face is soft, the face Kojo knows is only for Lucy. “I really needed this after today.”
“I know.” Tim says and he presses a kiss to her forehead. “And whatever you need, I will be there for you.”
“So you don’t mind unpacking for me?” She asks. Tim shakes his head and pulls her in closer.
“I’m excited for that.” He says. “I want this place to feel more like home to you Lucy. I want it to feel safe.”
“I’m not going anywhere Tim.” She says softly. “Don’t worry about that.” She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down for a kiss. Kojo lets out a happy sigh and watches them.
He’s never been this happy, his two favorite people (yes even Tim) are happy. And they are both here taking care of him.
And even if he has to share Lucy.
He’s okay with it.
He really, really is.
***
“Thank god this is done.” Tim says to Kojo as he tosses a box into the garage. “Now she’s here. For good.” Kojo lets out a whine and Tim scratches him behind the ears. Kojo sits next to him and nudges his hand so he keeps scratching him. Tim does but it’s like he doesn’t realize he’s doing it.
“You better get used to this Kojo.” Tim says. “Lucy is going to be here for a long time. She’s. Or going anywhere.”
“Oh I’m not am I?” Kojo looks up and sees Lucy coming towards them with a smile on her face. She gives Tim a bright smile and then bends down to press a kiss to the top of Kojo’s head. “Hi baby. Was dad giving you a hard time?”
Tim scoffs and Lucy stares up grinning at him. “Why don’t you greet me like that?” He asks.
“Because I have a more efficient way for you.” She says and she steps closer. “Don’t be jealous of the dog babe. You get me all night.” Kojo sighs and so does Tim but he looks happier.
“True.” He says. “Who do you love more, me or Kojo?”
“Depends on the day.” Lucy replies without missing a beat. Tim frowns at her and she pulls him closer. “I love you the same. Just in a different way.” Tim seems satisfied by this answer because he kisses Lucy hard.
Kojo sighs but starts walking away, he hears Tim and Lucy disappear into the bedroom and he goes to lay down on his bed.
Maybe sharing isn’t so bad after all.
As long as his two favorite people were together… that’s all that matters.