It didn't take long for Abel to come crashing and toddling after, too excited to cry when he tripped and fell on his butt. "Puppy!" he crowed, leaning forward to imitate his big brother. "Us puppy?"

Jax laughed and tickled Abel's sides. "I think that's up to your mom," he said. As the words came out, he looked at Tara over the boys' heads and raised his eyebrows. The dog was cute as hell, no denying that, but it struck him as incredibly strange of Tara to just up and buy a dog.

"Feeling impulsive today?" He didn't want to pet her yet, didn't want to get attached to her until he knew the full story. The boys could swallow a story and move on, if they had to, but Jax would remember.