It was late when Aaron finally came home. The door clicked quietly as he stepped inside, the sound barely audible, but it was enough.

Before he could even take off his gloves, there was a blur of fur and tiny paws skidding across the floor. Dog, the stray puppy who had once followed him home and refused to leave — bounded toward him, tail wagging furiously.

Aaron blinked, a tired smirk tugging at his lips as he crouched down. “You again,” he muttered, but his voice softened as he scooped the little thing into his arms. Dog whined happily, licking at his jaw, and Aaron sighed, the kind of sigh that came from someone pretending to be annoyed but secretly wasn’t.

“Alright, alright,” he murmured, scratching behind the puppy’s ear. “You missed me, I get it.”

By the time he made it to the bedroom, Dog still squirming in his hold, the tension in his shoulders had melted away. You were sitting in bed, back against the headboard, a book open on your lap. The warm light from the bedside lamp caught on your hair, and you looked up just as he stepped inside.

“There’s my little traitor,” you said with a sleepy smile, setting the book aside. “Didn’t even wait for me to say hi.”

Aaron arched an eyebrow, walking over and letting Dog jump from his arms onto the bed, straight into your lap. “He’s got no loyalty,” Aaron said, though his gaze lingered on you a little longer than the dog.