Vince texted me back after viewing the sites.
Yippy! What next? He was worth it, but was I? I’d feel better if I had a job. I had gained two new sponsors, so I could at least pay rent for another month. But I mostly felt like a failure at life.
I grabbed my blankie and crawled into my closet. I put the blankie over my head and sucked it up. In my comfort zone, I called.
Vince answered right away. “Joey?”
“Yeah. It’s me.”
“Wasn’t sure you were ever going to call.”
“You had my number after I texted. Why didn’t you call me?”
His rumbly chuckle sent chills down my spine. “It was your move. Now that you made it, I’ll be calling all the time. Hope you’re ready for that.”
Was I? “I don’t know. We don’t really know each other. I mean. Online profiles aren’t real. Right.” Hadn’t he texted something like that? “I know about you, but I don’tknowyou. Who you really are.”
“Very astute coming from a social media influencer.”
“I’m not—”
“I’d say you are. Maybe not at a national level, but you’ll get there. If that’s what you want.”
Wow. How did he read so much into me with so little information? I needed to find out. “I think you need to take me on a date, Daddy.”
“I’d love that, but Joey, explain this daddy-thing first.”
Oh my. How the hell did I do that? “That’s not a phone call thing. Let’s get together and see how it goes. I’ll fill you in as needed.”
“As needed? You are going to be a handful, aren’t you?”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. He had no clue. “You’ll see.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Text me your address, and I’ll pick you up tomorrow around three.”
“Three? In the afternoon?”
“Yes. Any later and there’s all this traffic.”
“Ah…you’ve already figured out rush hour around here.” It started at four or earlier and lasted until after six. Friday afternoons were the worst. I’d been stuck in my car for over an hour on a fifteen-minute drive before. “Fine. See you tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
I had a date.
“Wait. Vince?”
“Yes?”
“What do I wear? Where are we going?”
“Mm…not sure yet. I’ll text you.”
“Fine. I’m going now.”
“Bye, Joey.”
“Bye, Daddy.” I couldn’t resist calling him that, even though he didn’t know what it meant to me. Yet.
