I walk the toy to him and put it in his waiting hands. "How do you know so much?" he asks giving me a quizzical look.
I shrug. "I like dogs."
"Sit." He tugs on Frankie's leash, but the dog doesn't move.
He transfers the two toys to his other hand with the leash and stretches across the distance for a handshake. "I'm Spencer."
For what is sure to be a stupid-ass reason, my cheeks turn all pink again. It’s like my body knows I’m going to touch a hot guy and immediately works to guarantee I make a fool of myself. “Joslin. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Well, Joslin, do you think you can help me find treats to put in this red contraption?”
I release his hand even though I don’t want to. "Sure, they’re probably in the next row."
Spencer turns his back to me and starts to walk around the aisle. I follow behind, quickly snatching up the first toy I see for small dogs. I'm sure my sister’s Yorkie will love it. “You can do little treats, peanut butter, or doggie cheese spray.”
“Cheese spray?” He laughs but doesn't stop walking. "Well, she wouldn't be a Jamison if she didn't love cheese spray."
It doesn’t take long for Spencer to find a bottle of cheese spray. It’s designed to look like the human variety, which is unsettling for a number of reasons. I’ve never been a connoisseur of canned cheese, and now I’m sure I won’t start anytime soon.
With his hands full of the leash and toys, I’m relegated to carrying the cheese spray and a few other small, rounded treats Spencer grabs. As appreciation for my help, he offers to pick up my purchase, as well, and after a little back-and-forth at the register, I finally give in. I remember the gift I bought for my sister’s yorkie. The two squeaky tennis balls aren’t going to be enough. I’ll have to make a return trip—sans hot guy distractions and holy pants.
Spencer stops outside my car, the plastic bag hanging from his hands while Frankie does everything possible to jump all over me. We stand in the parking lot, and while he must be freezing without a coat, he doesn’t show any distress.
The time ticks on, the silence becoming more fitting of an awkward first date rather than some stranger you helped pick out toys at the pet store.
“Um…” I fumble for the door handle, ready to get in my car and leave.
“Would you like to go on a date with me?” he blurts out into thin air.
“What?” I turn back from the car even though I’m ready to flee.
“Dinner, maybe a movie.”
“When?”
He smiles. “Tonight?”
“Um… I hadn’t planned on going anywhere.”Oh my God, Joslin, could you give a dumber response?
“That’s okay. I’ll bring something over. We can watch a movie.”
“A movie? You mean like Netflix and chill?” His eyes widen, and he takes an actual step back.Oh God.“I mean… Not that we…would chill. Inthatway. But just like… On the couch. Chill.”
He laughs, which might make the situation worse. “Relax, I understood what you meant. I would love to watch a movie and just regular chill with you.”
“Well, I’m not sure.” What am I doing? What is wrong with me?
It’s not that I don’t want to have a hot guy in my living room, but I watch way too much Investigative Discovery Channel at night. Hot guys are killers, too. It’s always the ones the neighbors don’t expect.
Spencer fiddles with his bags, giving himself a free hand, and pulls the cell phone out of his back pocket. It takes me a few seconds, but I finally catch up and realize this is the point we exchange numbers and information.
“How about you give me a phone number, and if you make up your mind in the next few hours, let me know?”
I hesitate for a moment longer before giving him my number. “I’ll let you know when I decide.”
Spencer leads Frankie to a big black truck in the second lane of the parking lot. I practically throw myself into my car, buckling my seat belt, but then wait another five seconds before I hit my head lightly on the steering wheel.
“Stupid.”
