"I promised Riley, here, we would go for a walk. I didn't take into account the rain and all that."
"Did Daddy drag you out in all this messy weather?" I rub both my hands over Riley's cheeks and smile at the way he lolls his tongue to the side. I'm fully in my doggy talking voice, but I don't care. Riley is adorable and brings it out in me. He's mostly black with a white chest that reaches around the back of his neck almost like a half collar.
"I like to keep my promises when I tell him we're going to do something," Garrett says, a lot more honest sounding than the moment calls for. I stand back up and shuffle my feet nervously.
"That's good," I say, the awkwardness swelling in my body. "What are you doing over this way?"
"Someone missed you." He says it so quickly, jerking his arm after a second to motion that he meant Riley and not himself. I don't believe it for a second, but I also can't imagine that Garrett— with his muscles and gorgeous face and overall niceness— would miss someone like me. Not after the absolute failure it was when I met him the first time.
"Garrett?" Austin's voice is behind me and I turn my head to look over my shoulder. I can see the confusion plain as day on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just telling Orion that I promised Riley a walk." Austin's eyes bounce between the two of us. I turn back to see Garrett looking between the two of us. "How was work today?"
"The weather kept some people from walking here, but this morning was pretty busy." Austin bends down to give Riley some attention as he speaks. "How was your Friday?"
"Meh," Garrett says. "I was in meetings this morning, took a half day after that." Garrett's eyes flick back to me and he offers a smile.
"Any particular reason you chose to walk in this weather, near this area?"
"Austin, I think you should probably call your Daddy and tell him you're on your way home." I cough to hide a laugh at Garrett's words. Austin's face goes beet red and his smile fades and he looks uncomfortable. I still don't know what to say to him. Garrett must sense something changing in the air between us because he opens his mouth to say something, but Austin cuts him off.
"I'll call Remi in a bit," he says. "I still have a few things to file away and then I'll be good. It was good seeing both of you, though."
"Did I say something wrong?" Garrett asks when Austin is out of ear shot. I sigh and shake my head.
"No, it's me. He asked me the other day about… Regression and I'm pretty sure I said the wrong thing. We've been kind of walking around each other the last couple of days."
"Oh." There's a lull and I don't know how to fill it.
"Would you like a drink, or something?"
"It's okay," Garrett says. "You're already closed up for the night. We were just stopping by." Another lull. "I actually was hoping to talk to you."
That catches me off guard. I flick my eyes to his and wait for more words to come. It takes another minute and if he didn't have Riley, I would offer for him to come in and sit. Pets aren't allowed in the building. When he finally talks, I don't know why I'm taken aback.
"I've been thinking about you."
"About me? Why?" I can't hide the surprise in that. Of course, I've been thinking about him too, but my embarrassment over what happened isn't going to let me tell him that.
"I don't know, honestly. I wanted to make sure you were okay, but I also just enjoyed talking to you on the way to my place."
"Oh." I know this whole conversation is awkward and it's mostly my fault. I can't think of what to say though. I've never been the object of someone's thoughts before. "Um, I mean, thanks. I think."
Garrett smiles, obviously keeping a laugh from escaping. "Are you doing anything after work? I thought maybe we could go get some dinner?"
I look out behind him and see that the rain is still coming down. It seems to be letting up a bit. My eyes go back to Riley and then Garrett. I don't have a car yet, so I was planning on walking home. And what waited for me at home was a box of Mac and Cheese and hot dogs. I don't have the money for a fancy meal, but I could swing a couple bucks for a burger, maybe.
"Orion, it's my treat. I'm not inviting you out and then expecting you to pay." I must not have been hiding the calculations I was making in my head as well as I thought.
"Oh, um, sure then. I just have to finish a little bit of cleaning and I'll be ready."
"Take your time," Garrett says back. "I'm parked around back. It's the same car I was in last time."
"Okay. Thank you."
"My pleasure, Orion." He gives me another smile and I go back to making sure the utensils and napkins are stocked before I head to the back and let Austin know I'm leaving. He's usually gone by now, but end of the month filing has him staying here a bit later than usual. His back is turned to me when I knock on the open door. He spins and gives a quick smile.
"I'm about to head out," I say. "Garrett is actually going to take me out for dinner."
