My once dark and masculine penthouse now pops with color. When Stevie moved in four months ago, she not only brought her bright energy, she brought her favorite thrift store finds too. They don’t exactly match my décor, but they’re hers, so I’m happy they’re here. They brighten up the place the same way she does.
Rosie leisurely walks into the kitchen to find me, so I bend down, giving her all the love I won’t be able to provide over the next three days. As much as I hate that Stevie isn’t on the road with me this season, I’m stoked Rosie can stay home and not have to schlep back and forth to her dog-sitter.
“Ready to go?” Stevie casually asks, walking into the living room.
I stand from the ground, spotting her across the room, and my mouth falls open, eyes going wide. “Damn, Vee. Look at you.”
She gives me a little twirl, showing off her skin-tight black jeans and cropped Raptors tee with my name and number on it. She looks incredible. However, she’s still wearing her dirty Nikes, regardless of the new ones I bought her, which are still sitting in the back of her closet.
“You like?”
I hold her hand above her head, spinning her again. “I love. You’re stunning.” My hands find her ass, pulling her into me. “I’m going to miss you so fucking much.”
She slings her arms around my shoulders, placing a kiss on my lips. “I’m going to miss you. Call me as much as you’d like.”
“Oh, I’m going to blow your phone up for three days straight, Stevie girl.” I tap her ass a couple of times. “All right, let’s do this.”
I park my Benz right in front of SDOC, though the outside is barely recognizable from the business it was a few months ago. The paint is fresh, the sign is new and eye-catching, and the roof has been fully repaired.
When I decided to re-sign with Chicago, it was under one non-negotiable term—that the Raptors organization would fully financially support Senior Dogs of Chicago.
It was a bigger win than I could’ve imagined for all parties included. The money funneled into the shelter is a write-off for the team, so it was no skin off their back, but once they learned about Cheryl and the dogs, they eagerly jumped at the chance to help. The donated funds have completely renovated the once run-down building and provided brand new blankets, toys, and beds for the dogs. All medication and food is paid for, and for the first time since Cheryl’s husband passed, she doesn’t have to worry about the next months’ rent. Everything is covered.
But selfishly, my favorite part is that Cheryl was able to hire Stevie full-time. After our moment on national television, the shelter’s popularity rose at an insane rate. Chicago locals flocked to SDOC to adopt, not knowing a place like this had existed, and Cheryl needed all the help she could get.
Now, dogs average less than a month in the shelter, just long enough to get caught up on their medical needs, before they’re swooped up and adopted to new loving homes.
The team has thoroughly enjoyed getting involved. A couple of the guys even adopted their own dogs this summer, and because the boys have really connected to the cause, the organization agreed to bring our partnership to home games too.
Starting with tonight’s home opener, Stevie will be coming to all our local games with one of the shelter pups. Between intermissions, they’ll have a cameo on the jumbotron with SDOC’s information plastered right along with them, and I can’t imagine they’ll be living at the shelter much longer after 23,000 Raptor fans see their sweet face on the big screen.
I might not have Stevie on the road this year, but I’ll have her at every home game, and even more, I’ll know she’ll be in Chicago doing something she loves.
“Who are we bringing today?” I open the front door so she can enter first.
She bounds in excitedly. “Teddy. The little terrier mix who was dropped off in early September.”
“Oh, hell yeah. I love Teddy.”
Stevie quickly turns on her heel, her eyes wide and eager. “Or we could adopt him?” Which is her suggestion any time a new dog gets abandoned.
I have a hard time saying no to her, especially when it comes to this. We fostered all summer, anytime a dog was having a difficult time at the shelter, but she eventually found homes for them all. One day, though, I wouldn’t mind another, or even an apartment full of them.
“But I think we’re going to have a line out the door to adopt him after tonight,” she adds before I can respond.
Cheryl brings Teddy out, his hair perfectly groomed, wearing a little Raptors bandana, ready for the game. She passes him to Stevie as Teddy covers my girl in excited kisses.
“Have you shown him yet?” Cheryl asks.
“Shown me what?”
Stevie wears a knowing smile, shifting Teddy in one arm before sliding one of their adoption forms across the front desk.
“What is this?” My eyes wander the page.
“Remember how I was telling you that some of the dogs would make great therapy animals? Well, with the funding from the team, Cheryl was able to hire a specialty dog trainer, and we’re going to do it.” Stevie points to the last paragraph on the page. “This says if you happen to adopt a dog in the therapy program that they must attend a certain number of Active Minds events throughout the year. We thought it would be awesome for both the kids and the pups.”
“What? Vee.” I stare at the page as words evade me. “Are you kidding me?”
She shakes her head to tell me no, her smile bright and her blue-green eyes shining.
“I don’t know what to say. This is unbelievable. Thank you. Thank you, both.”
Quickly blinking, my eyes stay glued on the words, unable to look at either of them.
Rosie has had a significant impact on my life, including my mental health, which is one of the reasons I was so adamant about the Raptors supporting this place. I can’t imagine how beneficial it would’ve been to have an animal to help calm me down when I was younger. This is going to be incredible for the kids at Active Minds.
Stevie runs a soothing hand down my bicep before leaning her head on my arm. “I love you.”
I stare at the form, dumbfounded as Stevie showcases her sweet heart once more. “I love you, too.”
“Okay,” Cheryl cuts in. “You two are going to be late. Send me pictures of Teddy on the big screen!”
The United Center has become my second home as I go into my eighth year in the league, but I think I’ll be spending more time here this season than I ever have before. Between my games and Ryan’s games, I may as well move in.
Leaving directly for the airport after tonight’s home opener has been looming over me for weeks. I’m not all that excited to face the reality of Stevie not being on the plane, but there are too many good things happening for her in Chicago for me to wallow in self-pity. One being that for the first time in her twin brother’s professional career, she can attend every one of his home games because she’s not traveling during the same season.
Stevie is pumped about it, and I know he is too.
“Zee, you ready?” Maddison slips his suit jacket back on after our first win of the season.