12. Meet Leon
Chapter twelve
Meet Leon
Sawyer
As I pulled my lasagna out of the fridge to pack up for Neil, I wondered again what I was thinking, offering to bring him lunch. That was something boyfriends or good friends did. Of which, unfortunately, we weren’t either yet. But the picture of him eating a gas station sandwich and chips for lunch had triggered mothering instincts I didn’t know I possessed. I’d been overcome with the need to feed him proper food.
I’d been planning to make the lasagna for dinner anyway, and it always made too many leftovers for me living alone. Sure, I’d planned to freeze them for later, but whatever. They were going to a good cause.
I arrived for my volunteer shift a few minutes early. I paused as I opened the door and the first barks rang out into the still air. They seemed so much louder after a day without hearing them.
The front door opened, and a man strolled out, leading a dog—some kind of husky thing—on a leash. The sight froze me in place until they had passed. I could do this. I had lunch to deliver.
But I circled around to the employees-only side door that opened up right into the employee kitchen and breakroom.
Then I leaned against the counter and texted Neil, doing my best to ignore the barking echoing through the large space.
Me: It safe to come upstairs?
Neil: No, I’ll come down.
A moment later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Morning,” I said, setting the insulated lunchbox on the counter as Neil rounded the corner.
Neil jumped and blinked at me and then at the lunchbox. “You were serious?”
“I’m always serious,” I declared, striking a dramatic pose with my hands on my hips and chin high.
Neil snorted. “Whatever you say.”
“I do. So what do you have planned for me today, boss?”
“Did your therapist really okay your plan to volunteer here?” he asked me with narrowed eyes.
I pursed my lips and tried to look innocent.
“Sawyer…” Neil’s frown deepened.
“I’m sure she’ll sign off on it… tomorrow… when I see her.” The insulated lunchbox was suddenly the most interesting thing in the office. “But I’m here today whether you like it or not.
Neil’s lips twitched, and he shook his head. “I thought you’d say that. But I also thought you should have a partner for the day, just in case.”
This day just got so much better! Four hours working side by side with Neil? My heart started thundering like a freight train.
“Great!” My voice broke. God, I bet I sounded like an idiot.
“I’m glad you think so.” Neil waved. “Leon, perfect timing!”
I whirled to find a man had come up behind me. Leon was a younger Black man with dreads pulled back under a bandana, wearing worn jeans and a Lakers jersey.
“Sawyer, meet Leon.” Neil beamed while I stared at him. “You’ll be partnering up today. Sawyer, Leon used to volunteer at a shelter down in LA. This is his first shift here, but he knows what to do, and you can show him around here.”
“Nice to meet you!” Leon was far too cheerful as he pumped my hand.
“You—” I sputtered, looking at Neil when Leon let go.
Neil leaned toward me and whispered, “Don’t worry, he doesn’t know.” Then slapped me on the back, like that was my issue with pairing up with Leon.
I was still stammering, trying to figure out how to word my objection without sounding like an asshole.
“Have a good day!” Neil waved and ducked out of the kitchen.
I guess that was my answer. I sighed.
“Should we get started?” Leon asked with a grin.
I sighed. “Might as well.”
My mind was so caught up on what could have made Neil not want to spend time with me that I barely heard the barking dogs. Maybe bringing him lunch was coming on too hard, and this was his way of rejecting me.
I showed Leon where the cat’s feeding schedule was posted. Together, we made quick work of getting everything ready. As we rolled the cart out into the hall, an employee passed in front of the doorway, walking a large dog on a leash. The dog reminded me a lot of Scooby-Doo, brown with a big square muzzle.
Leon was in front, and paused to let them pass, giving them a cheerful nod. While it startled me, I wasn’t scared. It was more that I hadn’t expected to see it there. I had fewer issues with big dogs than small ones. Even so, I was grateful for the chance to catch my breath and compose myself.
Leon was fun to work with, laughing and joking with me as we went through the cages delivering the food. I felt bad that I mostly offered him one-word grunts in return.
I gave my favorite long-haired white cat an extra pet after putting her food in the kennel. I laughed when I saw her name card had been replaced, and her new one read “Princess Fluffybutt.”
We were almost finished, and I was bent over putting food in a cat cage that backed up to the lobby. A slobbery dog lunged at the glass, making me startle backward sending the cat food flying. I ended up with wet cat food smeared all down my front. And, of course, I’d worn my nicest t-shirt today in an effort to dress up for Neil.
“Damn dog,” I muttered, scraping a hunk of cat food off my front. Leon offered me an arm up.
“Wanna talk about it?” Leon asked as we wheeled the cart back into the supply room.
“I’m afraid of dogs,” I admitted. It was a lot easier to make the confession today after telling Neil the other night.
“That jump scare would have gotten me, too, and I love dogs.” Leon laughed and held up a fist, which I bumped with mine. “But that wasn’t actually what I meant.”
“Oh, more like, why am I volunteering at an animal shelter, blah blah blah?” I held up both hands and made mouth motions.
“Not that, either.”
I made a go-on motion with my hand and went over to the sink, where I stripped off my apron, wrinkling my nose at the cat food stains where the food had splashed past the apron.
Note to self: don’t wear nice shit to shelter volunteer shifts.
“I meant your mood, dude.” Leon handed me a wet towelette and quirked a smile at me. “But now that you mention it, why are you volunteering here?”
“Not you, too,” I muttered and dabbed at the wet stains.
“You brought it up, not me.” Leon laughed, turned to the cart, and started unloading it. We had cat litter to change next.
“Fair enough.”
Neil came to check on us while we worked on cleaning litter pans. I tried to loosen up since Leon had forced me to confront my bad mood. I didn’t want to be that asshole making his first day here miserable. So I gave him back just as good as I got.
“How you kids doing?” Neil asked, a grin on his baby face.
“Kids?” Leon whooped. “You’re one to talk. What are you, nineteen?”
“A bit older than that, but point taken.” Neil’s smile dimmed but didn’t go out. He glanced at me and then quickly away.
“I’m good,” I assured him, picking up on what he wanted to know. I hardly heard the barking now that had bothered me so much this morning. “And Leon and I are getting on like a house on fire.” I held up a fist, which Leon obligingly bumped.
“Great, just great.” Neil’s smile turned strained, and he walked away stiff-legged.