5. Sawyer

Chapter 5

Sawyer

I stood in front of the mirror, studying my reflection.

My hair was a bit messier than usual, and I debated whether I should apply more gel.

Or maybe I should change into a newer shirt? This was ridiculous; it wasn't like Casey and I were going on a real date.

It was just a casual walk in the park with Benny. But still, I wanted to look good.

Speaking of Benny, I heard an adorable little whine coming from the corner of the room.

"Benny?" I called out, scanning the floor.

The problem with having a small dog like Benny was that he always seemed to find the most unexpected hiding places.

After a minute of searching, I found him under my bed, chewing on one of my room slippers.

"Silly dog," I muttered, scooping him up and gently prying the soggy slipper from his mouth.

Benny wagged his tail enthusiastically, completely unbothered by the loss of his chew toy.

Still carrying him, I glanced at both of us in the mirror.

"What do you think, bud? Should I change?" I asked him.

Benny just stuck his tongue out and panted, looking as cheerful as ever.

"More hair gel it is," I said with a chuckle, setting him down on the bed.

Half an hour later, I finally felt satisfied with my reflection.

My hair was perfectly in place, and my shirt, while not brand new, at least didn't have any wrinkles.

The doorbell rang, and I sighed, turning away from the mirror. I needed to get going anyway if I wanted to make it to the park on time.

Casey and I had planned to meet there, and it was a half-hour drive from my house. I exited my bedroom and heard the doorbell ring again.

"Coming," I called out.

I stared at the stairs, and then started to head down. Halfway down, my leg stiffened, sending a jolt of discomfort through me.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to keep going.

By the time I reached the foot of the stairs, I was panting a little, but I pushed the pain to the back of my mind as I opened the door.

Benny circled my legs excitedly, his little tail wagging like crazy. Standing on the porch was Griffin, holding a paper bag.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile.

"Griff?" I asked, wondering why he was here. Then I remembered. "Oh, right. The old toys Rover outgrew."

"Yeah," Griffin said, holding out the bag. "Figured Benny might enjoy them."

"I'm sure he will," I said, watching as Benny eyed the bag with interest.

Griffin stooped down to give Benny a pat on the head, and my little dachshund automatically rolled onto his back, paws up, clearly begging for a belly rub.

"Really, Benny?" I asked, amused. "Anyway, I appreciate this, Griff, but I'm running late."

I took the paper bag from him and set it aside before leading Benny out of the house. But Griffin still hadn't left.

"Late for what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For a walk," I said, though I knew that wasn't the full truth.

As much as I tried to sound casual, I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious.

"Question—do I look... okay?" I gestured to my outfit, suddenly unsure again.

Griffin smirked. "Why would you care about appearances if you're just going for a walk?"

"Shut up," I grumbled, but I couldn't help but smile. "It's not like that. I'm just meeting someone at the park."

"Ah, someone," Griffin said, his smirk widening. "Let me guess. It's that Casey guy you mentioned before?"

I rolled my eyes, but my heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, maybe. We're just taking Benny for a walk. No big deal," I said.

"Sure, no big deal," Griffin said, clearly enjoying himself. "But just so you know, you look fine."

"Thanks, I guess," I said, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. "I'd better get going before I'm really late."

"Alright, alright," Griffin said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I won't keep you any longer. Have fun on your ‘not-a-date'."

I laughed and shook my head, picking up Benny and heading out the door.

The drive to Pecan Park was smooth, and I spent most of it trying to calm my nerves.

This was just a walk in the park, I reminded myself. Nothing to stress about.

But when I spotted Casey waiting near the park entrance, all those reassurances flew out the window.

He looked even better than I remembered—his dark curls framed his face perfectly, and his warm, chocolate brown eyes seemed to light up when he saw me.

"Hey, Sawyer," he greeted with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.

Benny barked in my arms, squirming to get down, and I set him on the ground.

He immediately ran over to Casey, wagging his tail like he was reunited with his best friend.

"Hey, Casey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Benny seems excited to see you."

Casey crouched down, his eyes lighting up as he reached out to Benny. "I'm excited to see you too, little guy!"

We both watched Benny, who was now rolling around in the grass, clearly having the time of his life.

"You're doing a great job with him," Casey said, straightening up and looking at me.

"Thanks," I replied, warmth spreading through me at the compliment.

We walked for a little while, and after a moment of comfortable silence, I decided to ask, "So, you've been volunteering at the shelter for a while?"

"Yeah, for about a year now," Casey said. "I really enjoy it—helping the animals find good homes is fulfilling."

"That's really cool," I said, genuinely impressed. "It must feel rewarding."

"It is," he agreed, pausing before he asked, "So, you mentioned your brother moved out. Do you live alone now?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "It's just me and Benny. But honestly, it's not so bad."

Casey gave me a curious look. "You seem like the kind of guy who'd have a lot of people around you."

"I do," I admitted. "But sometimes, it's nice to have some quiet, you know?"

Casey nodded. "I get that. I'm more of a quiet type myself."

I smiled at that, feeling a connection growing between us.

