Page 12 of The Riley Effect

It’s been a week since Indy and I were pantless in the boys’ living room.

The Sunday after the party, I woke up with a groggy mind and instant regret. Putting a wager on the party olympics seemed fun in the moment. After the side effects of the alcohol and false confidence faded–once I’d sobered up–the anxiety crept back in. So now I am avoiding Jalen.

Like the coward I am, I’ve used every excuse I could think of to postpone our date. I have answered his texts sparingly, using school to justify canceling our shelter sessions and then pretending to be sick so my coworker would take Riley to thisweek’s home games. My roommates have told me I need to stop acting like a child. So today’s the day I put on my big girl pants to meet Jalen at the shelter.

I go down the row and clip a leash onto each of the dogs that will be going on the walk with Jalen and I today. When I get to Riley, I sit on the floor so he can curl up on my lap. I’m running my hand through his golden fur, using the familiarity of the situation to ease my anxiety. It’s like Riley can feel how tense I am, so he jumps up out of my lap and drags his tongue from my chin all the way up to my forehead. I let out a laugh so full that you would have never known that I was shaking when I got to the shelter today.

It’s only seconds before the anxiety rears its ugly head again. A deep, gravely voice is greeting Jill at the front desk. I try to shoo away the butterflies that have taken flight in my chest. I won’t say they’re making themselves at home but they’ve been frequent visitors.

I was chalking these feelings up to being nervous to meet someone new, but now, with Jalen walking toward me, I’m questioning if it is something more. The party last Saturday was the most fun I’ve had since senior year started. I was able to let my guard down and live in the moment. A moment that’s lived on all week in our team group chat. New pictures of Jalen in his boxers come in at least twice a day, and when they do I find myself getting a little territorial, which is insane considering I can’t stand the guy.

When I turn to grab the next group of leashes, I’m startled, not expecting Jalen to be only a few feet behind me.

“Oh hey,” my voice is shaky as I try to catch my breath.

Without a word, he takes the leashes and walks toward the far end of the room. When all the dogs are rounded up, Jalen and I start toward the back door and the walkways that loop through campus.

The cool fall air is crisp, and I soak it all in. It won’t be long before these paths are buried under a few feet of snow.

I’ve lived in Westvale my whole life, and every year, I’m still in awe when the town is lined with gold and red leaves.

I look over at the man walking next to me, and for the first time, I really allow myself to take in his features. His soft blue eyes juxtaposed with his sharp jawline. His shoulders are broad, and his built arms are home to black sketches that tell a story I want to learn more about.

Our feet crushing the newly fallen autumn leaves is the only thing keeping us from walking in complete silence. I can only take the awkwardness for so long. So when his arms flex as one of the dogs tries to stray from the pack, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

“What are the stories behind all your tattoos?” I ask as we approach the track at the back of campus. It’s the loop the dogs and I walk every Sunday.

“Well, some of them have absolutely no meaning.” There is no edge to his voice. It’s like he is totally oblivious to the fact I’ve been ignoring him for the past week. He turns his inner arm toward me to point out a decorative lion portrait. “Some mean everything to me.” He moves all the leashes to his left hand and holds out his right wrist. I notice a date in Roman numerals. “This one means everything to me. It’s my parents’ anniversary. They’re college sweethearts and had me at twenty, then got married when I was two. They’re my role models. To have a love that spans over decades like them is all I’ve ever wanted.”

I look at the tattoo briefly, but there is some kind of gravitational pull for me to look into Jalen’s eyes. I feel my lips tug at the sincerity that shines through them. I’m starting to get the feeling that there is so much more to Jalen than the party-loving, ladies’ man everyone makes him out to be. He is supposed to be this shallow athlete biding his time until heenters the NHL draft. Has anyone else seen what’s underneath that charming smile and inked skin, I think I want to get to know that person.

“How are you liking your time at the shelter?” I change the topic before he can ask me anything about my family.

“It’s only my third shift, but it’s definitely better when you’re here.”

I feel my cheeks heat, and I can’t find the words to answer. Luckily, Jalen keeps the conversation alive. “So you want to be a veterinarian. Has that always been your plan?”

“I’ve never thought of doing anything else. Growing up, I had a dog there for me during some pretty hard times. He became sick when he was just a few years old, and he had an amazing vet who helped him through his recovery. I don’t know where I would be without them both. I started volunteering in her practice and haven’t thought about doing anything else.”

“That’s amazing. Growing up in the city, we didn’t have space for a pet, but I always wanted a dog. I promised myself I would get a Bernese Mountain dog once I made it to the NHL.”

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can suppress it. I fidget with the hair hanging loose around my shoulders.

Jalen is walking slightly in front of me, so he turns before asking. “What’s so funny?”

I pause as one of the dogs I’m walking spots a squirrel and pulls me in its direction. Once I gather myself, I continue, “I’ve always wanted a Bernese mountain dog. I already have a name for him.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?” he asks when I don’t elaborate.

“Dexter.” I wait for his response. People either love or hate the name.

“Like the TV show,” he asks as we turn back and start our walk back to the shelter.

I roll my eyes as I do whenever someone asks me that question. “Real original question, and no, I have never seen the show. I just love it when pets have random human names.”

He looks at me with exacerbated eyes. “Well, we will have to change that.”

“I only promised you one date. I don’t think we’ll get through a whole TV show.” It’s like the words come out in slow motion with no way to get them back.

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