>> “Almost. He tried to rescue me when I tripped, actually, but I was just a little too quick for him. We got talking and things just happened.”

Even Jorge was surprised about how spot on he could be when it came to certain matters. He really was only joking when he stated the clumsy way that Andrew would have met Verdigris. He really had only said it to embarrass Andrew a little more but upon learning that that was indeed how they had really met, he had to smirk to himself. He would make sure to make fun of Andrew later for that. You know…when he was not on trial for murder. At least he hoped he would remember to make that joke. Inwardly he sighed at that small invasion of reality.

But his face was quick to mask it with a smile.

“Well Andrew, I always knew you were one for making a lasting first impression.” he chuckled a bit as she sat back in the bench.

This was nice. Sitting in a park bench, with two young people who were probably so completely embarrassed to be seen with him, in the middle of the day. He enjoyed it a lot. He would make sure to do this again the very second that he was able to.

A glance at Verdigris and Andrew told he that he was wearing out his welcome though. They had probably only invited him in order to play up the fact that they really were not on a date to begin with. While he was all up for keeping up the charade, he could sense that there was something there. They seemed too close to remain just friends for long. But…he’s been wrong before.

With a sigh, he suddenly whistled out as Lizzie continued to roll about with Jack. The second she heard the whistle, Lizzie bounded over happily and danced about his legs. He could only shake his head as he leaned down and gently hook her collar with his leash. After he was done, he stood up and nodded to them both once more.

“Well, thank you both for the breather,” he said with a smile. “But I do have to get going or I won’t make it back in time. Again, it was great seeing the both of you. Andrew, we can continue boxing whenever you feel like it and Verdigris,” he said as he turned to her. “Make sure you practice that right hook. The kid’s always falls victim to them.”

With that he winked and began to once more head off. It was time to leave the two lovebirds…errr…”friends” to their own devices.

Andrew rolled his eyes at the detective's joke.

"Like you're no different. I won't be forgetting meeting you at least."

They sat in peace, watching the dogs play, for a little while longer. That is until Jorge whistled for his dog and stood up to make his excuses and take off. As it happened, Jorge needed to be off so that he wasn't late for his date.

"I'll see ya soon. Have fun on your date old man."

At length Jack returned to them. He seemed very happy to have played with Lizzie. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and his tail thumped side to side with more force than usual. Andrew gave the dog a pet or two and then looked at Verdy.

"Want to have a quick walk and then start heading back to the mansion?"

That seemed like a good idea to him. Jack had had plenty of play and had met several other dogs. Verdy and he had gotten to chat with Jorge. Of course Andrew would likely be vehemently correcting the older man about the state of his relationship with Verdy for some time. Andrew could just tell from the way he'd winked before he'd left and the general mirth about him. If only Andrew could embarrass Jorge as easily as Jorge managed to embarrass him.

“Oh yes, it’s not everyday you meet a chivalrous young man who’ll run to scrape your clumsy butt off the ground”

The bit about his own tumble didn’t need mentioning, the general air of the detective suggested that he would tease him mercilessly anyway, without that little tidbit. The teasing was friendly though, no undertones of hate or bitterness. She smiled, it was nice to be around people so at ease with each other, there was just a tone of understanding. Comfortably existing.

Jorge excused himself again after calling Lizzie over, and this time she didn’t feel bad about letting him go. Andrew wished him well and she nodded agreement to his sentiment. Friendly chap, he deserved to have a date with a nice lady. The fact that she was the mansion councillor was merely coincidence. They all lived in the same city, after all and a small world it was indeed.

His instruction to her was given with a serious expression, which she matched and added a solemn nod. She would have to look that up later and find out what it was, along with the other moves she was certain that boxers had names for. She had a bunch of reading to do, she was sure the library would have material on the subject. It was three stories high for goodness sake, and she was certain she and Andrea had wandered past instruction manuals and an entire ‘how to… for dummies’ section. Before they got stuck atop the shelves, of course.

Jack seemed, if it was possible, even more happy than usual, and somewhere she wondered if a dog could actually wag its own tail off. She doubted it, and was fairly sure that there was an operation done on the doggies who had stumps instead of real tails.

Andrew’s suggestion of a walk and then back home was met with a nod. It would be good to stretch her legs after the time sitting, and as the saying went, there truly was no place like home. Plucking the ball from its now sticky resting place on the bench she slipped it into her bag, fairly certain that it wouldn’t slime anything too important. Her charged phone was safely inside its sock, and there was little else of value in there.