"I'm Ben, a friend of Atlas's," Ben said, grinning and shaking her hand. "And I'm not allowed to leave with a puppy, no matter what I might try to do." He grinned adorably at her. "So I'm counting on you not to let me decide otherwise."
He realized that might sound like he hated dogs or something and he went on to explain. "See, I'd have to come back with my boyfriend, and we're buying a house so I would want to make sure it's puppy-friendly first you know? And a puppy should be a mutual decision. Like a kid."