Page 76 of Dear Mr. Brody
“And you didn’t know?”
“How could we?”
“This is like some soulmate shit. I’ll have to do your cards before you leave for work in the morning.”
“My cards?”
“Tam taught me tarot.”
“I’m good, but thanks.” I laughed and shoved him in the chest. “Cards? Come on, Marcos.”
“They’re scary accurate. You’ll see.”
I wouldn’t but I didn’t feel like arguing.
Exhausted, I dropped down onto my bed. “We’ve only been on two dates, but like I said on Friday, I really like him.”
“It’s more than two dates. The app. Class.”
“You know what I mean. It’s new and terrifying.” I fidgeted with the hem of my pillowcase. “I met his daughter tonight. Her name’s Anne.”
“Meeting the kid… That’s fast.”
“It’s fast, but it wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be. Anne’s cute as hell… smart. And besides, he hadn’t planned for her to be there. His ex-wife dropped her off unexpectedly.”
“Whoa. You met the ex too?”
“Briefly.” I leaned into my pillows and covered my eyes with my arm. “She’s beautiful.”
“Well, she’s an ex for a reason.”
“They were high school sweethearts. He’s never been with a guy before me.”
“Stop it... you get to deflower Mr. Brody.”
“Oh my God!” I kicked him with my foot. “Get out. I need to sleep, I have work tomorrow.”
He stood up and the mattress shifted. “I want every detail tomorrow,mijo. Every. Single. One.”
I didn’t answer him, smiling when my door shut a little harder than necessary.
Donovan
Parker: You’re probably sleeping. But why in the hell would you lend me $400 pants?
Me: You needed something to wear.
I pressed send, leaning against the kitchen counter with a huge grin on my face and took a long sip of coffee. Everything that had happened last night left a vivid stamp on my memory, loud and hot. My God. Setting my phone on the counter, I closed my eyes and raised a hand to my lips, feeling the burn Parker had left behind. Inhaling, I could smell him, smell the humid scent of his rain-soaked hair, the hard touch of his hands on my face. My heart sped up and I grinned again, my eyes slowly opening to the morning sun as it spilled through the window. I stared out at the lawn, thinking about everything and nothing and I was full and happy. I was happy. Something I hadn’t been in such a long time.
“Dad, we have to go soon.” Anne gaped at me, her hand on her hip. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Zoned out. Did you brush your teeth?”
“Yeah.”
“Get your bookbag, I’ll be ready in a second.”
My phone chirped and I picked it up, swiping my thumb across the screen.