Page 3 of Sparks with the Single Dad

“So you’ve heard of me?” He grins. “Can’t be good.”

“She’s talked a little about both of her brothers. Not much, though.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Silence lingers between us for a moment, and his chiseled features seem to darken, matching his tone. “If you need anything, just yell for me. I’ll be in the living room.”

Once he closes the door behind him, I jump out of bed without thinking, but my head doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it did before. Maybe he’s onto something with this drink.

Isaac looked to be maybe twenty-two? And there I was ogling him like he was a chocolate-covered crème-filled donut at the bakery. I really need to get it together.

It’s just been a rough couple of weeks for me. The divorce was painful, sure, but the bigger shock was my son moving with his dad to spend the last few months of sixth grade there. Deep down, I understand, even if it does break my heart. He’ll be back for the summer, and then he’ll decide which parent he wants to stay with for the next school year.

I grab my purse and my phone, closing the door behind me as I leave the room.

“Feeling better?” Isaac glances up from his phone as I enter the living room, and to my surprise, he sets it down on the end table. Everyone I know, myself included, has a tendency to scroll and talk. It’s just the way things are.

“I am, thank you.” I motion toward him with the empty glass. “You weren’t kidding about this stuff.”

“I knew it’d prove me right.” He smiles.

I set it onto the island and head over to take a seat on the couch, leaving an empty cushion between us.

“So you discovered that concoction in your fraternity?” I pull up my legs and wrap the throw from the back around me, snuggling in. While I may be feeling better, I am still tired.

“I did. It’s been a few years, but that’s how we all survived our finals.”

“When did you graduate?”

“I didn’t, actually,” Isaac admits, and his lips pinch as if he’s worried I’m going to be judgmental. “But I went to HVAC school a year ago and graduated from that.”

“That’s awesome. I’m sure you’ve kept busy with that. No one wants to be without their heating and air.”

“You’re not wrong. And I just got hired by a new company, actually. But I’ve got to talk to Ava, so I’m glad I had today off.”

“Well, hopefully she’ll be here soon.” I glance at my phone but still no texts from anyone. I guess they’ve forgotten me. I don’t have a car here, but I suppose I could Uber home.

“So what about you?” he asks.

“Hmm? What about me?”

“Anything. Anything about you.” His eyes focus on mine, the brilliant clear blue reminiscent of the ocean when Greg and I took our son to the gulf last summer. We were already separated but wanted to give him one last family vacation.

“Oh. Um. I don’t know, really.”

“There’s nothing you can think of about yourself?”

My mind reels, hopping from topic to topic. Finally, it all comes out like a pile of world vomit. “I’m divorced. I have a son that’s eleven. I was a stay-at-home mom for most of his life. My ex recently moved a few hours away, so our son, Chance, decided to move with him and finish the school year there.”

I take a deep breath, hesitant to continue. It already feels like I’ve gotten too personal. But it happened, so now I’ll just go with it. “I got a nice alimony settlement in the divorce, so I quit my job to find my dream…but I don’t know what my dream is.”

Isaac’s eyes widen with every word, but I didn’t stop until it was all out. Suddenly, my chest feels a lot lighter. As if I can breathe without my chest constricting now. My phone chimes, saving me from having to craft a response that won’t make me cringe.

Ava: I’ll be there in a little while. I’ve got to help a client with some things. I didn’t know Isaac was coming. Sorry! Hope he’s not driving you crazy.

Me: I’m fine. I’ll Uber home if he gets on my nerves.

I relay the part about her coming back in a bit to Isaac.

“Well, we’ve got some time, then.” Isaac clears his throat, and when I look up from my phone, his eyes are boring into me.

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