Page 13 of Starts With a Bang

Dom:Working. Took on a last-minute case and I can’t get away. Sorry.

Me:Bummer. Still on for movie night tomorrow?

Dom:Too soon to tell. I’ll let you know. Enjoy the barbecue.

Mon, Sep 4, 2023 at 10:00 am

Dom:Hey. I know you’re sick of hearing this excuse, but I’m working on a case today. I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day celebration.

Me:k

Dom:Don’t!

Me:Don’t what?

Dom:Don’t “k” me. Don’t be mad. I reallyam working. It’s a complicated child custody case and I can’t afford to fuck it up. My business is finally picking up, and I can’t afford to lose momentum.

Me:I’m happy for you

Dom:You’re not.

Me:I am. I just miss you. We hardly text anymore. We haven’t buddy watched a movie in months. It was the bright spot of every week. Sorry. That’s not fair to put on you.

Dom:This Wednesday. I promise.

Me:I’m going to make other plans. Kerry is right.

Dom:What’s he saying about me?

Me:Kerry isn’t saying anything about you. He doesn’t know you’re Marlowe.

Dom:What are you saying about Marlowe?

Me:Nothing. Kerry has just made some observations, and I think he’s right. Ineed to stop mooning over Marlowe. Take care, Dom.

I wanted to launch the phone across the room, but I re-downloaded Grindr to my phone. I had every intention of reactivating my account and following through with my half-hearted threat to move on. But my thumb shook as it hovered over the download arrow because I didn’t want anyone else. I tossed the phone aside in disgust and turned on my favorite Philip Marlowe movie instead. If I was going to be miserable, I’d go all out.

Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 9:00 pm

Me:Happy fuckversary.

Dom:What?

Me:It’s the anniversary where you fucked me over for other men.

My phone rang, and I picked it up. “Now you have time for me?”

“Are you drunk?”

“No.” I hiccuped loudly.

Dom chuckled at my answer. “You sure about that?”

“Not drunkyet.”

“Then why don’t you switch to something else to drink? Do you have water?”

“In the kitchen. That’s so far away,” I whined.

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