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“Yep, with no prospects in sight, unfortunately. Except for the mystery pet store man! Can you imagine if we got married? TEN dogs under one roof?”
“I can’t!” I laughed. “What about Tommy? I mean, he’s cute, right?” A blind person would have known he was a perfect ten, there was no reason to dance around that one.
“Yeah, he sure is alright. Just zero chemistry. He’s more introverted and I know I need an extrovert.” She shrugged. “I’m at the painful part of my life where I must choose as much with my brain as I do my heart. I’m not worried, though. I very much want to get married one day, but if I don’t, God just has other plans for my life and that’s okay, too.”
“Amen to that. I’m in the same boat.” Our waiter came over and announced himself.
“Good evening Pawrents and pups, my name is Jeffrey and I’ll be fetching allof your treats tonight.” Stevie’s ears perked at the word. “Oops, sorry, that’s a hot word around here. Since it’sYappy Hour,may I offer your pups a complimentary biscuit?”
Samantha and I both offered a resoundingyes.He turned and picked up a long silver tray of individual dog treats, each sitting inside a paper cupcake liner.
He leaned in so we could each select one. “Now, then. What may I get you ladies to drink?”
“Strawberry lemonade for me, please.” Samantha ordered right away, and he turned to me. “Oh, that sounds good. I’ll do the same.”
“Two Barkberry lemonades coming right up.”
We giggled as he walked away. “How can he say that with a straight face?” Samantha whispered to me.
“I have no idea. But I love it!”
These dog restaurants were my new favorite place, and I was thankful to come out here tonight with a friend.
“So, tell me about the engaged one.”
“Well, it’s kind of a funny story that I met him. He has a dog that'sidenticalto Dolly. Same age, everything. We think it must've been a litter mate.”
Her jaw dropped. “What are the chances of that?”
“I know, it was awfully strange. And I find him, Eli, very attractive.”
“The dog or the dad?” Samantha chuckled.
“The dad! His name is Eli.”
“Oh yes, the man who called! I almost forgot; it’s been such a wild week. I love that name, Eli. Very masculine.”
I agreed with her.
“So, he asked us for a playdate, and I was thrilled. It went so well, and it seemed like we connected effortlessly on a deeper level, you know what I mean? It wasn’t this shallow connection that guys just pretend is there these days. It felt real.”
“Okay, so what happened?” Her brow furrowed.
“Well, then, at the end of the playdate, at this point it had been going on for HOURS, he told me his ex-fiancé had just gotten back in touch. And he seemed happy about it.”
“Oof, they have history. How do you compete with that?”
“Exactly. Well, guess what? I ran into them at the Bark Park later and not only is she gorgeous, but she’s wearing a big sparkly diamond ring.”
“NOO!” Samantha’s animated howl made heads turn. The waiter dropped off our drinks. “Shall I give you ladies a few more minutes to look over the menu?”
“Yes, please.” Samantha said, barely turning to the waiter as she was so engrossed in my story.
“Very well then.” Jeffrey walked off.
“So, what was it all for, then? Was itreallyjust about the dogs? I mean, I doubt that...”
“Yeah, I’m afraid it was just about them. But it’s okay. He’s still texting me, and I ran into him this morning. I froze him out badly, and I feel bad about my snarky comment. I just don’t want to be wasting time with a man who’sunavailableand miss meeting Mr. Right, you know what I mean?”
