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“You like kids?”More of that knitted brow.

“Well, sure.Who doesn’t like kids?”And shit, that was the wrong thing to say because a lot of people didn’t like kids.Like all the people who chose not to have them.Absolutely a decision I respected.If you didn’t love them, then you sure as shit shouldn’t be having them.Still, I persevered.“My sister Marcie has two beautiful kids.I mean, like super cute and super healthy—which is all you can really ask for, right?She considers herself blessed.”

“Yeah.”Phillip scratched his chin.“Lucky.”

I desperately wanted to ask him about himself.None of my business, of course, but I was still intensely curious.

Finally, he pointed across the park.“That’s the way we’re going.You don’t have to?—”

“No, I’d love to.If you don’t mind.”I checked my heart rate.A good cooldown range.I didn’t like to stop running abruptly, and if I had a cramp, I’d be forced to stop, but this should be fine.I planned to drink plenty of water when I got home.

We headed in the direction he’d pointed.

The direction that led to my house.

“Uh, which street do you live on?If you don’t mind me asking.”

Wally continued his adorable waddle.

He didn’t pull on his harness, which I considered a bonus.

I’d had a dalmatian growing up, and she’d been forever yanking on her leash.Years of training and we’d never broken her of the habit.Wild and wonderful Spot.Completely unoriginal name for a dalmatian, and most people wound up misgendering her.Still, I’d loved her from the day my parents brought her home until the day she passed.By then, I was away at university and Marcie had almost finished high school.My parents wanted to travel, so they’d never gotten another dog.

Somehow, in my crazy and insanely busy adult life, I’d never gotten one either.As I surreptitiously glanced at Phillip, it occurred to me that I should consider it.I was getting older.That didn’t have anything to do with the hankering…kids weren’t in my future, and having a companion might be a good idea.

As we exited the park, I considered.“Which street do you live on?”

“Uh…”

“Sorry, asking too many questions.Making too many assumptions.You know what they say about assume…”

“Sure…” Phillip scratched his nose.“Well, actually, no.”

“Oh.It makes anassout ofuandme.”

I slowed down a fraction.Should I spell it out to him?Not everyone gets the joke.Just because I use it all the?—

“Okay, yeah.”He chuckled.“That’s a good one.”

Relief washed over me.Despite his solid body, his apparent fragility called to me.His words were often tentative—as if he worried about how I would react.

“I, uh…” He kept walking.“I live on Hummingbird Lane.”

“Oh, wow, that’s so cool.I do too.”I matched his stride.Slower than I would normally do, but still at a good pace.“I’ve never seen you before.”Too obtrusive?Too nosy?Yeah, probably.

“I just moved in.Like the day before yesterday.”

“Oh.”I snapped my fingers.“I passed a furniture truck as I was getting home on Monday.I’d run down to see a client in Costa Mesa.”

“Yeah, that would’ve been the furniture people from San Diego.Nikki and some guy whose name I don’t remember.Ralph?Fred?”He ran his hand through his damp hair.The morning wasn’t particularly warm and our pace wasn’t that fast, but he was sweating.

I cut my stride length by a bit more.

He immediately matched it and let out a little sigh.

Damn.Be more attentive.“New furniture?”Now I thought about it, I’d seen that truck before.“Do you live at number thirteen?”

He cast me a sharp glance and nearly tripped.