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 Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 4:28 pm
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 She pushed the power button on her cell phone to light up the screen to see the time on the clock. The smirk that had been reoccurring all morning reappeared on her face as she saw the numbers glowing up at her - 7:50 AM.
"You're here?!"
She pushed herself away from her car where she had been leaning to turn to look at the broad man standing at the bottom of the house steps.
"Well, you did say I should be here at eight," she said.
"But you're here," he said, as he quickly made his way down the pathway to stand before her.
"Is it really that much of a surprise?"
"Can you blame me for being skeptical?"
"I suppose not," she replied.
He looked her up and down before flashing her a smile.
"At least you have your wits about you and dressed appropriately. I can never understand the people who come dressed up like they're taking a stroll in the mall for an outdoor activity."
"Probably helps I grew up living in a forest."
"Ah," he said. "So that's why walking those trails seems like nothing to you. Well then, I suppose you will make an excellent companion then."
"So, where do we start?"
"Normally I would have folks drive us to a trailhead but..." He looked up at the clear blue skies above then before back at her. "I would have to waste a single moment of this lovely weather we're having. You don't mind walking all the way there, do you?"
"Not at all," she replied. "Though I would think you would want to spend as much time searching in the woods as you can."
He waved his hand as if swatting the thought aside as he started walking down the street. "Since I have searched the woods enough times and know my way around, it won't take as long to get through them to where we need to be. It'll be a lot of quicker than it was when I first started.
She followed him before matching his pace and walking beside him.
"You mentioned you lived in a forest? Where are you from? You don't seem like much of an outsider like most visitors are."
"Not too far from here actually. Just in Washington though."
"Ah, a true Pacific Northwestern then."
"Through and through."
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 4:30 pm
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 8:56 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 9:30 am
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 He glanced over hearing one of the other male attendee's voices raise up loudly. A pang of concern passed through him as he observed a young man speaking animatedly with a lady, who shifted backwards and glanced around her as if she was both embarrassed by the man's behavior and looking for an escape route. Seeing that the situation wasn't improving, he took the last swig of his wine before getting up from his table and walking over.
"Everything alright, my dear?" he inquired, stepping up to them and reaching out a hand to barely graze her arm.
His heart tightened with sympathy when he felt her automatically tense up upon his touch but was surprised when she seemed to relax just as quickly when her green eyes took in who was addressing her.
"I'm sorry," said the young man. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something?"
"Yes. Yes, I can. It's the very reason why I came over as I don't like it when people disrespect her," he said sternly, furrowing his brows as he turned to glare at the man. He kept the laughter that bubbled inside him from breaking his intense gaze as he watched the man step back slightly as his brave stance instantly melted away.
"I mean no disrespect," the young man finally stated. "I was trying to ask her if she was interested in going out with me. But seems to be quite stubborn on the matter."
"You mean, you don't like that she won't say yes to your advances?"
The man briefly looked away in embarrassment.
"It's quite disrespectful to continue pushing your advances when a lady has already given you an answer of disinterest," he said. "Even more so when the lady in question is already taken."
"Sorry?"
The lady shifted next to him to gaze up at him and to hide her questioning gaze from the young man.
"The lady is already taken," he repeated.
"She didn't indicate she was already seeing someone."
"You never asked," she finally spoke up, turning to him. Clearly she was regaining some courage to face this unwanted attention with her newfound ally standing nearby. "You just automatically assumed that a pretty young lady standing by herself must be single and looking."
"Who are you dating?"
"I don't see why that's any of your business," she snipped in response.
"Me," said _____ at the same time.
"Sorry, what?" said the young man, almost stumbling backwards in shock.
"She's with me."
The lady turned back to look at him and then a smile slowly appeared on her face, like sunshine appearing from behind a cloud passing by.
"She's... you're..." stuttered the young man looking between the two of them.
"My dear," said the lady, threading her arm around his arm. "Would you like to join me on going to sample some of the delicious sweets they just brought out? I hear there is a lovely cheesecake among them and I am quite intrigued to taste it due to its unique flavor."
"Of course," he said smiling, leading her away from the stunned young man.
After walking a bit and getting out of hearing distance from the young man, she turned her face up to look at him with wonder.
"Thank you."
"Of course."
"I really starting to wonder how I was going to get out of that. He was being quite insistent about his advances despite me speaking quite clearly and to the point that I wasn't interested."
"I had a feeling that was the case when I saw you from across the way."
"Thank you again."
He raised their arms up enough for him to place a gentle kiss upon her hand.
"Cheesecake, you say?" he said, smiling.
She chuckled and nodded. "Apparently it's lavender and honey flavored."
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 9:38 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 9:40 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 10:13 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 10:51 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 10:56 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2022 11:06 am
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