Page 3 of The Truths We Find

I finally snap out of it. “Oh, hi. Yes, please come in. I’m Russell. I mean Dani. Dani Russell. Let me show you where it is.” Could I have sounded any more like an idiot?

Leading him back to the kitchen, I offer him a cup of coffee.

“That would be great. I’m kind of a coffee addict and it’s just about time for my next fix.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Me too. If I don’t have at least three cups a day, I pretty much go through withdrawal.”

I grab him his coffee and he gets right to work. I head back to my table and do my best to focus on studying my book, not the gorgeous man just a few dozen feet away.

About an hour passes when he finally comes out from the back. “You’re all set. Working like a charm.”

“Thanks so much,” I breathe. “You just saved me from a lot of extra work tonight.”

He makes his way over to me, looking down at my books. “What are you reading?” He asks as if he’s actually interested in the answer.

“The history of cable news. I’m studying news producing over at Pitt State. Are you in school?”

“Not anymore. I started a few years ago but couldn’t find a major I liked, so I dropped out and started my contractor and repair business. I grew up helping my dad with all sorts of maintenance work, so I figured I should use the skill set I already had to make some cash.”

“When the inspiration strikes, I’m sure you’ll find your passion. Just need to be patient.”

“Exactly. What made you want to go into the news world?”

The words pour out of me, like they were waiting for someone to ask. “I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was a little girl. I used to watch the local news every morning and night with my parents. Same station, same anchor teams. It was like a routine we didn’t even question. And I just… fell in love with it. The whole thing. The idea that people could go about their lives a little more aware, a little more connected, because someone took the time to tell them what was happening in the world.”

I can already feel myself spiraling into a full-blown monologue, but I don’t stop. “At first, I thought I wanted to be the one sitting behind the desk, the one people recognized. I even used to line up my stuffed animals and do fake broadcasts with a hairbrush as my microphone. I’d make up stories about puppy rescues and town hall debates.”

He chuckles, and I smile, a little surprised I just shared that.

“But after a bad experience in an on-camera class during my sophomore year, I switched my focus to production, and realized it was more for me. I love the chaos of it. The decision-making. The way producers have to juggle a thousand things at once and somehow keep everything moving. It’s like putting together a puzzle while the image is changing. That’s where I thrive. Making sense of the mess.”

He nods, listening more closely than I expected.

“Besides,” I add, waving a hand at myself, “I’m not exactly what you’d expect for an on-air personality.”

“What do you mean? I wouldn’t mind seeing you on my TV every day.” A grin takes over his entire face.

A blush creeps onto my cheeks before I can stop it. I laugh under my breath, trying not to overanalyze whether he meant it playfully or sincerely. “Well, for starters, I’m only five-two, and I’d take jeans and a ponytail over heels and hairspray any day. I’ve never been the polished type. You know, the kind of woman who knows how to angle her face just right under studio lights.”

I suddenly realize I’ve said way too much, and to someone I just met. “Annnddd I can’t believe I’m saying all of this to a complete stranger. Sorry. I get pretty passionate about this stuff. Don’t really know when to turn my mouth off.”

But he doesn’t laugh at me. Doesn’t smirk or look away.

“No.” He shakes his head slightly. “It’s nice to see someone so excited for the future. It’s… refreshing.”

I barely know this guy, and for the first time in a long time, someone makes me feel like I’m not too much. I can’t hide my smile. “Do you want another cup of coffee?”

“That would be great.”

We end up talking over coffee and leftover muffins. He tells me about his twin brother, and how they basically raised themselves starting at sixteen after their parents died. I just want to give him a hug after hearing that story. Soon, we know more about each other than I know about some of my good friends. There’s just something about him that seems to comfort my normally high-strung self.

When I finally look at my phone, I realize four hours have passed.

“Oh my God, it’s so late. I’m so sorry I kept you from your work.”

“It’s all good. You were my last stop of the day anyway.” He grins. “Besides, I think this is the most fun I’ve had talking to someone in a long time.”

I can’t help the butterflies that form in my stomach. “Honestly, me too. I’m usually so focused on school and worrying about the future I don’t get to talk to people like this.”