Lilly

Luna launches herself at him like she has known him her entire life. He barely has time to react before she is all over him, paws up on his chest, tail wagging like it might detach, licking at his face with zero hesitation.

There is a brief moment where you expect annoyance.

Instead, he laughs.

"Well, hi," he says, a little breathless but clearly amused as he steadies himself, one hand coming up to hold Luna so she does not knock him over completely.

"I’m so sorry, she doesn’t usually do this," you say as you finally reach them, grabbing for her collar.

That is a lie. She absolutely does.

Luna wriggles in your grip and immediately tries to climb him again.

"Luna, get down," you say, mortified, trying to pull her back. "Oh my god, I’m so sorry."

"It’s okay," he says, still laughing, like this is somehow the highlight of his day. "She’s friendly."

"That’s one word for it."

You manage to get Luna’s paws back on the ground, though she stays pressed against him like she has decided he belongs to her now.

Up close, you actually look at him.

And then you kind of… keep looking.

He is tall. That is the first thing you register. Then the hair, slightly messy in a way that looks accidental but probably is not. There is a softness to his expression, an easy smile that makes it feel like you are not inconveniencing him at all.

"Sorry," you say again, quieter this time, because you realize you have been staring.

"It’s really fine," he says. "Honestly, I feel chosen."

You huff out a small laugh. "She does that. Picks a person and then just... commits."

"I’m honored."

Luna leans into his leg like she agrees.

You shake your head, tightening your grip on the leash this time so there is no repeat incident.

There is a small pause.

"Hi," he says.

"Hi," you echo, immediately aware that you sound a little awkward.

Before you can recover, someone nearby gasps.

"Oh my god, sorry, are you Joe Keery?"

You blink.

The guy in front of you turns slightly, like this is not the first time this has happened. "Yeah," he says.

The girl who asked looks like she might actually combust. "I love you. I mean, not like that. I just love Stranger Things. Steve is my favorite. Can I get a photo?"

You glance between them, confusion settling in as you watched him agree, coming in close with the girl as she lifts her phone up.

You looked away, focusing on patting Luna as the girl finally gets her photo, still buzzing with excitement, then hurries off after thanking him about three times.

Silence settles again.

You look back at him.

He is already looking at you.

"So," he says, "Sorry about that..."

You wince slightly. "No, it's okay...so, you'rethat one guy..."

He chuckles "that one guy?"

"Well...I haven't seen it...but obviously I've heard it...that one show..."

He nods, digging a hand in his pocket as he adjusted his shoulder bag.

"Stranger Things, yeah"

"Right...Stranger Things...sorry"

He frowns in amusement "Don't know what you're sorry for...I don't expect everyone to have watched it"

You nod sheepishly, looking down at Luna as she sits on your foot.

"Yeah...obviously"

You find yourself smiling despite yourself as you look up to meet his eyes again.

He was definitely handsome, a good looking man for sure, well groomed.

And something about the moustache was sending flutters to your stomach as he smiled, lips widening with deep lines creasing his sculpted cheeks.

Luna nudges his hand again, demanding attention. He gives in immediately, scratching behind her ears like he has known her forever.

"She really likes you," you say.

"I can tell," he says. "I think we have a connection."

"Don’t let it go to your head."

"No promises."

You shift your weight slightly, gesturing down the path. "Well, I'm sure you'dlike to be on your way, so..."

"Can I join you?"

The question catches you off guard.

"You want to walk with me?"

"And Luna," he adds. "Mostly Luna, if I’m being honest."

You pretend to consider it for a second, even though you already know your answer.

"Okay," you say. "Yeah. You can walk with us."

"Great," he says, falling into step beside you easily.

Luna walks between you at first, tail wagging, clearly pleased with the outcome she orchestrated.

For a minute, you just walk. The quiet is not awkward, just... there.

"So," he says after a moment, glancing at you, "you really haven’t seen it?"

"Stranger Things?" you ask. "No."

"Not even one episode?"

"Nope."

"That’s kind of impressive."

"Is it?"

"In a way."

You smile a little. "I just read more than I watch things."

"That tracks."

You glance at him. "What does that mean?"

"I don’t know. You just seem like someone who works in a bookstore."

You laugh softly. "I do, actually."

"Called it."

"What about you?" you ask, a little teasing. "Besides being that one guy."

"I dabble," he says.

"In what?"

"Fighting monsters. Babysitting kids. Great hair maintenance."

You snort. "Oh, you're a babysitter?"

He laughed loudly, biting his bottom lip with a nod of his head.

Luna suddenly veers off, tugging you slightly as she heads toward a patch of grass.

"No, don’t," you say, already knowing it is pointless.

She flops onto her back and starts rolling enthusiastically.

Joe laughs. "What is she doing?"

"Being disgusting. There is probably something dead there."

"Nice."

"Yeah."

You tug the leash gently. "Come on, you menace."

Luna pops back up, looking incredibly proud of herself.

"You’re going to regret joining us," you say.

"I doubt it," he says. "This is very entertaining."

You keep walking, conversation coming easier now. It shifts without effort from small talk to slightly more personal things. Books you like. Music he listens to. Little things about the city.

At some point, you stop thinking of him as someone you accidentally ran into.

He is just Joe.

And he is... easy.

Easy to talk to. Easy to be around.

Luna eventually drifts closer to his side, like she has made a decision.

"Wow," you say. "I’ve been replaced."

"I think she chose me," he says.

"I raised her."

"And yet."

You shake your head, smiling.

Eventually, you reach the point where the path splits.

You slow down. "I usually go this way."

He nods. "I should probably head back."

"Yeah," you say, though something in your chest dips a little.

There is a pause.

"It was nice meeting you," you say.

"You too," he says.

He crouches down, giving Luna one last scratch. "Bye, Luna."

She licks his face again.

"Consistent," he says.

He stands, looking at you for a second like he is deciding something.

"Do you do coffee?" he asks.

You raise an eyebrow. "I’ve heard of it"

He smiles. "Good. Because I’d like to see you again. Maybe upgrade from being that one guy."

You pretend to think about it.

"Okay," you say. "Yeah. I think you’ve earned a chance."

"Glad to hear it."

You exchange numbers, quick but somehow still feeling important.

"I'll pick a pet friendly place" he beamed, looking down at Luna before giving her a reassuring nod as she wagged her tail.

"Okay..."

He steps back, then turns, walking down the other path. After a second, he glances back and lifts a hand in a small wave.

You wave back.

Then you stand there for a moment, watching him go.

Luna nudges your leg.

"Yeah," you murmur, a small smile forming. "I know."

For once, she picked very well.