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It started on a Tuesday evening.
At least, that was when Robby first noticed that you were up to something. He came home from work on time for once and you didn’t greet him at the door as you normally did. He frowned as he hung up his bag and kicked off his shoes, pushing them against the wall with his foot.
“Baby?” he called.
“Oh, shoot,” he hears from deeper in the house.
His brow furrowed, and he followed the sound of your voice. He caught you in front of the guestroom, fiddling with the knob. He couldn’t see around you to catch what you were up to.
“What are you doing, baby?” he asked, voice low.
You jumped and turned in surprise, eyes wide. “Me? Nothing. How was your shift?”
He pursed his lips and looked from you to the door behind you. “It was fine. You sure everything’s alright?”
“Yeah, of course,” you nodded, taking his arm in your hands and steering him toward the bedroom. “You take a shower and I’ll check on dinner.”
Before he could even attempt to get you in the shower with him, you were gone. He frowned after you for a moment then went about getting himself cleaned up. Once he was clean and in lounge clothes, he left the bedroom to head to the kitchen. The guestroom door beckoned and he hesitated. Finally giving into temptation, he reached for the knob only to find the door locked. He didn’t even know the door could be locked. What the hell?
He looked from the door toward the kitchen where he could hear you humming. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jack. She’s up to something.
***
Robby filled Jack in on your behavior during handoff but Jack thought the other man was worrying over nothing. You were probably hiding presents or something. You always did start your shopping early.
When he arrived home, however, he was surprised to hear you in the kitchen. You were almost always still in bed if he got home on time. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said as he leaned in the doorway watching you put together the most random plate of food he’d ever seen in his life. Nuts, chicken, a whole egg and three different kinds of berries and a sliced banana.
You turned from the counter in surprise. “Jack! You’re home early.”
He shook his head once, eyes narrowing. “Right on time actually.”
You glanced at the clock. “Oh.”
He stepped closer. “What are you making?”
“Breakfast,” you said with a shrug.
Sucking in a breath, he thought for a minute then said, “Okay.” Robby was right, you were clearly hiding something. “I’m going to go shower.” He said the words slowly as if you might reveal something if he just delayed long enough.
You gave him a bright smile. “Great. I’ll make you some breakfast when you get out.”
The plate on the counter caught his attention again. “Why don’t I take care of breakfast this morning?”
When he’d finished his shower and headed back toward the kitchen on his crutches, he encountered you coming out of the guestroom, shutting the door quickly behind you. You kept one hand on the knob behind you as you gave him a smile he was sure you thought was innocent. You were wrong.
“Any reason you keep going in the guestroom when we’re not around? Something we should know?” he asked, eyes tracing your face looking for any hint of what you were up to.
“Nope. Just straightening up a bit.”
“Uh-huh.” As he followed you down the hall, he couldn’t help but glance back at the room.
***
Two days later, Robby was off. Normally, when that was the case, the three of you would go out to breakfast after Jack got home from his shift. You, however, claimed a headache but encouraged your boyfriends to go without you. Once you’d all but shoved them out the door, they sat in the car and stared at the house.
“How long should we give her before we come back?” Jack asked.
Robby shrugged one shoulder. “Five minutes?”
So, they drove around for a few minutes before returning. They entered the house as quietly as possible, your voice drifting from the direction of the guestroom. “No, you can’t do that. You can’t make a mess, they’ll get so mad. I told you that you needed to behave. You’ve been so good, just be a good boy for me.”
The men frowned and exchanged a look before moving as quietly as possible down the hall. The guestroom door was cracked open. Robby reached out with one hand and slowly pushed it open. Never in a million years could they have possibly guessed what they would see when he did.
You sat on the floor, a plate of food beside you as you cradled a bundle of fabric in one arm. They’d anticipated a pet of some sort. A cat. A dog. Maybe even a rabbit, you’d always liked rabbits. But it was none of those ordinary animals. No. You, their girlfriend who they were reminding themselves they loved very much right now, had smuggled a raccoon into their house.
A baby raccoon, sure. An adorable baby raccoon, they’d admit. But…
“Are you nuts?” Jack asked, raspy voice cutting through the air like a whip.
Your head snapped up, eyes wide as you looked between them and back to the raccoon in your arms. “It’s not what it looks like?”
Robby ran a hand down his face. “It’s not? Because it looks like you have one of the primary carriers of rabies wrapped in…Is that my Steelers hoodie?”
You winced. “I’ll get you a new one?”
“Jesus Christ, honey,” he groaned. “What the hell?”
“His mom got hit by a car. I couldn’t just leave him there. Look at him.” Your puppy eyes were giving the raccoon’s a run for their money.
“There are people you call for things like this,” Jack said. “They’re trained.”
“I looked up what he’s supposed to eat and everything. I’m a good mom for him.”
Both men went very still. “You can’t keep him,” Robby said.
“But—”
“No,” they said firmly and in unison.
You sighed. “Alright. Fine.”
“Why don’t you put him back wherever you’ve been keeping him and come out here so we can talk about all this?” Jack kept his tone level, controlled like he did with psych patients.
As soon as you put the kit back in the kennel you’d gotten from somewhere (Instacart you’d tell them later) they pulled you into the hall and shut the door. Jack immediately began looking you over while Robby pulled out his phone and started looking for a number to call. “Did it bite you? Scratch you?” Jack asked, frantic.
“Wilbur’s a good boy. He would never.”
“Not even a nibble?” Jack asked at the same time Robby said, “Wilbur?”
You huffed out a sigh. “I’m fine. Promise. You can inspect me thoroughly later. And yes, Wilbur.”
Robby shook his head as he arranged for someone to come get their houseguest. “They will be here in half an hour.”
“Half an hour?” you echoed, despondent.
Jack shook his head while Robby huffed in disbelief.
“Sweetheart, you are in so much trouble for this little stunt.” Jack crossed his arms over his chest as he glowered at you.
“This could have turned out very bad for you and your little friend in there. You understand that right? Even if he looks healthy, he could have rabies,” Robby added.
“I get it. I’m sorry.” You didn’t sound sorry. Robby was getting ready to chastise you again when your bottom lip started to tremble. “I’m just going to miss him so much.” Tears rolled down your cheeks.
Jack sighed and pulled you into a hug. “I’m sorry, honey. I know you have a big heart but this one we can’t give you. It’s not fair to him or to you.”
You nodded against his chest. “I know.” Robby stepped forward and wrapped his arms around both of you. A long moment passed, then your muffled voice said, “Can I get a bunny?”