Free Missed Connections by Tamara Mataya Page B

“You’d better get that. Be a shame for you to lose your job like the last receptionist.” With a wink, she sashays into one of the massage rooms.
    I take a deep breath, hoping my voice won’t shake when I answer. “Inner Space, Sarah speaking.”
    “How’s my little girl?”
    “Dad?” He never calls me at work. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine, sweetheart. Sorry to call you at your job. I know employers hate that.”
    “It’s fine. I can talk for a minute. What’s up?”
    “Well…” He hesitates for a long moment. “I hate to put you out, but there’s been a bit of a mix-up. I need my prescription and can’t get it.”
    “Why can’t Mom get it for you?”
    “Uh… She’s pretty busy right now.” I know that tone of voice. He’s covering for her.
    My parents downsized and moved to Jersey to pay for the hospital bills after Dad’s last heart attack, but they have their own transportation. “Can’t you take the car?”
    “Your mother’s got it.”
    I sag in my chair, suddenly feeling tired. “She left you and took the car?”
    “No, no. She was just going to your aunt’s for a while. I thought I had more pills than I do. It’s my fault, really.”
    Tears sting my eyes and I can only shake my head, hating that this is his life. “Which pharmacy and when do you need them?”
    He gives me the address. “Is Tuesday okay?”
    That means he probably only has enough for Monday but doesn’t want to put me out.
    “I’ll get them and stop by Monday.”
    “Thank you. I really appreciate it, honey.”
    I hate the gratitude in his voice. My mom should be doing this for him, being his safe place to fall, taking care of him so he’s not so stressed out. He needs a real partner instead of my irresponsible mother who’s more concerned with finding a good time than being his wife—and my mother. This is why I can’t let myself fall for someone like Jack. “Love you, Dad.”
    “I love you too.”

Chapter 9
Starbucks Beauty
    I’ve started going to Starbucks again—after work or on days off only, because I took a cup into work once and got a lecture about the evils of big corporations and the consumer’s responsibility of only purchasing fair-trade coffee beans.
Long blond hair. You were checking your Facebook on your Mac.
    Not me then. Can’t a brunette catch a break?
You are unbelievable, but I saw the guy in the orange jacket pick you up. I’m not into splitting up couples so I kept to myself. Hope to see you there again.
    Interesting how he wants to see her again, if only from a distance. I can’t decide if that’s stalker-ish or romantic.
Sexy Neighbor
    I just moved—what if someone saw me and fell in love? I may have seen him in the elevator or in the lobby where we get our mail. It could be so romantic if we’ve been eyeing each other for a while. But if he’s a creeper, he could be pressing his ear to our shared wall right now. For once I’m hoping it’s not me in the post.
To the sexy woman next door. I’ve wanted you for over nine months now.
    It’s not me. Relieved, I read on, now curious.
But we’re both married, so I must admire you from afar. We’re both home during the day. You are on oxygen. You saw me recycling a lot of “special magazines.” Reply with your dog’s name if you want to see what could happen between us.
    What the flaming fuck? My fingers take me back to the menu, and I scroll down, trying to find one that doesn’t sound so strange.
    Then, stepping from the computer, I head to my kitchen and pour a glass of ice-cold milk so I can dunk a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie. There’s a fancy grocery store on the same block as Inner Space, and while I can’t afford most of their prices, their bakery is worth it. Since moving out of Pete’s, my diet has been pretty lackluster. I miss his cooking almost as much as I miss him.
    It’s sad how eager I’ve been for Saturday all week. The hippies are doing one of Fern’s courses, so I get