Page 25 of Lift Me Up

He looks like he’s going for a jog, or on a hike. Totally casual. Totally not a date.

“Nice shirt.” He notes, pointing to the cat pun.

“Thanks.”

“Wrong animal though.”

“Maybe I’m a cat person,” I tease. I’m mostly kidding, but Noah’s face is dead serious.

“You’re kidding.”

I cross my arms across my chest to protect the French cats from being offended, “And if I’m not?”

He, still acting completely serious, takes a step back from me, his hand on his hip, “I don’t think this is going to work out,”

It’s then that I notice…

“Is that… a fanny pack?”

“It is.” He gives the black bag snapped on his hips a good jiggle, grinning. “I have to keep the treats somewhere.”

I could make a dirty joke to match the snort I let out, but then he’s reaching into the retro pack showing me a handful of dog kibble style treats and I can’t help but think this man is the sweetest human and he must be protected at all costs.

I follow Noah’s lead in getting to the rescue, letting myself walk behind a step so I can follow him as he chitter-chatters about his night.

“My friends were all giving me shit for working at the store when I first started, but then I showed them the board game section.” He grins and looks back at me with a wiggle of his eyebrows. “So be prepared for the next games night. They all plan on coming in and trying it out.”

That’s one of the other things Noah and I have to do with our new positions. Every week, we host Get Crafty Co.‘s game night. It’s a public event where anyone of any age can come in and play some of the in-house board games. There are always board games for sale, but it’s an opportunity for the shop to show off some of the games it carries and lets people try before they buy. It’s usually a hit, and along with our weekly crafter’s night, the most profitable day of the week.

Because it has always just been Abi running the shop, she’s never had to make a schedule before. Noah and I took it upon ourselves to decide who is going to work when until Abi gets us fully trained and finds a couple more part-time people on the roster before she can really step away.

“Here we are!” I look up, brain fog clearing when I realize that Noah has just announced our arrival. I definitely don’t stumble into him, and he definitely doesn’t laugh at me for it.

Pawsitive Passion Project is set in a large industrial style building with white stucco siding, its large green logo with paw prints as the ‘o’ in the name. There’s fencing around the side which I assume is the outdoor area where people visiting the rescue get to interact with the dogs.

I can hear some barking in the distance, and my excitement must be noticeable because Noah’s grinning at me.

“Still think you’re a cat person?”

Still feigning innocence, I look down at my shirt then back to Noah. “Yep.”

“Ready to have your mind changed forever?” Noah nudges me in the side, making me laugh.

“Hit me with your best shot.”

Inside, Noah greets the staff like he runs the place. The receptionist, Mary, lights up when she sees him.

“Noah! We’ve missed you.” She fusses over him like a mom who is seeing her son for the first time since going away for college.

He laughs, “It’s been a whole two weeks, Mama Mary. What have I missed?”

She tuts at him, “They notice when you don’t come, you know. Hmm, a recap... a bunch of adoptions. Cookie, and then they came back a day later to bring Sugar home with her. Tornado destroyed another crate, but he’s looking at being adopted by a couple with a farm just outside of town… Oh! We got another pittie mama, she’s due soon and I’ve heard she’s got at least six babies in there.”

“And Birdie?” His tone shifts to sombre.

“She’s hanging in there. After the last fail, she got really depressed. She’s such a sweet girl. If I didn’t already have seven of my own, I would absolutely take her. She’s down the hall in E next to Delta. Now, who’s this?” She asks, gesturing to where I am standing behind him and his face lights up.

“Oh! This is Georgie. We’re here to prove to her she is in fact a dog person.” He points, wiggling his brows at me.