1. Neighborhood Crush

Transcript

My New Year's resolution to get out of bed every weekday morning for a long walk before work sounded great at the time, but now I just want to snuggle under the covers. Monty, my two-year-old black lab mix, is having none of it. Okay, okay, I'm getting up.

I stretch after I get dressed and drink a bit of water. Monty and I head out the door and around the corner to the park, where we start our first lap, stopping every now and then for Monty to sniff. I listen to Dua Lipa dancing a little to keep warm in the morning chill.

Suddenly, I see a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye. It's him. I stop dancing and wait for him to run by, enjoying his long stride and the way his shorts hug that amazing ass.

He's not cold in the morning chill. Oh no, no no, he is moving fast and sweating. He makes me want to show up, you know? I mean, if he can run like that every day, walking Monty is something I can definitely handle.

As I turn the corner, I see him stretching his quads, pressing one leg back and leaning against the tree. Damn, he is hot. He catches me looking at him and gives me the universal nod of acknowledgement, but with a killer smile.

Monty takes that as an invitation and pulls me over to him. Monty! Oh! Monty, get down! Oh, I'm so sorry.

Damn, she's even prettier up close. Hey, no worries, I'm fine. This guy's got a lot of energy, huh? I reach down and pet the black lab who immediately slobbers on me.

Yeah, Monty's a handful. Sorry to interrupt your workout. Time to shoot my shot.

So he's Monty, I'm Calvin, and you are? Words. Use your words, Jenna.

Just because his smile is even more gorgeous up close doesn't mean you can't speak. I'm Jenna. Say more, damn it.

Ask for his number. Offer to have his babies. Just then, Monty spots a squirrel and nearly pulls my arm out of the socket.

As he pulls me across the park, I look back and wave at Calvin. Sexy, perfect Calvin that I definitely want to kiss. There's definitely some chemistry there.

It's not just me. So maybe next time I see her, I'll ask her out. That weekend, I let my friend Chase drag me out to a new bar.

While I'm sitting at the bar, working on my second whiskey, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Well, hello there, stranger. Hey, Jenna.

You ran away the other morning. Maybe he's interested? Or is he just making small talk? And why is he so damn cute? Here I am.

No Monty to drag me away now. Oh, is he not into karaoke night? No, no, but he can howl with the best of them.

Oh my God, he's all so hilarious. Keep calm, keep calm. I can see my two girlfriends eyeing me from a table.

I'm supposed to be comforting one of them after a nasty breakup. I can't bail on them, no matter how adorable this guy is. But it's time to woman up.

Give him my number. Listen, I need to go join my friends and talk about how terrible men are. Naturally.

But let me put my number in your phone. Yes. I try not to make eye contact with my friend Chase, who's grinning like an idiot behind her.

She quickly puts in her number, and then she hands me back the phone. See you later, Calvin. I watch her walk away, checking her out, but not drooling on myself or anything.

All right, so I've got her number. After a bit, Chase heads to the bathroom and I decide to text her. I notice she's put her name in my phone as Jenna Hart, and I can't help but grin.

Let me know if you want to stay after your friends go, and we can have a drink together. I watch her check her phone and smile, and then she looks up at me and smiles even wider. She's got the most gorgeous smile.

She quickly texts me back. I'd love to, but I need to get home to Monty soon. He'll eat the couch if I'm late.

Ah, yeah, that makes sense. I start to text her back when I'm hit with another message from her. But you could walk me home if you like.

I look up at her and meet her eyes. I nod and smile. Hell yes, I'll walk you home.