“You don’t know what you’re wearing?” And when he’s unable to make full-on eye contact, it dawns on me. He’s blind. Fuck, I’m an idiot. An insensitive one at that.
“No. I’m blind. My friends keep suggesting I try this app, but I haven’t been ready to take that step yet.”
“Your boyfriend couldn’t have helped out?”
He pushes out a breath. “He could have, but he was already waiting for me in the car. Said I was going to have to figure this all out on my own eventually. I do have a neighbor who sometimes comes over and helps. He’s working today, though, and I woke up kinda late.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Huh?” His face twists.
“The waking up late.”
“Oh. Yeah, for me it’s the not really having anywhere to be anymore, but I really wanted to come to the park with Travis while he taught his yoga class so I could get out of the house.”
“The park’s always a good choice.”
It’s not until he’s jumping back against his chair with flaring nostrils that I realize Huey is nibbling at his shoe.
“Shit. I’m sorry.” I tug on the leash, shortening it, and Huey grunts.
His face softens as he presses his hands to his knees, leaning forward. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Huey.” I smile, lifting him up, and he wiggles as I sit on the bench with him in my lap. “He’s a pig.”
His face lights up. “Is he a pet?”
“Yes, and this is his favorite park.” I guide Huey close to his hand and his smile causes my stomach to flutter.
“I think it might be mine now too.” He pets Huey between the ears and laughs when he rubs his wet snout into his palm.
“Yeah. Like I said, it’s a good place to be.”
A great place that quickly becomes less desirable when a sweaty six-foot redhead shows up. “There you are. You found a place to sit.”
“Yeah. I stumbled and fell a few times first.”
“Independence is good for you, remember?”
“I know, but it’s also hard when I’m still not finished with therapy.”
“I know, babe. You’re getting there, though, and I’m so proud of you.” The unwanted presence is about to lean down and then his eyes fall on mine. “Make a new friend while waiting for me?”
Honey’s golden-brown eyes lift when he remembers Huey and I are right next to him. Honey is what I plan on calling him from here on out, whether or not we meet again. Which I really hope we do.
“Yeah, actually.” His lips stretch wider. “This is Huey and . . .” His lips fold in. “I didn’t quite catch your name.” His eyes circle around my face.
“Rafael.”
“Well, Rafael. As nice as it is to meet you, there’s a diner calling our name, and I can see we’ll be ordering it to go after examining my lunch date’s clothing choice.”
“Oh, of course,” I say, setting Huey on the ground. “We have somewhere to be soon too, so I totally get it. It was nice meeting you both.”
“Yeah. Same here,” Honey says. “Bye, Huey. It was especially nice meeting you.” He lowers his face closer to where he hears Huey grunting.
“Okay, come on, babe. You know there’s always a long wait when we take too long to place our order.” Red grabs onto Honey’s hand and yanks him up from the bench a little too quickly for my liking. I laugh when Honey waves in the wrong direction, saying, “Goodbye again.”
“Later.” Except I’m not sure if later is possible, but he did mention using an app soon, and I’m hoping it’s the one I recently started working for. If it is, I’ll have to start watching it very closely, to make sure I’m the first one available to take whatever job he might have for me. Maybe it’ll be choosing the right pants to wear, even though I still think he went with the right choice today. You can never go wrong with pajama pants or “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
