Page 13 of When I Found You

“Yep, got in last night. You would have known that if you’d have shown up at the bar.”

“Sorry about that, man. Kids both came down with a stomach bug. We were elbow deep in puke.”

“Yuck. Yeah, keep that shit away from me. Hope they get better soon.”

“They’re already on the mend. Twelve-hour bug or some shit like that. Just hoping it doesn’t hit Holly or me.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“What are you up to tonight? Want to head out here to the house? Have a few beers and play some cards? I can get my brothers to come over for some poker.”

“Wish I could, man, but I’ve got plans for tonight.”

“Who is she?” he asks on a laugh.

“Name’s Stacey. I met her last night at the bar. She’s a friend of Cam’s,” I tell him.

“Damn, you move fast.”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “Not sure what it is about her, man, but it’s like she’s gravity and I’m the moon. She was easygoing, and the conversation just flowed. Like no other woman I’ve met. Messing with my mind, that’s for sure.”

“When you meet the right one, you fall hard, brother.”

“I don’t know that I’m ready to admit defeat. You know my stance on women.”

“And you know what kind of fucked-up mess I made it through. Look at how I fared in life, buddy. Holly is the best thing that has ever happened to me. The years we spent apart were some of the most trying and hardest of my life, but I’d gothrough all of them again if it meant we’d end up where we are now.”

“I don’t know, man. I just don’t know if I can trust another woman. They either walk away without looking back or fuck you over. Holly is the exception, of course,” I tell him, not needing to get myself onto his shit list.

“I’m telling you, you can’t compare every woman to your mom and your ex. Forget about them and move on with your life. You might find that having a steady woman in your life is a good thing. You might even enjoy it, if you know what I mean,” he deadpans.

“Yeah, yeah,” I say, doing my best to placate him. “I’ll think it over and see how things go tonight. It might not even be feasible. It’s not like I live here. I’m over an hour away, and that’swithouttraffic.”

“Just keep an open mind, man. I’m telling you, the distance is worth it if she’s the right one. Okay, enough about the woman. How long are you in town?”

“A little over a week.”

“Let’s plan to get together sometime soon. Beers, dinner, whatever. You name the time and place and I’ll make it happen,” Carson tells me.

“Sounds good, man. I don’t really have any plans other than tonight, so far, so I’m game for whatever.”

“Text me tomorrow and we’ll figure something out,” he says.

“Will do,” I confirm before we end our call.

I look at the time on my phone and see I’ve got two hours until I need to pick up Stacey. I roll out of bed and head to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I dry off, then wrap the towel around my waist and stand in front of the mirror. My few days’ worth of facial hair is starting to make me itch, so I pull out my razor and quickly shave it all off. Once I’m finished in thebathroom, I head back into my room and pull out the nicest jeans and button-up shirt I brought with me.

A few minutes later, I make my way out to the living room, where I find my dad still sitting in his recliner, watching a baseball game on TV.

“You clean up nice,” he says as I sit down on the couch.

“Can’t take out a beautiful woman without making somewhat of an effort.”

“Did you decide where you’re going?”

“I think we’ll head down to Broadway and then decide once we’re down there. Maybe barhop our way around, see who’s playing at the different bars. Figured we can just grab something to eat along the way, as well.”

“You driving tonight?” he asks, ever the parent.

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