Coming Up Dana by Taylor J. Bridgeforth

Author:Taylor J. Bridgeforth [Taylor J. Bridgeforth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

THE BABY TALK Tatum is drowning Drake in has me fawning over their relationship. Drake was always the best dog. He knew when we needed his warmth and extra cuddles. Or when I needed to feel less alone. I miss furry cuddles. I can only hold Goldie until Billy Doe Yo closes.

“Tatum, I’m thinking about getting a dog,” I say.

My daughter stops her kisses. “We already have a dog,” she says, jutting his face into the screen.

I smile. Man, I miss Drake’s wrinkly face. “YOU have our dog. It's empty and quiet here. I didn’t notice over the past year–”

Tatum blanches and cowers from the screen. Drake went with Tatum to Modern Awakening. His familiarity got her through the weeks needed to have her attend USC. And to keep her spirits up while attending university surrounded by her classmates from high school, Drake continued to provide solace. Now, I need solace. Things are changing by my own design but not everything has to alter at once.

“I just wanted to keep you in the loop,” I say.

“Okay,” she relents with a long sigh. “I understand. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Tatum brings Drake’s face toward the screen again. “I ruff you too,” she says.

“Good night.”

Before the phone disconnects, it pings a new message from bowlofwords.

“One down, one to go.”

bowlofwords🎳: what’s for dinner?

bookdbythegrill📚: let’s meet.

bowlofwords🎳: ok, why the urgency?

bookdbythegrill📚: to make sure you’re not a toothless momma’s boy with video game addiction.

bowlofwords🎳: shouldn’t I be worried about meeting a chain smoking hoarder?

bookdbythegrill📚: has that happened before?

bowlofwords🎳: 🤐

bookdbythegrill📚: lol you make a good point.

bowlofwords🎳: meet at Oliver’s, 1pm tomorrow?

Mighty convenient location as Oliver’s is right across from Fleet Tower. I wonder how long we’ve been orbiting each other without noticing. I chug the rest of my goblet of wine and let bowlofwords know I’ll see him there. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be on my first lunch date since my divorce. I refill my glass of wine to rid my skeptical nerves.

***

“Can you scoot over?”

I squinted up from the tree I was leaning against to the boy above me. The sun was blocking my view from his face but I noticed he was wearing dark jeans, a loose navy T-shirt with worn Chuck Taylors.

“You can find any other patch of grass to sit on,” I said, gesturing to the open courtyard of USC’s campus.

“Then I wouldn’t be sitting next to you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Scoot,” he said, sitting close beside me.

I moved to give myself space. He made himself comfortable before holding out his hand.

“I’m Brian.”

I told him my name without shaking his hand. “Dana.”

“What’re you studying?”

“I’m majoring in business. Feel free to go find your own.”

Brian tilted his head. “Just so you know the ‘bite me’ attitude just intrigues me more.”

I looked him over: freckles across his porcelain nose and cheeks, loose clothing, unblinking eyes and empty handed.

“Where are your books? Or backpack? Do you even go to USC,” I questioned.

“Me, I’m studying life.”

“As in biology?”

“Accounting actually. You in business, me in math. We could take over the world,” he said.

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