Page 26 of Without You

“Yeah?”

“You know you can stay with us for as long as you need, right?”

“You’re giving me whiplash, Daddy.”

The look on his face is sad. “I know, I know. Dad guilt is a real thing, darling.”

“No need to feel guilty, Daddy. I don’t want to live with you and Mom, either, remember?”

“I suppose.”

His abrupt change gives me pause. “Daddy?”

He waves me off. “I think your mom’s menopause is catching.”

“I don’t think it works that way but I’ll give you a pass this one time.”

“Thanks. Want to order pizza tonight? We can discuss everything with your mother about the salon thing and maybe help you get started looking for a place?”

“Do I ever say no to pizza?”

“No, you do not. I raised you right.”

I wink at him then make my way back to the files to keep working away. Ten minutes later as I’m scanning files, my phone pings and I look at it, seeing a number I don’t recognize.

Unknown: I can’t stop thinking about…

Unknown: That scone.

A laugh bubbles out of me and I feel my cheeks flame with heat. Brody. I have no idea how he got my number but I’m not even mad that he did. On the contrary, I’m damn near giddy that he went to any sort of effort to be able to reach out to me.

Me: For a second there, I thought you were going to say…

Me: That coffee.

I bite my lip while I wait for his reply, seeing those three bubbles pop up. I quickly add Brody’s name to my contacts. My stomach flutters when those bubbles disappear and a new text comes in.

Brody: That, too, but the company was better.

Oh my gosh, the smile I’m sporting is so big that my cheeks hurt. I don’t even know how to respond to him. I go for deflection.

Me: The baristas there are quite nice.

Brody: That’s exactly who I was talking about. How’d you know?

Me: Lucky guess.

Brody: How about seeing if it was a fluke and going again tomorrow? It’s been a few weeks so it will be a good test.

Me: Which leads me to ask why it’s been weeks since I’ve seen you.

Brody: Please hold. I’ve gotta go tell Johnny that you missed me. BRB

Brody: Okay, I’m back. He seemed to think that I was making it up so I might need you to verify that information for me.

I smile at my phone, giggling like a teenager.

Me: Oh my gosh, you two are ridiculous.

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