Finding You

Doggy Date

"Would it be weird if I hugged you?" I ask him, excited. He smiles and wraps his arms around me, and I squeeze him tightly before pulling away and jumping.

"I have a real, good paying job, and for once since I came home I don't feel like a total loser whose working a dead end job." I tell him with a huge smile. He laughs at me and bends down to put Maya.

"This must be the infamous Chuck." I bend down with him and scratch Chuck's neck. He's so excited. I love it. He's older than Maya but Maya is still a puppy and while calm most of the time, she has her moments.

"Miss. Maya does not disappoint. I think Chuck is quite happy with her. So what did you do today that makes you this happy?"

"Dan called me last night, one of the guys in that band I told you about and asked me to join him on tour and his marketing team, which I turned down again." I tell him and he stands confused. We start walking, the dogs leading us.

"You are really happy for someone who turned down that job."

"But he asked if I would help monitor social media for him and I agreed. I also agreed to help with their concert in Atlanta next month but he had to send over contracts. Anyways so my boss got word of it and thought I was quitting but I wasn't. So I explained the situation and he called and told me to persuade Dan to make us his marketing team and I called and sweetened the deal by offering to be his southeast manager and he agreed!" I shout excited, take a deep breath to calm myself down some.

"Wow! I'm proud of you!" He puts one arm around my shoulder and brings me to his side. I wrap my arm around his waist, enjoying the way he feels against me, not letting it all sink it for too long. This could be something but it could easily be nothing.

"I'm just so happy. I mean I never thought I would be doing my dream job. I have worked so incredibly hard for this and I can't believe its happening to me. Me of all people." He moves his arm from my shoulder and I drop my arm so that it's by my side. Our hands brush each others and I smile. I am so happy.

"You deserve it. Anyone who is this excited for more work deserves it. I can tell that you care. How did you want to celebrate?" He asks and I raise my eyebrows.

"By doing this. I have my puppy, and Chuck who is just the cutest, my divorce is so close to being final that I can taste it, I have the man of my dreams beside me, and my dream job. I might have a glass of wine tonight but I am exactly where I want to me." I tell him and grab one of his fingers, giving it a small squeeze. That was definitely too much. I just don't want to come down from this and honestly I don't think that I care that I called him the man of my dreams. I'll care tomorrow for sure but tonight, I don't think I can come down from this feeling.

"You are something else, you know." He laughs and I take a deep refreshing breath of air. I could get used to this.

"Thanks for listening to me nerd out. Dan wanted me to celebrate with him but I couldn't bring myself to do it. It wouldn't be the same. There would be drinking and bars and it would just be weird."

"Hey, don't apologize for being happy." He smiles at me and pauses for a moment. "I'm glad you chose me." He whispers and turns back to the dogs. I tuck my hair behind my ear and let my hand fall beside me. Brad takes it in his and I feel goosebumps as our fingers fit perfectly together.

We walk in a comfortable silence. I can't help but smile at this whole thing. I really do have everything I want. I'm happy. Truly and deeply happy. It's a shame it's only been a day for us. I mean anything could happen and will probably happen.

"Why don't we have the glass of wine together?" He asks and I smile. "I'd love that honestly. Your place or mine?" I ask and he takes a breath.

"Whichever you want." I think about the state of my apartment. It's pretty clean. Well, I wouldn't be embarrassed if Brad saw it.

"Mine this time and yours next." I pull my hand out of his as Maya stops walking. Poor thing is probably tired. She spent most of the day at daycare and then we walked home, changed, and met Brad. She's had a long day.

"Perfect. How bout we get you home so this one can sleep," He pets Maya's head, and turns to me, "and you can get ready to celebrate with the man of your dreams." He teases and I bump him and he laughs.

"When did you want to drink? Should I make food? And should I put a dress on or something?" I ask him with a smile and he thinks.

"I'll bring dinner, 7, and yes, I think I want to see you in a dress." He picks Chuck up and holds him like I hold Maya.

"I'll put on some high heels too." I wink at him before turning to go up the stairs.

"Ill throw on some slacks and a button up." He says and watches me. I turn when I get to the stop and smile.

"Ill see you in a bit then and if you want to come early, please do." I walk backwards until I can't see him and unlock my door, stepping in. I unclip the lease and hang it before sitting Maya is her bed. I lock the door behind me. I bite my lip and consider my options.

If I try to seduce Brad, I could either fail and ruin wherever this is going or I could succeed and then scare him off because I had sex with him too soon. I can't do that to him. I'm the one whose turned on by the fact that I've had a good day. Maybe it's more than that. I could go grab ole faithful. I sigh as my phone rings, I pull it out and half smile at Dan's name.

"Hello." I answer sing-song.

"Hey there gorgeous. Sure I can't pick you up? Last chance before I go to Milan." My eyes go big and I smile. I've always wanted to go to Milan. I hate that he's using that to me.

"I really can't but thank you for asking." I lean against the wall. He takes a deep breath before saying the words that shock the shit out of me.

"J'ai une surprise pour vous. Je parle français." My jaw drops as he tells me for the first time that he can speak french. I knew he had an accent but I didn't think he knew french. I could have sworn it was german.

"Je veux te baiser sur la plage." He speaks like a pro and I stop breathing. On a beach? "Oh and when I do, you will scream my name." I swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. What. The. Fuck.

"I'm seeing someone Dan. You are next in line if anything ever happens, okay?" I whisper, still shocked as shit.

"I'm half kidding. I do speak french very, very well. I spent 10 years there. I do want to fuck you but not on a beach because sand is Satan. When we do fuck-" hard emphasis on the k, "You will scream my name." He finishes, as if that makes matters it any better.

"Go get laid Dan. I'll be in touch tomorrow." I hang up before he can say anything else.

Ole Faithful is coming out and now. I rush to my room and shut the door, locking it behind me.