"Maybe that's why Benny likes you so much. He's good at reading people," I said.

"Maybe," Casey said with a shy smile.

I felt that strange spark again, the same one I'd felt when our fingers had touched the other day.

As we walked side by side through Pecan Park, Benny trotted ahead, his little legs moving in quick bursts of energy.

We chatted about everything and nothing. It felt natural, easy, like we'd known each other for longer than just a couple of days.

I realized I hadn't thought about my leg, my responsibilities, or anything else that usually weighed on my mind.

I'd just been enjoying the moment.

"So, have you always liked dogs?" I asked after a while.

I was trying to keep the conversation light while inwardly cursing myself for how nervous I'd felt. This wasn't like me at all.

Casey nodded, and I couldn't help but notice how his dark curls caught the light just right, making them seem almost too perfect.

"Yeah, pretty much. My parents had dogs when I was growing up, so I've always been around them. But it wasn't until I started volunteering at the shelter that I really fell in love with them," Casey answered.

I nodded, though my focus was more on his smile than his words.

It wasn't just any smile—there was something about it that felt warm, genuine.

The kind that made you feel like you were the only person in the world when he looked at you.

And then there was that scent of his—coffee with a hint of cinnamon.

It was so good, so comforting, that I had to resist the urge to lean in closer, to lose myself in it.

A sudden bark from Benny snapped us both out of the moment, and I looked down to see my little dachshund nose-deep in a particularly interesting patch of grass.

"I think Benny's found something," Casey said, his voice laced with amusement.

"Probably just another dog's scent," I replied, but I couldn't help but smile at how animated Benny was.

He was really growing on me.

We walked a bit more before reaching a small café on the edge of the park. It had outdoor seating—perfect for bringing Benny along.

"How about we grab a coffee?" I suggested, trying to keep the conversation going.

Casey's eyes lit up, and I felt a small thrill of victory.

"I'd love that," Casey answered.

We found a table outside, and I tied Benny's leash to the leg of a chair, giving him enough room to explore but keeping him close.

After we placed our orders—me with a black coffee and Casey with a caramel latte—we settled in, and the conversation flowed as easily as the coffee.

"What about you?" Casey asked, leaning forward slightly. "What do you do?"

"I work at a bar in the evenings. It's owned by a friend of mine, Griffin. And during the day, I help out at my brother's bookstore. It's a small place, but it's cozy," I answered.

"A bookstore? That sounds amazing," Casey said, his eyes sparking with genuine interest. "I love reading, but I don't get to do it as much as I'd like."

"You should stop by sometime. I'll give you the grand tour," I offered, feeling a bit more confident now that the conversation was flowing so easily.

"I might just take you up on that," Casey replied with a playful grin.

Our food arrived—sandwiches and a side of fries—and we continued talking, the conversation shifting from our jobs to our favorite books, movies, and music.

It was easy, natural, and I found myself more and more drawn to Casey with every passing moment.

Benny, having grown bored of his surroundings, climbed onto my lap, curling up contentedly.

I absentmindedly stroked his fur as I listened to Casey talk about his favorite band.

The little dachshund seemed to approve of our date, and that made me smile. After we finished eating, I offered to walk Casey to his car.

It wasn't far, just a short stroll back through the park, but it gave us a few more minutes together.

As we reached Casey's car, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside me.

I didn't want the day to end, but I also knew I had to make a move or I might regret it.

"Thanks for today, Sawyer. I had a really good time," Casey said.

He leaned against the car and looked up at me with those warm, brown eyes that had me feeling all kinds of ways.

"I'm glad you did," I replied, stepping a little closer. "I did too."

For a moment, we just stood there, the air between us charged with an unspoken tension.

My heart raced, and I knew this was the moment. I leaned in slowly, giving Casey a chance to pull away if he wanted to. But he didn't move.

He just closed his eyes and tilted his head up slightly, inviting the kiss.

When our lips finally met, it was like a spark ignited between us.

My hand found its way to the back of his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

It wasn't just a simple peck on the lips; it was a passionate, hungry.

Casey responded eagerly, his hands resting on my chest, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt.

When we finally pulled back, both of us were a little breathless.

I kept my hand on the back of his neck, my thumb gently brushing against the soft skin there.

"So, does this mean you'll go out with me again?" I asked, my voice low and a bit husky.

Casey smiled, his eyes still half-lidded from the kiss.

"Yeah, I'd like that," Casey said.

I grinned, feeling a surge of happiness. "How about dinner next time?" I asked.

"Sounds perfect," he agreed.

We exchanged one last, lingering kiss before reluctantly pulling apart.

I watched as Casey got into his car, waving as he drove off. As his car disappeared down the road, I couldn't help but smile.

Benny barked up at me, as if asking if we were done. I laughed, scooping the little dachshund up into my arms.

"Yeah, Benny, I think we're done for today. But don't worry, there'll be more walks—and maybe more kisses—in the future," I told him.

As I headed back to my own car, I felt lighter than I had in a long time.

There was something special about Casey, something that made me feel like things were finally starting to look up.