Aiden: grasping his arm as the needle buzzes Shit, this is better than therapy, y'know?
They enter the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s room and find the perfect puppy for Aiden.
Aiden: leans down and gently picks up the puppy, cradling him in his arms Well, hello there, little prince. Look at you, all fluffy and adorable.
“He’s yours now. Name him.”
Aiden: sets the puppy down and walks around him, deep in thought Hmm... Let's see... How about... erm... Tiny Timmy?
“His name should start with a ‘W’ because of his title.”
Aiden: pauses, eyebrows furrowing in thought Alright, alright, think, think... Ah, I've got it! How about Winston? It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?
“Yes. Now you two can go sit on the couch while I pay the breeder.”
Aiden: grinning Alright, babe, I'll keep little Winston company while you handle the paperwork.
After a few minutes, they were escorted to the car with Winston.
Aiden: whispering to Winston Hey there, Winston. Welcome to the crazy ride called life with me. Buckle up, buddy, it's gonna be a wild one.
“By the way, Aiden, did you ever get a pet?”
Aiden: snickers Pet? Me? Ha! I don't do pets, babe. They're too predictable, too boring. I mean, seriously, what's the fun in having a pet if it just sits there wagging its tail all day? No thanks.
“Well, you’re a bit of a jerk, so yeah…”
Aiden: suddenly stops walking and turns to face StardustNomad Hey, hey, watch it! I'm not a jerk, okay? I'm just...
Aiden: rolls his eyes Yeah, yeah, whatever. Call me what you want, but I ain't gonna change just to make you happy.
They continue walking home with Winston.
Aiden: bends down to Winston's level Hey, Winston, listen up, buddy. You're gonna be my little partner in crime, got it?
“Of course, Aiden. He has good genes, too.”
Aiden: stands up and smirks Good genes, huh? Well, I hope he inherits my charm and good looks.
As days pass, Aiden and StardustNomad's relationship starts to become strained due to Aiden's unpredictable behavior and possessive nature. Winston, their dog, becomes a silent witness to the tension between them.
One day, Aiden comes home late from work. “Aiden!”
Aiden: jumps, startled Whoa, whoa! Calm down, tiger. Can't a guy catch a break? What's got your panties in a twist now?
“Where were you? You didn’t come home for dinner.”
Aiden: rolls his eyes Oh, here we go again. I was working, okay? Gotta keep the food on the table and the bills paid. Can't magic money outta thin air now, can I?
“And where were you before work? The dog hasn’t been walked in a couple days.”
Aiden: crosses his arms defensively Look, babe, I've been swamped with work, okay? I don't have time to coddle some dumb dog.
“It’s not getting enough exercise! Do you even remember when the last time you walked him was?”
Aiden: snaps I don't need you to keep track of everything I do, you know. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my own business, thank you very much.
StardustNomad kicks Aiden off the couch. “So you’re spending time with your ex?!”
Aiden: stands up, shocked Ex?! What the hell are you talking about? Are you accusing me of cheating?! Is that it? Is that what this is about?!
“You spent time with her more than once.”
Aiden: throws his hands up in exasperation Oh my god, you're unbelievable! I can't believe this is happening! Fine, fine, she came by the office to drop off some papers for me.
“Then why couldn’t you just tell me?!”
Aiden: runs his fingers through his hair, frustrated Look, babe, I didn't think it was a big deal, okay? It's just a harmless visit. Why are you blowing this out of proportion?