“PO! WHERE ARE YOU, BOY?” I holler.
Ugh, not again! I decided to take Po down to the ocean today to play ball. He seems like he’s feeling better lately and he’s been restless. He was knocked unconscious but thankfully he wasn’t seriously hurt. Though him getting hit broke me. I don’t know what I would have done if he had died. I don’t want to even think about it. My parents picked us up from the vet and took us home. When we got there we noticed someone had moved in next door. I really hope it’s not occupied by a family with kids. I don’t want to be reminded of what I don’t have anymore.
We’ve been here about an hour when Po suddenly spots something off in the distance and bolts away. Well, at least this time he can’t get hit by a car, I sarcastically muse since we’re so far away from the road. That was fun. I wonder what got his attention this time, a girl perhaps? I smile at that thought and head down the beach in search of him.
I stop short when I see who he’s with. “No way…” I utter in disbelief.
I shake my head and chuckle. “Po, you dog.” Pun intended. “You go, boy!” What are the odds?
Not twenty feet ahead of me is Dani, crouched down by the water’s edge, and Po is licking the hell out of her face. I can’t believe I’m seeing her again and WOW! She really is beautiful! She’s wearing a pale green and white striped sundress that’s flowing around her in the breeze. Her dark hair is shining streaks of auburn in the sun, her cheeks are flushed and her smile is so bright I can see it from here.
“Po!” I shout as I jog up to them. Dani stiffens at the sound of my voice and I’m saddened by the look of surprise and worry that clouds her beautiful face. I put that there and I vow, right then and there, I’m going to do everything under my power to not only take it away, but to make sure it never comes back. Po hasn’t stopped licking her and his tail is going a million miles an hour.
I’ve been thinking about her, a lot. I had wanted to apologize for how I acted and to thank her for all she did, but I was positive I’d never see her again. I’m glad I’ll now get that chance.
When Dani sees I’m smiling she visibly relaxes and returns my smile. Did I say WOW! That word doesn’t even come close to how her smile looks up close. The smile that just lit up her face surpasses the brilliance of the California sun. I knew she’d be stunning when she smiled; I just underestimated exactly how exquisitely beautiful she’d actually be.
“You were expecting angry Ean, weren’t you?” I say as I approach her.
She blushes and lowers her gaze. “Well, yes, now that you mention it, I was expecting angry Ian,” she admits.
I crouch down next to her and drape my arms over my knees, letting my hands fall between them. I stretch one arm out and put my hand on her chin to tilt her face up so our eyes can meet. I can’t help but smile when I do what I should have done two weeks ago. “I’m sorry for the way I acted, Dani. I was horrible and you were so helpful. I have no excuse except to say that it brought up some pretty awful memories, but you didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of that.”
She looks shocked by my sudden change in demeanor and a bit apprehensive. Her brow is furrowed and I want to take that away too. Her smile is so beautiful, it’s the only thing I want to see on her gorgeous face. So I take it away. I raise my hand from her chin and smooth out her brow with the tip of my thumb.
Acting on her silence, I add, “I also want to say thank you for everything you did. For holding him, for letting me drive, for helping, for paying, and for being there.”
Her smile comes back in full force and I feel like I could fly. No wonder Po is so infatuated with her. Not waiting for a response, I extend my right hand to hers and introduce myself.
“Hi, my name is Ean. Ean Montgomery.”
She throws her head back and laughs. She has such a beautiful, throaty laugh and that just makes me smile, inside and out. I’m sure she’s laughing at the absurdity of this whole situation but I don’t care. I just like hearing her laugh.
She meets my hand and shakes it. “Dani. Dani Adams, it’s very nice to meet you, Ian Montgomery.”
I sit on the sand next to her with my legs crossed underneath me. “He really likes you.” I nod at Po, who’s now lying with his head in her lap. His eyes are fixed on her, his tongue is lolling out, and he’s wearing a look of pure contentment on his smiling face as she pets him.
“That he does,” she laughs. She then shifts her position to get more comfortable and with a serious expression, she says, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see him well. I was really worried.”
“I know, and I’m really sorry,” I sigh. “I should never have told you to leave.”
“I completely understand,” she replies. “No need to apologize, I should never have hit him.”
I laugh, hard. The type of laugh that cleanses your soul. “No, you shouldn’t have. But he’s okay now, so all is good.”
