Zinfandel

If she snuck out the bathroom window, she would get her sweater wet. Plus, you can’t very well take an umbrella into the bathroom with you. What do you say to excuse that? ‘Just like to be prepared!’ And then what if there isn’t even a bathroom window? Or there’s dead bugs on the sill? She huffed out a breath. Always such a romantic, Talia.

Tally twirled the straw in her water a few more times while Spencer thrummed out a beat with his fingertips against the edge of the table. He had churned out a few what-are-your-favorite questions, but generally didn’t seem very interested in striking up a conversation. Perhaps she should have another go at it. The bored teenager waiting tables wasn’t getting any closer to taking their order.

“So, what’s your family like?”

Spencer’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Oh no, abort, abort! He’s an orphan! His whole family just plunged into a volcano! They all-

“That’s my dog.” He said, softly, almost in confusion.

“Oh um, sorry. We don’t have to talk about it.”

He scraped back his chair and pointed out the window behind her. “No, that’s my dog. Outside!” He yanked his coat off the back of the chair and rushed through the doors.

“Oh!” She exclaimed. She watched out the window for a moment as Spencer rushed over to the dog, clearly full of concern. It was a small, fluffy, black dog, maybe a miniature schnauzer her mind ventured. As soon as he got a few feet away, the dog bolted. She saw his lips move in a noise of surprise, muffled by the glass, and then he darted after.

Her mind was made up instantly, she slammed down a ten from her purse and rushed out the door. He may not have been a joy ride, but she for sure was going to help out a dog in need.

Cold rain greeted her with all the courtesy of a slap in the face, tiny pin pricks stinging against her cheeks and eyes. Spencer had already made it halfway down the block calling after his dog. She legged it towards him. Spencer was running at full speed, but making no ground, dodging pedestrians left and right.

“No, Merlot!”

She was keeping up until the little dog swerved out into the road, barreling headfirst into traffic. Even twenty feet away, she saw Spencer visibly tense. He didn’t have an opening, but she did. Tires squealed as she leapt into the road, waving her hands frantically at the drivers without tearing her eyes away from the pooch. The dog pounced onto the sidewalk and dove into a huge crowd of tourists.

She heard her date catch up behind her, breathing hard. They pushed into the horde, but they were slowed down significantly. His dog might have weaseled through by now.

“Why is your dog out here?” She asked while being corralled against the tourists in what she considered far too intimate ways for complete strangers. Based on the cranky looks they were getting back, clearly they thought just as much.

Spencer pushed a hand through his curls. “I have no idea! I live close by, but she shouldn’t be able to get out. I don’t know why my roommate hasn’t called me! Merlot must have followed my scent here.” He said frantically.

Their heads snapped to attention in unison as they heard a lady shriek up ahead, “Eek! Scram, you mutt!”

“Merlot!” Spencer called out. They doubled their efforts, trying to be as obnoxious as possible to get through. Finally, the crowd released them onto the sidewalk beyond just as Merlot’s little, black tail disappeared around the corner.

“I know a shortcut, you keep going!” Spencer yelled before dashing into a back alleyway. Putting her faith in him, she heaved herself forward as fast as she could after Merlot. She turned the corner as Spencer popped out causing the dog to do a U-turn straight into Tally. She scooped her up in one victorious sweep. Her wet, little paws flailed in resistance for a moment, before giving in. Up close she could see that she was, in fact, a miniature schnauzer in bad need of a haircut. Spencer strode over with a face full of relief.

“So should I be concerned that was a shortcut that you know?” She teased.

He looked back the way he came before laughing breathlessly. “Maybe,” he bent over with his hands on his knees and let out a big sigh. “Oh my gosh, you’re in heels!”

She giggled at that. “Wedges, actually.”

“Well, thank you so much for your help. I’m just so glad that we got her.” He crowded closer and relieved her of the dog. “Hey, baby girl.”

“She’s really skinny, did you just get her- what’s wrong?” Spencer had just started making a really strange face, like he knew something, but didn’t want to make her mad. “What?”

He struggled with his words for a moment. “This is not my dog.”

Tally’s crossed her arms. “What do you mean?”

“Well, for one thing,” Spencer held the dog out, so they were face-to-face.

“Wha- oh, that’s a boy dog.” She said.

“It’s undeniable.” He said. The dog sighed in exasperation. Or, at least, that’s what it seemed like. She burst out laughing, she couldn’t help it. Soon, Spencer joined her.

“So, what are we going to do with him?” Tally asked him.

He readjusted the dog in his arms. “He seems pretty tame, but skinny and he doesn’t have a collar. He might be a stray.”

“I think you’re right,” she reached out and rubbed behind one fluffy, little ear. “Maybe I’ll keep him. At least until we figure out if he has a home.”

“Here,” Spencer carefully cradled the dog in her arms. “You should hold him then.”

“Yeah,” she breathed. The dog snuggled into her arms. It seemed like he was shivering. It had started to rain harder. She had barely noticed until just now. Her hair was plastered to her scalp, water dripping into her face, but she felt like she was just about to sweat through her sweater. “Um, do you want to walk me home? It’s not far.”

“Oh! Sure, of course.”

They started walking down the block. She sighed, “I’ll just have to get my umbrella tomorrow.”

“I could grab it on my way home.” He offered. “I only live a street over from that restaurant.”

“No, it’s not a problem. My friend is working a shift there tonight. I’ll just text her.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah.” A few moments passed in silence.

Spencer broke it first. “So, I was wondering, maybe Merlot and I could interest you in a glass of. . . merlot?

Tally rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Please don’t tell me you named your dog that just for the sake of that terrible line.”

“No, actually she came with that name.”

“Ah, so you’re a wino.” She said. He threw her an alarmed look to which she cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

He chuckled, “A glass of wine every night, doesn’t make me an addict.”

“Considering that you’ve got a dog named after wine, am I really that far off?”

“Okay, I’ll give you that, but I really would like to get you a drink at least for all the effort you put into trying to save my dog, even if it wasn’t actually mine. I’m sorry that earlier was awkward, I’m a bit of an introvert.”

“I’d say that was a hell of an icebreaker.”

He grinned. “Sure was, what do you think? Redo?” She eyed him for a moment. He had a really nice smile.

“Alright, that sounds good.”

His smile broadened pleasantly. His eyes trailed down to the dog burrowed in her sweater. “So what are you going to name him?”

Tally looked down and little brown eyes peered back up at her. “You’ve got a bit of a theme going, I think I’ll follow it. What do you think of Zinfandel?” She looked up and met his eyes.

“Perfect.”