Alec shared a hug and a quick kiss with Jensen before he said, “I’m so sorry you didn’t get to go camping up there and see the shows, but it was a good experience. Fuck, though, I’m happy to be home. I get to sleep in a real bed again.”

Jensen winked. “If I let you sleep.”

Alec laughed. “You might need to let me sleep a few hours at least. I don’t think everything will be functioning in tip-top shape until I get some rest.”

Before Jensen could respond, they heard the tell-tale sound of toenails on the tile flooring of the living room. A puppy with hair the color of gold bounded through the doorway into the kitchen and leaped against Jensen’s leg.

“Oh, fuck, that must be Bailey.”

Jensen picked the puppy up off the floor and held him close to Alec. He said, “Bailey meet Alec. He’s your second dad. I hope you obey him better than you do me.”

Alec reached out and scratched between the puppy’s ears. He said, “I still can’t believe you caved to the pressure. You were so adamant about not having a dog before we moved. Did you say he’s mostly golden retriever?”

“Well, he’s technically a mutt. He doesn’t have any official papers, but yeah, the vet says he has a lot of retriever blood. I figured with your work mostly happening in the evening, we can manage a puppy.”

Alec said, “I’m glad. He’s fucking adorable.”

“Isn’t he?”

While Alec reached out to rub under the puppy’s chin, he whispered, “Sweet little Bailey. You’ll be a good dog for dad, won’t you.”

The doorbell rang. Jensen looked at Alec and Bailey and said, “Guess who?”

Before Jensen could reach the door, it opened. Les strode into the room and said, “You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked. You never know what kind of vagrant might wander in.”

Alec smirked while Jensen reached out for a hug. He said, “I’ve heard you’re responsible for this,” and looked back down at Bailey.

“Oh, shit, isn’t he adorable? And you’re back from Coachella, Alec. How was it in their desert? It’s so fucking hot here in Arizona, and it’s only April. I think I’m going to melt when the summer gets here. Did you meet any celebrities?”

“I didn’t. Running the lights isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. It reminds me of talking to photographers. They say everyone drools over their access to celebrities, but they’re too busy doing their job to think about it that way.”

Les asked, “Were the shows great? I want to go up there sometime, but I don’t know about this heat.”

Alec shook his head. “We didn’t twist your arm to move out here. I’m glad you did, but yeah, the weather was the easy thing to know in advance.”

“I think my friends needed someone to keep an eye out for them. That was part of my decision. You’d obviously lose your way without me here.”

Jensen sighed. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it.”

Les said, “And Bailey there. I consider him a belated engagement present for the two of you. Part of the deal with Jensen was I offered to pay for the neutering expenses and volunteered to be the doggie godfather.”

Alec nodded. “That’s very sweet of you.”

Les suddenly held his hands up. “And, the biggest news of all! Guys, I couldn’t wait for this. Jensen doesn’t know. This is brand new for both of you.”

Alec and Jensen looked at each other with confusion on their faces. Jensen said, “Knowing you, this could be anything.”

Les stepped back to the front door and opened it. “Dave, come and meet your new friends.”

Alec whispered, “Yikes, did you get a dog, too?”

“Or did you adopt a child?” asked Jensen.

Smiles spread all around when slender, six-foot-two-inch Dave stepped into the room. “Boyfriend?” asked Alec.

Les said, “More like my partner in crime.”

Dave wrapped his left arm around Les’s shoulders and reached out his right hand to shake. He said, “I’m pleased to meet both of you, and I’ve already heard lots of stories.”

Jensen said, “Unless they’re good, only half of them are true. Les likes to be, uh, creative.”

Dave said, “I think every single one of them has been positive.”

Jensen turned toward Alec and asked, “Is it only me, or do you see any kind of resemblance?”

Les said, “Hey, no whispered comments about me.”

Alec added, “Yep, he could be a cousin of yours, Jensen. It’s a similar build, and he has those trimmed whiskers along the jawline.”

Les grinned while he leaned in close against Dave’s shoulder with a broad smile on his face. “Yep, he’s perfect in every way.”