Page 48 of From Nowhere

Ozzy: Waiting for Lola to finish her therapy session

Maren: I thought men liked confident women

Ozzy: I don’t speak for all men. I like real women

Maren: My boobs are real

I softly laugh.

Ozzy: But is your confidence? Is it genuine?

Maren: Depends on the day

Ozzy: That’s the right answer

Maren: How so?

Ozzy: Confidence is a state of being

Maren: That’s deep. Are you in therapy too?

Ozzy: I married a deep woman who made me a little less shallow

Maren: Haha I love that

Maren: Am I allowed to talk to Lola about Bandit?

Ozzy: Not sure yet. I’m waiting to see her reaction to accidentally running into you again

Maren: Reaction?

Ozzy: I need to know if she can be cool about it or if she’s going to embarrass me by asking you personal questions

Maren: She can ask me anything

Ozzy: Don’t say that

Maren: Ozzy?

Ozzy: Yes?

Maren: You’re a good kisser too

Ozzy: I know

When a young couple comes into the office, I slide my phone into my jacket pocket. A few minutes later, Lola emerges.

“I’m starving,” she says while rubbing her tummy.

“Shocking.” I smile, helping her thread her arms through her backpack before we head outside.

It’s a fifteen-minute ride to Build a Bowl. Before I can lock up our bikes, Lola runs inside, leaving both locks and our helmets with me. When I get everything situated and reach the door, Lola’s found Maren at a tall table in the corner.

“Dad! Look who’s here.”

I smile and nod toward the register. “I assume my daughter ordered for us,” I say to the employee behind the counter while retrieving my wallet.

“She did, and the woman over there already paid.”

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