Page 104 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

“Dad, I seriously can’t believe you’re dating BR Nelson? I love her books.”

Silas goes into the kitchen to get Summer breakfast. “Since when do you read fantasy? I thought you were all about romance, crime and sci-fi?”

“She has a romantasy series calledThe Queen’s Dilemma. It’s about this guy Tyberious; he works as the head of the queen’s guard.”

Silas comes back with a bowl of Cheerios, Summer’s favorite. He tries to interject and tell Tiffany that he knows all of this since he’s reading the books, but it’s pointless. When Tiffany goes on a tear about something she loves, it’s best to just let her go.

She happily keeps going. “He and the queen spend a lot of time together and get to know each other. Soon, they fall in love, but she’s married to King Rodrick, who she married in an arrangement between their two allied lands. She doesn’t love him, and he’s an asshole?—”

Silas sees an opening. “Tiff, honey, I know. I’m currently reading the books, and don’t cuss in front of the baby.”

Tiffany leans over and kisses her niece, who giggles. She turns her attention back to Silas and complains, “You cussed in front of us all the time.”

“Yes, and look how well that turned out,” Silas argues.

Tiffany playfully waves away his concern. “Anyway. Have you gotten to the part where the king gets poisoned?”

She doesn’t let him respond before she keeps going.

“Readers are on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if he bites it. I cannot wait for him to die, and for the official countdown to the queen and Tyberious’s wedding. Ms. Nelson told her readers that she’d start writing the countdown to the wedding once King Rodrick dies.”

“Geez, Tiff. Spoilers!” Silas playfully chastises. “I’m on book four. That hasn’t happened, yet.”

“Ugh, Dad, hurry up and get to book five,” she teases.

Silas rolls his eyes. “Dannie, you’re going to have to get Dexter’s mother to watch Summer for a few days next month.”

“Okay. What’s going on?”

“I’m escorting Bridget to a wedding.”

“Wow, that’s huge. You two just started dating, and you’re already attending her friend’s wedding,” Danille says.

“It’s not her friend. It’s her ex-husband.”

Both girls look at him with their mouths’ agape.

“That’s awfully big of her,” Tiffany remarks.

“Is she going for closure?”

“Nope. Revenge. She’s bringing me to get under her ex’s skin.”

“Daddy, that seems awfully childish.”

“I think it’s awesome. Lamar Nelson is a hack, and everyone knows it.” Tiffany bites into a bagel. “Besides, you never wanted to get back at Dexter after how he treated you?”

“I mean, yeah, but I was the bigger person.”

“Pffftt. Being the bigger person is overrated. C’mon, seriously, what does being the bigger person ever get you?”

“Piece of mind.” Danielle Googles Bridget. “Whoa. She has one hundred thousand followers on IG, and there’s talk about her books being made into a TV show. What does she want revenge for? She already won.”

“Yeah, but her ex’s inability to handle her success is what made him leave in the first place. He shot himself in the foot. She just wants to stick her finger in the wound and twist it a little.”

“It still sounds like she’s doing too much.”

“It’s not like she’s going to poison the cake or anything. She just wants to walk in with the good-looking brother she has a crush on—i.e., me—and make her ex look foolish for thinking he upgraded.”