Page 31 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming
brIDGET
B ridget’s friends think too highly of her. It’s been two weeks since the dinner hosted by Kofi and Suchi. The wedding is next month, and she still hasn’t worked up the nerve to talk to “hot gym guy.” It’s why Lyric is with her at the gym today.
“Alright, so where is this gym god?” Lyric looks around CBS—Chambers Body Sculpting—for Bridget’s crush.
“That’s him,” Bridget mumbles and barely points her finger.
“You want to try that again?”
“White T-shirt, gray cotton shorts, standing in front of the mirror doing deadlifts.”
Lyric looks around and spots him. “Bridget, he is fine. After he’s done working out, you should talk to him.”
“He usually grabs a smoothie from the juice bar before he leaves.”
“Perfect. Get in front of him and buy his smoothie and yours. Next thing you know, the two of you are talking, and then you ask him out.”
“I have to buy him something to ask him out?”
“Do you have any other ideas? It’s thoughtful and will get his attention. Now, go talk to him. He’s getting in line.”
“He is. Damnit, he usually showers before he leaves.”
“And you know this, how?” Lyric asks.
Bridget squints at Lyric causing Lyric to smirk at Bridget’s faux offense.
“Hush. I know because he typically goes to the men’s shower room/locker room and comes out in different clothes.”
“You stare at him a lot, don’t you?” Lyric shakes her head slightly.
Bridget rolls her eyes. “Not a lot, a lot, but c’mon, you said it yourself. He’s fine.”
“Go get him, Bridge.” Lyric says the line that has become a motto of sorts for Bridget and her friends. It’s been used to encourage her to approach hot gym guy. It hasn’t worked yet. May today be the day.
Bridget approaches the line. She says a quick prayer, thanking God that no one is standing behind him.
Fuck me . Even covered in sweat, he smells amazing . Would it be weird if I reached out and touched his bicep ? Yes, yes, it would . Why did I even think that ?
Bridget moves her attention to his muscular back.
His white T-shirt clings to him. He scratches the thin layer of facial hair on his chin.
He must feel her eyes on him because he turns around, and she bows her head, looking at the floor.
Her phone buzzes, and she takes it out of the pocket of her yoga pants.
Lyric
Stop looking at the floor! He’s looking at you. Look up!!!!
Bridget looks up, and sure enough, he’s looking at her. He smiles and she stares with her mouth open. He is even more enticing up close. Her phone buzzes again.
Lyric
Say something. Say hi, my name is Bridget!
Bridget—eventually—smiles back. The person behind the counter says something that steals his attention.
He winks at Bridget, then pays for his drink.
She barely remembers ordering and paying for hers.
She stands next to him and waits. He’s now looking at his phone and smiling at it.
Bridget sees an adorable chubby-cheeked cutie sitting on a beautiful woman’s lap, smiling. Her phone buzzes yet again.
Lyric
Stop staring at his phone and say something!! You’re killing me, Bridge!
The person behind the counter calls out, “Silas,” and hot gym guy raises his hand.
Silas . Mmm .
Bridget loves a good strong name on a man. She often looks up the meanings behind names when doing research while writing. She named her male main character Tyberious because he was born near a river. Silas means “of the forest.”
I wonder if he knows that .
She’s about to open her mouth when her name is called.
“Bridget,” the person behind the counter calls out.
She collects her drink and notices Silas is gone. She rushes out of the gym and spots him heading to his car. Catching up to him, she turns around to see Lyric not far behind her.
He’s about to leave.
What do I say ? What was it that Lyric told me to say ? Wait, ‘ Hi, I’m Bridget. ’ That was it . Just say it . Say it! He’s getting away . Damnit, why is this so hard for me ? Why am I so nervous ? Why is talking to a man so nerve-racking ?
Overwhelmed and overthinking, Bridget yells, “Hi, I’m Bridget!”
Silas jumps and screams, “Aw, shit!” startled by Bridget’s sudden and loud outburst.
He clearly didn’t realize she was behind him. His scream was accompanied by his squeezing the cup housing his smoothie. The smoothie spills out from the cup, all over his T-shirt. His white T-shirt. He turns around and looks at her like she’s insane.
Bridget just stares back, too embarrassed to think of words. Lyric slides up next to her. Bridget looks at her best friend and feels the tears forming. Lyric gives her a warm look, telling her it will be okay, but Bridget knows better. She mumbles, “Sorry,” and takes off running to her car.
It’s been twenty minutes, and Bridget is still slunk down in the trunk of her Toyota Grand Highlander—the car she bought because she loved the show of the same name.
There’s a knock on her window. Her phone had been buzzing for a minute, but she couldn’t work up the nerve to read Lyric’s text.
She grabs her phone and rips off the Band-Aid.
Lyric
Okay, that didn’t go as planned but it’s okay. Silas isn’t mad. I talked to him. Text me back.
When Bridget doesn’t reply, Lyric goes to her go-to when Bridget gets in her own way, tough love.
Lyric
Bridge, stop tripping and text me back.
I know you aren’t getting all bent out of shape over a man. It was an accident, girl. Get your ass out of this car.
There isn’t another message. The knocking isn’t stopping. Bridget hits the button on her key fob and opens the door. Lyric climbs inside and sees Bridget’s face.
“I’m not cut out for this, Ric. I can’t do it,” Bridget laments.
“Again, sweetie. He’s just a man. You’re making this out to be bigger than it is. Just say hi and … apologize for making him spill his drink.”
“Is he still by his car?”
“No, he’s going to meet you in an hour at the diner down the street.”
“The Sunny Side Up diner?”
Lyric nods. “I told him you’d buy him breakfast to make up for what happened. So go home, shower and get cuter—and relax, Bridge. If he’s not the one, there are plenty of other niggas out there.”
“Thanks.” The two friends hug. Lyric departs, and Bridge heads home to get ready.