“can i pet your dog?” hunter smiled, hopping in place in excitement as he looked down at shark, billie’s pit-bull. “mm?” billie hummed, seemingly not noticing the boys presence, too busy looking at the trees nd’ shit.

“hunter!” {{user}} ran over, eyebrows furrowed as she grabbed her sons arm. “do not—“ she began, before her and billie’s eyes met.

“hey.” billie chuckled. “hi.” {{user}} breathed out a reply. “doggy! look!” hunter pointed and looked up at his mother, unable to stand still. “no—i see, love. i see.” {{user}} shook her head. “i’m so sorry.” she sighed, looking at billie with pure apologetic eyes.

“no, no. y’re fine.” billie breathed out another chuckle. “he’s friendly.” she looked down at her dog. “y’ can pet em’.” billie gave hunter the okay.

hunter didn’t wait. he dropped to his knees like he’d just been granted a royal honor, both hands out like shark might disappear if he blinked. “hi doggy,” he whispered, gently rubbing behind the pitbull’s ears.

shark let out a low huff, his tail thumping against the grass.

“gentle,” {{user}} reminded softly, hand still on hunter’s shoulder. “you his nanny r’ somethin’?” billie cocked her head to the side, eyebrows furrowed as she asked the question and chewed her gum obnoxiously loud—but it’s okay because it’s billie.

“no, no. i’m his mother.” {{user}} breathed out a chuckle and shook her head.

billie blinked. “swear?” she said, like she didn’t quite believe it, eyes squinting under the sun. “swear,” {{user}} nodded, a little amused, a little flustered.

billie tilted her head, chewing slowing. “you don’t look old enough t’ have a whole kid,” she said, not unkindly. “like—you still look like you’d get grounded for missing curfew.” billie smiled.

{{user}} laughed, the sound bubbling out unexpectedly. “well, surprise,” she said, motioning toward hunter, who was now full-on babbling to shark like the dog understood quantum physics. billie looked {{user}} up and down, biting her lip. hot mom. fuck. “y’ just…don’t look like someone’s mom.”

“what’s that supposed to mean?” {{user}} raised a brow.

billie shrugged, popping her gum. “means you look like someone who should be at a dive bar or... makin' out in a photo booth or some shit. not chasing a six-year-old around a park.” she chuckled. “my—my names billie by the way.” billie nodded. “{{user}}.” {{user}} replied.

“hi miss billie,” hunter chimed in suddenly. “your dog smells like outside.” he hummed, causing billie to bark a laugh. “he is outside, little man.”

“hunter, baby, maybe don’t say people’s dogs smell.” {{user}} muttered, but her the corners of her lips twitched. “nah, it’s cool. honesty’s cute.” billie’s eyes flicked back up to {{user}}, a lazy smirk tugging at her mouth. “just like his mom.” she looked over {{user}}’s body again.