A Sensitive Arrangement

Chapter 27

This week's volunteer shift managed to pass by without incident. Our clothes, thankfully, remained pee free.

The bathroom of the animal shelter wasn't the most luxurious place to get ready for a date. But I made do, changing my clothes and running a brush through my hair. I looked good enough for bowling.

When I came out, Luke was leaning against the wall, talking to Jackie. He had changed into black jeans and a navy polo. I noticed he looked a bit more dressed up than he had for our movie date. I couldn't help but wonder if learning my secrets had contributed to his choice of outfit.

"You two are adorable. I feel like cupid." Jackie gushed.

"I think Jack deserves a bit of credit." Luke joked.

"Jack?" Jackie questioned, clearly unaware of what he had named our little feline friend with the overactive bladder.

"The grey kitten who was brought in last week." I clarified.

"Oh, the little hellraiser. He went to a foster family yesterday. I really hope they know what they're in for." Jackie sighed, probably worried that he'd be right back here within a week.

"I'm sure they'll love him. He has a way of warming people up to him." I smiled, remembering my little kitten friend fondly.

"Yeah, by peeing on them." Luke teased, making us all laugh.

"Alright you two, get out of here, go have fun. Don't get yourself into too much trouble." Jackie warned us.

"How much is too much?" I wondered out loud, emboldened by the light atmosphere Luke's joke had created.

"Hey, as long as you make it in for your shift next week, knock yourselves out." She winked.

"I'd be pretty surprised if we could get in that much trouble bowling." Luke pointed out.

"Never say never. Now seriously, get out of here." She urged us again. And this time, we listened. Luke grabbed my hand and led me to his car. It vaguely reminded me of something, some other memory maybe, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I found it hard to think about anything else when my hand was in his.

Our fingers stayed laced for almost the entire drive to the bowling alley, while he bopped his head along to the radio. He seemed much more at ease than he had last week.

"You're different than you were the last time we were together." I mused.

"Good different or bad different? He asked.

"Good different. Definitely. I mean, not that you weren't good before. You were." I rambled. "You just seem more relaxed. Kind of the opposite of me I guess."

"I'm just happy. I was happy then too. But I wasn't sure if you were just being nice. And now I'm slightly more confident this is a real date. This is a real date right?" He laughed.

"Yes, this is definitely a real date." I smiled. And then the memories of New Years Eve came crashing down on me. "Luke, there's something I should probably tell you."

"You're in the witness protection program?" He teased. I had a feeling he was trying to make me feel better. It worked a little.

"No. This is serious." I sighed.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me." He assured me as he pulled into the bowling alley parking lot. I wish that were true. But I could tell him about Ava. I needed to tell him about Ava.

"On New Years Eve, that party I went to, I met someone and we got to chatting and we kind of kissed." I explained in a rush, hoping he could decipher my mess of words. I really didn't want to have to say them again. He parked the car and I risked a glance at his face. He looked a bit crestfallen. Oh no. There must have been a better way to put that.