chapter 25
The phone woke Dana from her sleep. She anxiously picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Just wanted to make sure you got home okay.” It was Jonny.
“You just wanted to make sure I came home.”
“Well, maybe. But your welfare was right up there.”
Thanks.” Dana looked at the clock - it was nine a.m. “What are you doing up so early on a Sunday?”
“Thinking of you.”
“Really? I’m flattered.”
“I don’t know...I couldn’t sleep.”
“A lot on your mind?” Dana asked.
“You could say that.”
“Do you need to talk?”
“No...I’m okay.” His tone belied his words.
“If you change your mind...”
“I know, you’re there for me,” Jonny said, glad for his friendship, but knowing full well how disappointed Dana would be in him if she knew the truth.
“I am.”
He switched gears. “Dana, you’re avoiding the topic.”
“What topic?”
“What happened with the rock star?”
“You mean Cody?”
“No, I mean Gavin Rossdale. Of course I mean Cody. Spill it.”
“We’re supposed to see each other later.”
“Wow...look at you, robbing the cradle.”
“Jonny, he’s been out of school for years now.”
“High school?”
“He’s not that young. Drop it.”
“Okay...okay, you’ve convinced me.” He laughed. “So you wooed him?”
Dana smiled with joy. “He’s amazing...last night was amazing...not in the way you think, so please get your mind out of the gutter.”
“It’s not, I promise, just the sidewalk.”
Dana groaned. “Very funny...but, in all seriousness, part of me is scared, Jonny. I don’t know if it’s smart to get involved. His life is so crazy.”
“You sound like Sam.”
Jonny was right. “Sometimes you say exactly the right thing.”
“Could you tell Jill that?”
“So you don’t think it’s ridiculous?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but no. Even if it is just a fling, you deserve it. I haven’t heard you this upbeat in a long time.” He paused, “Besides, you realize if you don’t see him you’ll spend the rest of your life living with regret. You’ll build him up to be the one and only love of your life that you let slip by….no other man will ever compare to him. You’ll end up alone, eating bon bons on a tacky leather couch, watching Sally Jessy Raphael, hating yourself for missing your one chance at true love.”
“Ha ha...you sound like you speak from experience.”
“No, I saw it on Oprah one day.”
“Jonny you’re a real pal,” Dana said laughing. “And just for the record, I’d never own a tacky leather couch.”
“Go...have fun with your rock star.”
“Good-bye Jonny.”
“Bye, Dana.”
Dana got up and took a long hot shower. Her head felt clear for the first time in weeks. She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long while...happy.
She slipped out of the shower into a fluffy white robe and wrapped a towel around her wet head. A cup of coffee to take the edge off and she’d be ready.
The phone rang snapping her out of her reverie. Cody, she thought picking up the receiver.
“Hello,” she answered cheerily.
“Dana.” It was a man’s voice, but not Cody’s.
“Sam?” she said, her voice cracking. She steeled herself. She was caught off guard.
“Dana...I’ve wanted to call you for weeks now.”
“But you didn’t,” her voice was terse.
“No, I didn’t and for that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for a lot of things. Look, I’ve missed you.”
Her emotions were swirling. She hated to admit it, but hearing his voice brought a strange comfort. It felt like home. It also felt like a kick in the gut. “A lot of time has passed Sam. You left me.”
“I left us Dana,” he paused, taking a deep breath. “I screwed up. I couldn’t handle how I felt about you and I freaked out.”
“What’s your point, Sam?” she said coldly.
“Can I see you?”
“What?”
“I don’t want to do this on the phone. I think we should talk. Can I see you?”
Dana inhaled sharply. “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. She was finally pulling out of this funk, she didn’t want to get hurt again.
“Please,” he implored. She could hear the desperation in his voice. Memories flashed in front of her of their life together...Thursday nights curled on the couch watching Seinfeld, weekend walks on the beach, how happy she felt waking up next to him.
“Sam...”
“Give me an hour of your time. Please.”
She thought he was going to be the one. But he hurt her.
“I don’t know.”
“One hour is all I ask. Dana, please.” She had seen their life together. The picket fence...the kids...
“Just one hour,” she whispered.
“Can you meet me at Ivy’s Grill at eleven?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes.”
*
Dana dressed quickly in her favorite jeans and a soft pink off the shoulder shirt. She brushed her damp dark hair so it hung loosely around her shoulders. What the hell was she doing? Sam broke her heart. And she was supposed to meet Cody. Cody. Just thinking his name made her heart jump. Those eyes, that kiss.
But Cody was a stranger, a lead singer in a band. Where could that ever go anyway? He would never want to settle down. Settle down? She was getting so far ahead of herself. He was in a band, she reminded herself again. He’s probably got a girl in every city. Making girls feel special was probably a career for him...maybe she was just going to be another notch in his belt. Screw the Miami deejay: check. She shook her head.
But something nagged inside of her. That kiss felt so real. Snap out of it Dana, she chided herself, it’s almost time to meet Sam.
She felt something, but couldn’t decide if it was relief or regret.