“I’m sure you can understand why I’m very protective of Brandon. I don’t want to go into this at all unless you’re certain Chase wants to have a relationship with Brandon. He needs stability, so this meeting with Chase is going to determine if it progresses further.”
“I can assure you that Chase would love nothing in this world more than a mere chance to have the opportunity to build a safe, stable, and trusting relationship with Brandon,” Morgan said.
I nodded as I pulled my phone out and opened a new text string.
“What’s your cell number?” I asked Morgan. I typed the number in as he dictated and then sent the text to him. “There, now you have my contact number. Do you want to find out from Chase when he’d like to meet?”
“Yes, I’ll give him a call.”
I wasn’t expecting Morgan to call Chase right now, but that was exactly what he was doing. Could I be mentally ready to meet him today if he said he was ready now? Morgan stepped out of earshot for privacy, and I turned to face Andrew.
“Wild, huh?” Andrew asked.
“I had no idea something like this would ever happen,” I said quietly to Andrew.
“How do you think Brandon will handle it?” he asked.
“I’m not sure yet. I haven’t had long to think about it and digest the idea. He never knew who his father was, and from what Brandon has said, his mother had a revolving door of male visitors.”
“He might just shrug it off,” Andrew said.
Morgan approached and pulled the phone away from his ear, holding it down to his side.
“Chase is available to meet anytime. He said you can pick the day, time, and place,” Morgan said.
I looked at my watch. Might as well do this today so I can talk to Brandon tonight.
“What area is convenient to him?” I asked.
“He lives in a high-rise in downtown L.A.”
I tried to think of a calm atmosphere somewhere between downtown and Oxygen.
“How about we meet over lunch? Noon at the Coastal Grill on Sunset and Sierra.”
Morgan put the phone up to his ear and relayed the information to Chase.
“Okay, Chase. I’ll let him know, and I’ll give him your cell number.” Morgan ended the call and smiled at me. “Chase is over the moon that you’re willing to meet with him today. Thank you, James.”
“It’s no trouble at all, and this could turn out to be something positive for Brandon. I would never deny him a chance to have a healthy relationship with his family. You’re more than welcome to come to lunch with us if you’d like,” I offered.
Part of me hoped he’d decline, but part of me would have been okay with him attending. This type of conversation would be awkward, especially between two people who would have only met a few minutes prior to the discussion.
“Thank you for the invite, but this discussion will be best if it’s between just the two of you.”
I stayed and talked a little longer with Andrew and Morgan until it was time to leave to meet Chase. On the drive to the Coastal Grill, I had the urge to call Brandon, but I was apprehensive because I worried that he’d be able to tell by my voice that something was up. Today was Wednesday, and he was at one of Andrew’s shops stocking and helping Salem do the inventory. I didn’t want to distract him from that.
Once I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, I settled on sending Brandon a quick text.
Hi, pup. I wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and love you lots. I’ll see you tonight.
I looked at the door to the restaurant and glanced around the parking lot. My guess was that I arrived first since the club would have been a little bit closer to the restaurant. I watched a few cars pull in and park, but the people who got out of them wouldn’t have been Chase. The screen on my phone lit up, and I glanced at it as it sat in the cup holder. Once I saw it was Brandon texting, I picked it up.
Love you too!
Check out my new mug!
He’d sent a picture of the sketched scene on the mug of legs dangling over the end of a couch. The feet had brightly colored socks on while a mug of coffee balanced on a saucer on the knees. Then he sent another picture of the display he and Salem had set up on the shelf at the shop.
