Lost His Friendship

"Alex!" Sophia screeched excitedly and leaped towards him when he opened the door and stared at her with a bright smile.

"Sophie," Alex chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her and hugged her just as tightly as she hugged him.

"I missed you, Alex. A lot." She muttered against his chest as she pulled away from the hug to have a full view of him.

Alex's smile tipped wider as he made a slight ruffle of her hair, "I missed you, too."

"And you too, Buddy." He smiled and squatted down to buddy, who was barking out his lines of 'I miss you.'

The mutt wagged its tail when Alex gave him a smooth ruffle on his head, and he barked, even more, declaring his delight for more nuzzling.

"I know, you're growing big. Sophia has been taking good care of you, hasn't she?" He asked, and Buddy barked back a reply. Alex chuckled at his prompt response and its display of glee.