Page 19 of Please Don't Leave Me

I just got him in August.

Sam

What made you adopt an older dog?

Lou

I honestly don't know. He was so sweet when I met him at the shelter, and I just couldn't leave him there. Originally I wanted a younger big dog to take on long walks with me. But surprisingly, Pepin loves to go on walks. Actually insists on it, daily. So it all worked out.

LOUISA

We talked until I fell asleep last night and throughout the day on Tuesday. Mostly just small talk and getting to know the basics. He's so cute and so far checks a lot of boxes—accomplished, kind, and ambitious. Not to mention handsome as hell.

I had to pry it out of him, but I learned that he runs his own landscaping company. I am a very goal-orientedperson, so it's important for me to find a partner who has goals.

Partner...look at me jumping ten steps ahead. Why do I always do that? Chill out, Lou; you literally just met the man. For all I know, he could just be another good lay like Matt and nothing more. But something in my gut tells me Sam isn't the "hit it and quit it" type.

I'm running out of basic questions to ask him, and I don't know what to do because I've never gotten this far. Then I remember B has a card game she's obsessed with that asks the players deep questions. I go to the living room, where we store all of our games on a shelf. Scanning through them, I finally spot the little red box.

Lou

Are you up for playing a game?

My sister has a card game that is full of random questions.

Sam

I'd love that. What's it called?

Lou

We're Not Really Strangers.

Sam

That sounds like the perfect game for two people who meet on an app lol.

Lou

Great. So there are three levels and the depth of the questions increase with the level.

I'll start with Level 1.

What does my wallpaper tell you about me?

I send him a screenshot of my lock screen. It’s an image of Pepin and B on the couch in our apartment

Sam

It tells me that you love your dog, which I already assumed about you.

Is that your sister, B?

Lou

Yes, it is. What gave it away?

The purple hair?

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