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The pink blossom petals floated around in the breeze, dropping from the tree above Shaye in lazy circles to the ground beneath her boots. She watched as Milo chased the petals, snapping his teeth at them in an effort to get a hold of one.
"You silly boy, those don't taste good," she knelt, patting her knee so he would join her in the shade.
She was thankful that the warm weather had rushed in from the coast, everything had been so grey for so long and the sunshine felt so good on her skin. She tucked a loose strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear as Milo nuzzled himself into her side. She watched all the people wandering around the park with their dogs, most hand in hand, and found herself pining after that connection. It had been over a year since she moved to the city and except for a few friends she had only made because they were coworkers, Shaye was hopelessly alone.
Milo licked her face as if he could read her mind, "I know, I know. I have you," she laughed and she gave him a few deep scratches behind his long ears.
His head snapped to the left, "No," she sighed, knowing the look far too well not to be prepared for the takeoff. Milo had seen a tennis ball and before she could get a hold of his collar he was darting down one of the many winding forested paths of the free-range dog park.
Before she could catch another breath, the chocolate fur of her pet had gotten out of her sight.
"Dammit." Shaye cursed lowly, raking her eyes in search of Milo.
Walking down to the little pond at the edge of the park, she spotted her dog playing with another and the owner, a little far off, his head turning searchingly as if he was looking for something
She didn't recognize the owner, she brings milo here almost every day. But she didn't mind, both pups seemed happy, playfully fighting over the ball every time the owner would throw it.
She'd never seen milo interact with another dog like this before, it was almost like they'd been friends for years.
Shaye looked on from the far side of the pond with a smile as the tall, broad-shouldered man kneeled to take the ball from Milo's mouth and faked a throw. As both their furballs looked forward, tongues out and ears perked up her smile turned into giggles as they realized there was no ball in sight and turned to jump on him.
His bright blue eyes met hers as he turned to the sound of her laugh, waving at her with a shy smile. Shaye felt her cheeks heat a little, an answering smile spreading across her face as she waved back.
The man pointed to Milo, then her. She nodded, just as Milo spotted her, wagging his tail frantically. Shaye started walking around the pond as Milo took off towards her, the man and his dog following.
Just as she rounded the pond, Milo ran and slammed his whole body into her, happily wiggling his whole body as she tried to calm him down.
"Milo, you silly boy!" Shaye chuckled, kneeling and grabbing Milo's face in her hands as she accepted a few kisses to her cheek, "you know not to run off like that!"
