Page 99 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

“I’m in.”

“Damn, really? Just like that?”

“Just like that. You mentioned flying earlier.”

Bridget nods. “The wedding is in Montana.”

“Is that where him or his fiancée is from?”

“Nope. It’s a location that plays a role in his books.”

“So, he’s taking a special day that’s supposed to be about him and his fiancée, and he’s making it purely about him?”

“Yeah, basically.”

“Okay. This actually gives me an idea. Now, I want you to keep an open mind about what I’m about to suggest.”

“Alright,” Bridget says with apprehension in her tone.

“You see, you’re not being open-minded already.”

“You’re right. Go ahead.”

“Two words. Road trip.”

“Two other words. Hell no.”

Silas looks at her incredulously. “Really?”

“Yeah, negro. I barely know you.”

“And yet you wanted me to attend a wedding with you.”

“Going to a wedding, then coming back and continuing to see where this goes is one thing, but a road trip?”

“What better way for us to get to know each other than on the open road? We can stop in Utah, see Zion National Park and end up in … which part of Montana?”

“Missoula.”

Silas takes a second to think about it. “Right, that’s a seventeen-hour drive. We can stay at hotels, separate rooms, of course, and eat at greasy spoons. It’ll be fun, Bridget. I promise you that.”

“What about my safety?”

“You’ll be perfectly safe with me, baby. I’ll tell you what, let me take you out. Then, if you still enjoy my company, you can take my number, my business address and home address and send them to all your people. I have nothing to hide because no harm will fall upon you in my presence. I’m the last nigga who would ever hurt a woman.” Silas looks her in the eye and speaks with conviction.

“That was pretty convincing,” Bridget replies.

“So tomorrow, meet me at Runyon Canyon.”

“Hiking? That’s not a date.”

“It will be with me.”

So here I am,at eight in the morning, hiking because a fine-ass man convinced me to.

It’s not as if Bridget doesn’t work out already but hiking and jogging have never been her thing. When she and Silas reach the top, they stand next to each other and look at the view of downtown.

“I started reading your book last night. I already hate King Rodrick.”