she’s just a Nosey Nancy.
I shrug one shoulder then give her the only answer I have, though I know she’ll be bummed that it isn’t juicier. “Nothing new. Levi’s been crazy busy at work, so I haven’t really seen him, and Conner isn’t stupid enough to cross my path again so….”
“It’s a shame. Sounded like Conner has a thing for you.”
“Meh.”
Little does she know, guys don’t have things for me. Or at least not the ones that matter.
“Don’t meh me,” she admonishes with a teasing smile. “He point-blank asked for your number.”
“Well, yeah, but that was before he knew who I was. And I was hesitant to go out with him in the first place, let alone after I found out he was the jerk from my childhood.”
“What do you mean you were hesitant to go out with him in the first place?” she asks.
Shifting on the bench, I scrunch up my face and admit, “I don’t really date much.”
Or at all.
“Why not?”
“Umm…because I don’t?”
Laughing lightly, she jokes, “That’s not an answer.”
“Fiiine.” I sigh. “Guys have never really shown an interest in me, so I’ve never really pursued anything romantic with anyone.”
“Hmmm…,” she hums, pursing her lips.
“Hmmm…?”
“I’m just curious why that would be.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re gorgeous. Your eyes don’t glaze over as soon as someone mentions whatever’s on ESPN, and you have an epic connection to a sweets dealer.”
Laughing, I nudge my shoulder into hers. “I assume you’re the sugar dealer?”
“And proud of it! How else do you think I won Rhett’s heart?”
“From what I heard, it was you that caved, not him.”
“Meh.” She bats her hand at me. “You know what I mean. I’m just saying that maybe your affinity for driving the opposite sex away isn’t because they aren’t interested, but because you aren’t.”
Her assessment hits the nail on the head, though I refuse to admit it out loud. My face falls.
“There are only two options I can think of. Either you’re gay, which I don’t really get that vibe from you, or you’re in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way.”
“Ding, ding, ding.” I wave my finger in the air like a little flag in surrender. “We have a winner.”
“It’s okay to recognize that you’re not happy. Just don’t waste too much time there, or else you’ll wake up one day, years later, and look back at your life with more regret than you should.”
“You sound like you’re talking from personal experience.”
Patting my knee, she pushes herself up. “Sure am. But it led me to Rhett, so I guess I can’t complain. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sounds good. Thanks for chatting.”
“Anytime, Charlie. And remember, you’re a babe. Don’t let anyone make you feel differently.”
I smile, trying not to let her see how quickly I brush aside her compliment. “Thanks.”
Bonnie and I take it easy on the way back from Central Park. When we reach Forever Grey, I swing open the door, and she races for the water bowl, lapping up the water like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted.
“How’d she do?” Suzette asks. She’s the only person I’ve ever dealt with when picking up and dropping off the pups, but I don’t really know her story.
“Awesome. We got a good run in.”
“Good, ‘cause she’s been going stir crazy for the past few days.”
“Aww, poor girl.” Squatting down, I give her another scratch, and she returns my affection with a slobbery kiss to my arm.
I wipe the wet kiss away on my leggings, laughing lightly as Suzette joins in.
“She likes you,” Suzette notes.
“And I like her,” I admit. “I just wish I had more time.”
“It’s the only finite thing on the planet,” Suzette murmurs. Her sage comment makes me pause as she continues, “But every little bit helps. If you have any friends who would be interested in helping, I’d love it if you’d spread the word. We recently received three more greyhounds, and we’re low on volunteers. There’s only so many miles I can walk in a day.” She heaves a dramatic sigh, which only brings a bigger grin to my face.
“I might be able to twist my best friend’s arm to tag along one of these days, but he’s been pretty busy lately. He got an internship at Montague Enterprises, and it’s…intense.”
“No freaking way.” Leaning closer, she drops her voice low as if she’s about to reveal a secret. “Did you know that the owner adopted a rescue from here once?”
“Seriously?”
She nods, and my respect for Levi’s insanely rich boss grows.
“Yeah.