Kissing Strangers

I'm not sure if you guys remember Max, the husky I rescued two months back that took me for the run of my life and had me eating dirt and grass on a few occasions. That little fuck face found a great home with some fabulous gay men and I couldn't be prouder if I was a mother at her kid's first recital.

Fast forward to Friday (also known as last day of my celibacy vow), I was driving home from a particularly humiliating interview when I received a call from a number I didn't recognize. Being in no mood to talk to anyone, I hit the ignore button on all three tries. Two minutes later, I get this text message:

I pick up the phone with trembling hands, terrified that somehow one of my dogs had sneaked past me when I left for the interview and had wandered off into a neighbor's backyard.

Stranger: Hello?

Me: Hi. This is Annah, you called me.

Stranger: Yeah, I think I have your dog.

Me: What do you mean? What does it look like? Where are you?

Stranger: I'm at Amelia Park. It's a husky, female.

Me: I don't own any huskies. Plus I live nowhere near Amelia.

Stranger: Well you had a sign for a husky at this park with your number on it, so I figured it was you.

Me: (trying to figure out what the fuck he's talking about). Oh my God, yeah. I mean no. That's Max. That's a husky I rescued a while back and left fliers up in that park to see if anyone wanted to adopt him.

Stranger: So this isn't your dog?

Me: Nope. But, what are you going to do?

Stranger: Take her to the pound I guess, but I don't leave work for another 8 hours so I'm just going to keep her tied up and see if she doesn't escape.

Me: It's okay. I'll pick her up and keep her 'til I find her a home.

Stranger: Why would you do that?

Me: I do animal rescue. It's just my thing.

Stranger: But why?

Me: That's none of your damn business, really. Shit, I'm sorry. It's been a tough morning.

Stranger: Um, yeah okay. Come by. My name is Alex. Just ask for me at the entrance.

Twenty minutes later I was facing Alex, a boy of barely eighteen who towered a good six inches over me in his jeans and t-shirt. The dog -a cutie I've baptized as Jenka- immediately started wagging her tail at me and put her front paws all over my suit, muddying it up in the process as a light drizzle started to fall.

Alex: What are you going to do with her? (His blue eyes scanned the damage to my suit and finally rested on my face).

Me: I'll keep her, like I said.

The rain was beginning to annoy me, but he didn't seem fazed in the least and I wondered how much longer until my mascara started to smear.

Alex: There aren't many good people like you left in this world.

Me: That's sweet, little buddy, but you don't really know me. It's probable I'm the devil in need of a companion.

Alex: Well if you're the devil then I should really start questioning religion.

The balls on this child! I just rolled my eyes and looked around, feigning irritation.

Me: It was nice meeting you, Alex.

Alex: That was stupid, eh? You must be thinking I'm just some kid trying to get fresh.

Me: I'm getting wet. I'm not really thinking about anything except getting in my car.

And then just like that and without preamble, he kissed me. No warning of any sign as he pulled my damp body up to his and planted one on me while Jenka sat in the back seat of my car, already dozing off. I let him for a few short seconds before pulling away.

Alex: I mean it. It's nice to know there are good people like you around. (I felt him search for my eyes, the confidence from just a few minutes before fully dissipated after his more-than-bold move). I didn't dare look up, scared six months without sex would betray me and I'd jump his bones right there in the middle of the park.

"Thank you," I quickly stammered, jumping in my car and speeding off without so much as a look back.

Talk about the teapot calling the kettle black, Jenka.