I woke up at four in the afternoon, groggy from a long night. I'd gotten home at five in the morning after hosting a wedding reception. Between wrapping up loose ends and squeezing in a quick meal after lunch, I finally crashed into my bed.
As the haze of sleep cleared, my thoughts drifted to Lucky and Cleo, my little furballs of joy. No matter how chaotic my schedule got, their unwavering presence was the one constant that grounded me.
"Let's go, Lucky and Cleo! Time for our walk!" I called out as I grabbed their leashes. Both dogs wagged their tails in excited unison, filling the room with their infectious energy.
The neighborhood park was alive with the chatter of families and the playful barks of dogs. I unclipped Lucky and Cleo's leashes, letting them roam freely. They darted off with boundless energy, chasing each other and sniffing everything in sight.
I wandered to a quiet spot under the shade of a tree and laid down on the cool grass. The breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying with it a strange sense of calm. Before I knew it, my eyelids grew heavy, and I dozed off the exhaustion from my hectic day finally catching up with me.
A soft nudge woke me. Blinking against the golden glow of the setting sun, I opened my eyes to see a tiny dog giving me gentle kisses.
"Lucky. You tired already?" I mumbled, eyes half-open, but as my vision cleared, I realized it wasn't Lucky. It was a tiny Shih Tzu with a pink ribbon tied to her head. My heart melted at the sight.
"Oh, hey! Who's this pretty little princess? You're adorable! Look at those tiny paws!" I cooed, reaching down to pet her. "But where's your owner? They must be looking for you..."
A voice interrupted the moment, calling out from a distance.
"Tequila! Tequila!"
The Shih Tzu's ears perked up, and she turned toward the sound of her name.
"Oh! You must be Tequila, and that must be your dad, huh?" I said with a smile.
A man appeared in the distance. He wore a dark blue shirt, orange shorts, and white Crocs that somehow worked despite the bold combination.
As he drew closer, I couldn't help but notice the tattoos on his neck—paw prints etched in sharp contrast against his pale skin. His dark hair fell in tousled waves, framing his face, while gold-framed glasses highlighted his piercing green eyes. There was a quiet intensity about him, like he carried the weight of unspoken stories.
"You must be Tequila's dad," I said with a smile, brushing the grass off my shorts as I stood. "She's adorable! I woke up to her kisses."
He looked surprised, his expression teetering between confusion and intrigue. "Yeah... she's never done that before. She's not usually this friendly with strangers, especially women."
I turned away to call after Lucky and Cleo, but a strange feeling lingered in the air. I glanced down at Tequila, whose tail wagged with unrestrained joy. "Well, she's so sweet. Maybe she knows I'm a dog person."
I clipped the leashes back onto Lucky and Cleo, ready to leave, but as I turned to head out, I noticed Tequila's owner was still standing there, watching me.
I glanced around to see if there was someone else, he was looking at, but when I didn't see anyone, I decided to ignore it and continue walking.
Just as I was about to leave, he approached me, looking hesitant.
"Uh, hey, can I ask you for a favor?" he started, his voice trailing off, unable to finish the sentence.
Curious, I stopped and turned back toward him.
"What is it?"
He took a deep breath, then exhaled, as if gathering his courage. "Can we, um... hold hands?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Let me explain," he said quickly. "Tequila doesn't let anyone near me. She's... protective. But with you, she's completely calm. I just want to see if she'd still stay this way if—"
"If you and I held hands?" I finished for him, my voice laced with disbelief.
He nodded, his gaze dropping to the ground. "You don't have to. It's just... she's never been like this before. I need to understand why."
His vulnerability disarmed me. There was a loneliness in his tone that resonated with something deep within me, a kind of yearning I didn't realize I shared. Against my better judgment, I agreed.
He looked relieved, and I noticed how his gaze softened as Tequila stayed calm by his side. He moved in a little closer, his cautious gaze flickering to Tequila at the corner of his eye. For a moment, he hesitated, as though deciding whether or not to follow through. Then, slowly, he reached for my hand. His fingers brushed mine before carefully wrapping around my hand. With his other hand, he gently distanced Tequila, ready to intervene if she made any sudden moves, protecting me without saying a word.
The moment our hands met; it felt like the start of something I couldn't quite define. His hand was warm, the kind of warmth that somehow seeped into me. I couldn't help but wonder what this moment was leading to, and why it felt... right.
For a minute, we stood there, our hands entwined, waiting for any reaction from Tequila. To my surprise, she simply stood by, her small tail wagging lightly. No barking, no growling—just quiet acceptance. He exhaled a soft, relieved breath, his green eyes softening as he crouched down to hug Tequila.
Lucky and Cleo, who had been observing from a distance, finally decided to join the scene. They approached him cautiously, sniffing him before sitting down in front of him, their tails wagging as if in approval.
"Your dogs like me," he said, his tone tinged with surprise.
"They're usually good judges of character," I replied with a small smile.
Cleo wagged her tail, watching the scene unfold with her signature quiet calm. Then he glanced at her, smiled, and asked, "Can I take her leash? Let me walk them."
I was stunned into silence. I don't know how he managed to so effortlessly win my dogs' approval—Cleo, Lucky—but I could see it in their eyes. They trusted him. And, for some reason, I found myself trusting him too. Without a word, I handed him Lucky and Cleo's leash.
As we began to walk together, the feeling of something new, something extraordinary, settled into my chest.
As we walked the dogs, I didn't even notice the time passing.
"By the way, I'm Tyler," he said, his tone a mix of warmth and shyness.
I chuckled softly, "It's Kz. You can call me Kz."
"I'm really glad Tequila found you today," he said as we prepared to part ways. "It's been... a long time since I've felt this at ease with someone."
I didn't know what to say. His honesty left me speechless. All I could do was smile and hope he understood the gratitude in my eyes.
"You know what, Tyler?" I said after the laughter faded. "I'm really glad Tequila found me. This turned out to be a pretty great day, and I think I have you—and her—to thank for that. So... thank you! Maybe we'll see each other around sometime. It was nice meeting you, Tyler. And you too, Tequila!"
I turned to leave, leading Lucky and Cleo toward the direction of home. But as we walked, I felt a strange pull. I hesitated, stopping in my tracks, debating whether to glance back. He's probably already gone, I told myself. But before I could stop myself, I turned—and there he was, still standing there, softly waving back at me.
My heart betrayed me, skipping a beat. Without thinking, I waved back, a smile tugging at my lips, and continued on my way home.
What an encounter, I thought to myself. Who would've thought that my boring week would take such an unexpected turn?
As I walked home with Lucky and Cleo, my heart felt lighter than it had in months. Maybe it was the cool evening air, or the unexpected connection with someone who felt like a kindred spirit.
Or maybe it was the way my dogs had looked at him, as if they knew something I didn't yet.
If fate permits, I might see them again.
When we finally arrived home, I rushed to get ready for my next hosting gig—a birthday party this time. I quickly fed Lucky and Cleo, crouching down to kiss them goodbye.
"Mom's heading out now, okay? Be good. I'll be back in the morning. Mom's gotta work hard so you both can have the best! Love you!"
With one last kiss on their furry heads, I left, stepping into the night with a heart that felt lighter and a head swirling with thoughts of green eyes, warm hands, and a little dog named Tequila.