At first, River stared. This was no normal canine outfit. Someone had gone to a lot of effort to tailor the suit for the adorable, floppy-eared dog. Not only was it tailored, it was also pinstriped, with matching bow tie and pocket square.

A fedora had been secured between those ears, tilted jauntily.

“Hey there,” she cooed, earning herself a vigorously wagging tail. Only when River scooted off the bed to kneel next to him did she realize the dog had a thick film over his eyes, indicating his blindness. “Puppy, who lost you?”

“I didn’t lose him.” Graham Barnett’s voice spoke up right next to her, making River jump. “Like I would ever lose my best friend. Jake, can you believe that?”

Jake—the well-dressed border collie—barked in mutual offended agreement, accidentally dropping the rose. He sniffed the ground, then picked it back up again, the flowered end closer to his teeth and the long stem drooping out the other side of his mouth. It was officially the cutest thing River had ever seen, and she’d seen Easton cuddle a marmot.

“Graham, where are—?” River started to say, then she noticed the baby monitor tucked into the breast pocket of Jake’s suit. “Oh. Very sneaky, Overwatch.”

“Jake has been asked to escort you to an evening of wonder and romance, courtesy of someone who has never successfully pulled off either,” Graham informed her cheerfully. “Jake, give the nice lady her flower.”

A wet nose snuffed her hands, then Jake set the slightly slobbered-on rose in her fingers. Unable to contain her sheer delight, River spent a solid minute ignoring the man on the monitor in favor of telling Jake how perfect he was, petting those floppy ears, and taking multiple selfies.

“Wow, and I thought Zoey had it bad. Jake, you’re such a ladies’ man. Now, if you don’t mind changing, we’re on a deadline here. Jake, give the lady some privacy.”

“I’m wearing clothes,” River said as the border collie politely turned around and sat with his back to her. “For a disembodied event organizer, you’re dropping the ball here.”

“Hey, I’m doing this blind. Can’t a guy catch a break?”

“Give me that.” Ash’s voice came over the line, sounding annoyed. “He always has to make everything about himself. River, come outside, okay? Head to the back parking lot, and you’ll see where to go.”

River put on her shoes, careful not to tie them too tight over her still bandaged toes, and dutifully took Jake’s leash. She kept the rose in her free hand, trying to sneak both past the curious eyes of the nursing station. The entire trip through the hospital, River had the feeling Zoey was lurking in the background, but she could never quite catch her, not even when she ducked an extra corner or two.