We remain seated by the ocean chatting and enjoying each other’s company. She’s really easy to talk to and I feel like I’ve known her for a really long time. It’s always strange how you can meet some people and feel like you’ve known them forever. We discuss our mutual love of both the beach and the area. I learn that she works at one of my favorite local restaurants, The Spot, which is just down the street from my house. After a while, I move to get up and say, “I should get Po back home now. I just wanted to take him out for a little sun but I don’t want to overdo it.”
I help her to her feet. We say our goodbyes and I turn and head away from the shore, but I only make it a few feet before Po turns and jogs back to her. It’s then that I notice she’s right behind us, walking in our direction. She must notice my confused expression because she stops and says, “I’ve decided to head home too.”
“Walk with us,” I suggest. “Po wouldn’t have it any other way. If you don’t, he’ll just keep going back to you. I think he may have a crush on you.”
Dani laughs and jogs to catch up with me. I clip Po to his leash and together we head away from the beach. When we near The Spot, I realize I’m not ready to let her go yet. I’m enjoying her company and have nothing to go home to, so I take a chance and ask, “Are you hungry? I’m starving and I’d love to take you to lunch and repay you for your kindness.” I hit my pockets with an exaggerated pat and say, “I do have my phone, keys, and wallet this time. I never leave home without them anymore.”
She throws her head back and laughs. God, I love her laugh.
“Touché,” she says through another laugh. “I’d love to.”
“Why don’t you head in and get us a table,” I suggest. “I live nearby so I’m just going to run him home. I’ll be right back.”
I make it back to The Spot in record time. It’s funny how quickly a person can move when motivated, and I’m definitely motivated. As I enter the small restaurant, I see her right away laughing with a waitress at a table near the window. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing her laugh. I hope we can become friends.
As I approach their table, they both look up and smile. “Hello, ladies,” I say once I’m in front of them. I extend my hand to her friend and with a wide smile, my dimples on full display, I introduce myself.
Their smiles grow even wider and I get the distinct impression they’ve been talking about me. “Lysee,” she says, returning my greeting. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
I take the seat next to Dani and we place our orders. It turns out, we both love their veggie burgers with their savory sauce. Everything they serve here is really good but that dish has always been my favorite and I’m thrilled to see it’s hers too. We also get a couple of organic beers and a plate of carrots and tahini to enjoy while we’re waiting.
We talk about anything and everything. Nothing too personal. I’m not ready to go there. I’m lonely and Dani is great. We haven’t stopped laughing. It’s such a departure from how I’ve lived the last six months. I’m glad fate has brought us together for a second time.
After lunch, she hugs Lysee goodbye and then her friend surprises me with a hug. “It was really great meeting you, Ian. Take care of my girl here.” I let her know that I always will and we head out.
“I live up there, on Monterey Avenue.” I gesture with my thumb towards the houses up the road.
Her eyes light up and she exclaims, “Me too!”
“No way!” I say, shock evident in my voice. Doesn’t that just figure? And how haven’t I noticed her before?
“Way!” She laughs at my reaction. Her laugh is free and unabashed. It’s music to my battered soul.
We head up the hill and discover that not only do we live on the same street but we’re also next-door neighbors.
“Oh my God, I cannot believe we’re neighbors,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. “Life is too weird.”
“It figures, doesn’t it?” she responds, also laughing in disbelief. “Though I guess with our history, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Did you just move in? I’ve been here a while and that house has been vacant the whole time.”
“I own it, actually. I’ve been out of town and didn’t want to rent it out. Just came back about…” she holds out her wrist, squinting at an invisible watch, taps it and with a bright smile, she says, “…two weeks ago.”
This time I throw my head back and laugh, a deep belly laugh. “I don’t know if I should say that I’m upset you moved back or glad that you did.”
“Well,” she says, gesturing to her house with the sweep of her arm. “I’m clean and I’m quiet and I like you. It would be nice to have you as a friend. So let’s go with the latter.”
“Let’s go with the latter,” I repeat, reaching for her hand to shake it. “Thanks for joining me for lunch, neighbor Dani.”
“My pleasure, neighbor Ian,” she says, bypassing my hand and going in for a hug.
“We’re friends, and friends hug,” she tells me, her arms around me now. And damn if it doesn’t feel good.
“That they do, neighbor Dani,” I say as I hug her back. “That they do.”
With that I enter my house with a potential new friend, a new contact in my phone, and a huge smile on my face.