Page 13 of Single Dad Panther's Best Friend Romance

In a movie, I would immediately respond with something brilliant and witty. I would somehow come up with the very epitome of brilliance as I make clear to this man how my entire life has become wrapped up in him. I would say in one sentence something so powerful that it could convey that…

I can’t imagine my life without him.

I feel lost and alone when he’s overnight at the fire station.

I love Joel with all my heart because I see Preston in him.

I want to stop moving from one house to the other and instead just live together.

I want sleepy mornings together.

I want all-nighters together.

I want vacations together.

I want it all.

Yes, one little sentence would say all of that if we were in a movie. I don’t come up with a brilliant sentence at all. Instead, I just stare at him in wonder. I can see his face go from expectant to confused to worried and then to sad.

So, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “All I know is that my finger feels really neglected,” I whisper. Well, what the fuck does that mean, right? I’m shaking visibly as I lift my hand and point to my ring finger. “Really, really neglected.” My goodness, I sound like I’m hyperventilating.

But then, I hear the sighs. I hear all of the audience catching their breath.

And I realize it’s real. We have spectators. They heard him ask the question. They saw me fumble an answer and his reaction and now they’ve heard me say the one sentence that is pretty damned good if I must say so myself.

And then, they erupt in applause as he pulls me to him and kisses me in a way that can only be described as savage.

Damn, this kiss is amazing!

But short. I’m in the lobby of the theater on Sunday afternoon, and there are people around excited about seeing the matinee. He pulls back and says, “We’ll have to do something about your poor finger.”

I smile and manage a nice, smart-ass, “Promises, promises.”

He chuckles at that, and all I can say is that I think my life just became perfect. He offers Joel his hand and says, “Come on, bud.”

I say, “Nope. You guys aren’t going anywhere. Go watch another movie and I’ll be off when you’re done. Kung Fu Kids IV is playing and it’s better than the first three.”

“Kung Fu!” Joel shouts. “Hi yah!”

So soon, they’re loaded up with popcorn and soda and candy and on their way into a different auditorium while I work through the rush and then turn into some sort of a speed demon when it comes to completing everything I need to get done before I can leave it to the assistant managers working in the evening.

When the kung fu movie ends, I’m there waiting in the lobby, and I have to say that I’m nervous as fuck. I mean, I don’t understand how I can be nervous but I am, and I don’t really know why except maybe because for the last hour and forty-five minutes a bunch of customers and pretty much every employee has congratulated me on my romance with Preston.

It’s like we’re already married!

That thought is sitting there in my head when I see them walking across to me. I smile at how much Joel looks like his dad. Same walk, same head tilt. Is this my family now?

“Okay, good recommendation.” Preston gives me a hug, and it feels wonderful.

“Yeah, it was cool. Hiya, chop, oof.” Joel interrupts with a very active karate routine.

“Anyway, how about we go get some dinner? My treat.”

“Really, did you just say that? I think you’ve had too many movies for today, Sir.” I tease him and he laughs. There’s an easiness to him now that I didn’t feel even when we were just friends. What were we so worried about?

We head over to the closest place, a little diner with a great kids’ meal that has mac ’n’ cheese for Joel. It’s his latest food obsession and pretty much all he wants to eat. I help him color the menu while we wait for our food.

“A purple walrus? Wow, what planet do you live on, Elizabeth?” Preston teases.

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