Page 49 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

He clips her leash to the collar, and they jog down the stairs and out the door. Around the back of the building, to avoid incidents with people on the streets. She’s too focused on the task at hand to even take notice of them.

Mabel squats as soon as they round the corner, for a good long time.

Nathan giggles. “I’m sorry. You should have woken me up.”

She glares again. Once fully relieved. She jumps up. Her front paws on his waist and licks his hand. Forgiven. She’s happy now.

The two amigos hurry back inside. Safe from the cold and back into the toasty little attic den. Nathan fills her bowls with kibble and fresh water. Then settles himself on the sofa with his phone.

He thumbs a message. “Hey Mark. It’s Nathan. I have to cancel our plans. Something else has come up.” He feels he should probably say more but will leave that for a later response. If it’s needed.

He’s half standing off the sofa when the reply chimes in.

“Hey. That’s a bummer! I hope everything is okay? I was really looking forward to seeing you again.” Mark adds a frowning face and broken heart emoji.

Nathan stares at the screen before responding. “I’m really sorry. I think I’m not feeling a connection. It’s definitely a me, not you thing.” He hates that he just typed and sent those words.

“Okay.”

Nothing else comes through. Hopefully he’s not completely insulted.

Nathan drops the phone on the sofa and moves to the kitchenette. Flipping the switch to start the coffee pot brewing. He stands in front of the fridge. Staring in at a handful of condiments and a Chinese takeout box of week-old noodles. He remembers the candy bars in his messenger bag and pulls out two. Sitting on the edge of the bed. He fires up the computer tablet and starts a grocery order. He’s not in the mood to go out today, so he’ll just have it delivered.

With the order placed. He needs to figure out where to take Jamie on a first official date.

Mabel hops up on the bed and sits next to him. Staring at the screen that holds his attention.

“Jamie said yes to a date Mabes. We’ve got to figure out where to take him.” He has no idea where to begin planning really. Mark had handled they’re dinner date, and he’s not been on another for ages before that. He can’t actually recall ever planning a date. His only boyfriend had just been a co-worker. That relationship developed through friendship. They didn’t really go on dates. He’s not even really sure what Jamie would like to do. Suddenly he’s feeling insecure.

Mabel nudges his shoulder with her nose.

He wraps an arm around her and scratches under her chest. She leans into his rib.

He types, best places for first dates in Portland Maine into the search bar at the top of the screen.

Lists of articles load up. The small city was packed full of options, apparently. Restaurants, theaters, music venues. Dinner is a classic option but didn’t feel special. Bertie would definitely push for a grander gesture. She was already working so hard, sending signals, pushing him to explore this connection with Jamie. You can’t really talk in a theater or music venue, so those are out.

Some new place had just opened, where you throw axes at a target and drink beer. That didn’t seem like Jamie’s cup of tea. It wasn’t his either.

There’s a special Haunted Hallows Eve stroll running in the Sanctuary all week. Tuesday night tickets were sold out, but he purchased a couple for the night of Halloween itself, on the Thursday after, just in case. That could be an amazing and romantic date.

Another article advertised a walking city ghost tour. Run by an independent group who spend the rest of their year hunting ghosts and filming they’re adventures for YouTube. Bingo! Hopefully the cutie was into that sort of thing. He reserved two spots for them. The tour ends with a family style dinner. That would handle all the basics.

He tosses the tablet aside and nuzzles his face into the top of Mabel’s head. A knock at the door alerts the groceries have arrived.

He thanks the familiar blue haired girl and hands her a tip. Wondering how well she does work all these different driving gigs.

Chapter 18

Rosemary

“One sec!” Jamie responds to knocks on the door. Pulling the orange sweater down his torso as he wobbles to greet the guest. “Hey bitc…” He freezes, blushing.

The familiar blue haired rideshare driver is standing on the landing, holding a bouquet of wildflowers. “Jamie?”

“You remember my name?”

“I guess?” Her expression is blank for a moment. “These are for you?” She passes the bundle through the door.

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