Page 22 of All I Want Is Love
Grabbing my phone, I take a pic of Doodles and send it to Leo.
That’s Doodles. She says hello.
He replies swiftly.She is so cute!
Walking out of the stables, I notice thick snowflakes falling down from the sky. I take another picture and send it to him.It’s snowing. Isn’t it beautiful?
Yes, I love the snow. I have never experienced this type of thick snowfall before.
Have you ever gone hiking in the snow?
No, I never had the chance. Actually, I have never been hiking at all.
Would you like to go on a short hike with me tomorrow? There is something about walking through a white landscape with lovely company that’s just magical. I would love to share it with you.
I hold my breath as I am waiting for his answer. If he hates the idea, I will try to offer to do something else with him. I just want to make sure to get him out of his apartment without coming over as too overbearing – that’s Aspen’s task. I just want him to see how beautiful the outside is, and how he doesn’t need to be scared here.
Of course, all of this only works if he agrees to meet me in the first place.
Are you sure I am not going to slow you down?
I chuckle.I am not a professional hiker myself.
I can see the dots, indicating that he is writing something. Then a pause. New dots. I wait like that for a few minutes, my worry rising. Did I come on too strong?
Finally, Leo’s message pops up.I think Barkley would enjoy it as well.
My chest feels warm and fuzzy at his words.I bet he would. His breed loves the cold and snow.
I swiftly send another message.So, is this a yes?
Yes, I’d love to join you.
Great, I will pick you up at 8 a.m. Make sure to dress warmly!
Do I need to bring something?
No, I‘ll have it covered.
I gaze at Doodles, nodding at her. “Thank you for your support, girl. I have a date!”
*LEO*
I can’t believe I said yes! “Barkley, I am insane! I just agreed to go hiking with Soren!” At the word hiking, Barkley rises from his spot on my carpet and comes padding towards me.
My cheeks feel hot in embarrassment. Did Soren just lowkey flirt with me? It’s so hard to tell over text. He said something about 'lovely company‘, and it being magical. I know I am getting far ahead of myself, probably reading way too much into it, but I can’t help the way my heart stutters.
“Do you think it’s a date?” I ask Barkley.
He just looks at me innocently.
“I don’t know what I am thinking… Soren is Aspen’s friend. If I read too much into it, it will just be embarrassing for everyone, and it will be my fault. But he is so…” I open my messages again, scrolling up and reading through everything he said. He has messaged me every day, in addition to picking me up every morning. And he keeps sending me a joke daily.
Maybe that’s just how he is? Maybe he is also sending a joke a day to Robin and Aspen?
Barkley looks at me expectantly.
“He is so hot,” I finally say, feeling my cheeks heat up again after saying it out loud. It makes me feel like an idiot… this is not the first crush I’ve had, in fact, I went clubbing a lot during college and at my last job. I hooked up with several guys.
