Before I can protest, my sister is gone, and I’m left with the demon dog.
Not that he’s mean, he’s … a little nuts.
Perry looks at me, tongue hanging out, with this doofus look like he’s saying, “What are you talking about? I’m adorable. I’m a good boy. Me so cute.”
“All right, Perry,” I sigh. “Let’s do this thing.”
I get out of the car, tucking the keys in my pocket and slinging my purse across my body so I don’t have to worry about it falling off my shoulder while trying to wrangle the dog.
I close the door and quickly open the back door. Perry tries to dart out, but I quickly grab his collar and then the leash. Bumping the door shut with my butt, I lock it and return the keys to my pocket.
“Come on, Pear.”
We start through the small parking lot and onto the sidewalk. Monsterwiches has around ten tables set up outside, with the majority of them taken. It looks like everyone in Santa Monica has decided to come here and eat outside at the exact same time.
Perry jerks on his leash, and I tighten my grip.
“No, Perry!” I scold.
But Perry doesn’t give a flying shit what I have to say to him.
He jerks again. This time, his leash goes flying out of my hand, and Perry goes running down the street.
“Perry!” I scream, running after the dog, disaster scenarios of him being run over playing out in my mind—as well as my sister’s eventual murder when I kill her for leaving me with the dog.
People watch me run after him but do nothing to help—I can’t help but think there’s probably someone sitting back videotaping this to post on social media instead of helping me.
“Perry,” I shout after the dog.
He doesn’t care. He’s doing what he wants.
He turns the corner and I run faster, nearly tripping as I turn after him.
“Oompf.”
I skid to a halt, wincing as I see Perry collide with a guy walking out of Cool Beans coffee shop. The guy’s iced coffee drops to the ground, splattering all over his worn sneakers, legs, and the sidewalk.
“I am so, so, so sorry.” I hesitantly approach him. Perry licks at the coffee on the ground like this was his plan all along.
The guy looks down at the coffee, my dog, and finally, me.
I stop in front of him and suddenly feel very small. He towers over me, at least a foot taller. He’s big, too, wide shoulders but a narrow waist, and the way his shirt hugs his chest I can see every indent of his abs. Around here, fit people are the norm, but there’s something about this guy that I can’t take my eyes off of. It’s not just his looks, it’s this aura he has. He hasn’t even opened his mouth and I’m enraptured.
“It’s not a big deal,” he finally speaks, shielding his eyes from the sun. I notice they’re a startling green color, bright against his tanned skin. His brown hair is cut short and there’s a light dusting of stubble on his chin like he forgot to shave this morning. “I didn’t really want the coffee much anyway.” He smiles, and I suddenly understand why girls my age lose their minds over guys. My stomach flips and I can’t seem to tell what’s ri
ght side up anymore.
“He’s still a puppy,” I explain, not wanting to stand there staring at this guy like a creep. He looks older than me, probably twenty, I’m sure to him I look like a little kid.
He grabs the leash and holds it out to me. “Might want to grab him before you lose him again.”
Color floods my cheeks as I reach for the leash. My fingers brush his and my heart skips the beat. It’s like all my years of lack of hormones have combusted to this one moment and now I’m drowning in them.
“Right, thank you.” I wrap the leash around my hand. “I’m really sorry—can I buy you another coffee?” I offer, feeling bad that Perry has destroyed his drink.
He shakes his head. “I really shouldn’t be having one anyway. If I drink that now” —he nods down at the mess— “I won’t go to sleep until five in the morning.”
I laugh, but it sounds forced and not at all like my natural laugh. I’m nervous, and I’m being weird.