The Guy She Never Noticed a. cirelli

1

The drive home was getting really old I had been on the road already for the last seven of the fifteen hour drive and I was getting antsy. I wasn't stopping anymore after the last rest stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere Florida, I bought two cranberry Red Bulls on the last stop and was running off that, fumes, and really loud music. The stretch of I-75 I was on felt like forever and was pushing 110 miles per hour not caring if there was a speed trap or a state trooper creeping on the side of the interstate. Clearly I was thriving.

Seeing signs for the I-275 beltway I let out a roar of a shout of excitement and pressed the gas a little harder giving my Jeep a run for her money. I was so close that I could almost see the lights of the city of Tampa on the horizon. As the lights grew closer my smile grew wider, I was almost home free. Merging onto the beltway, I followed signs for Tampa/St. Petersburg and rolled my window down feeling the wind in my hair to give me one last burst of energy. I figured since I was getting close that I would call my dad and tell him that I was almost to Clearwater. I picked up my phone and scrolled to his contact which was under "father." I hit dial and my bluetooth automatically picked up the call. After a few rings he answered and he didn't sound like he had been asleep at all.

"Hey kid are you almost home?"

"Yeah dad," I replied "What are you doing up? It's almost 3:30 in the morning."

"Well you caught me, but my little girl is driving across the country so I'm going to be up awaiting her getting home safe and sound." He chucked through the phone.

"Typical dad," I thought to myself and smiled.

"Patches, Max, and Apollo have been waiting for you all day and I think Max is going to jump into your arms when he sees you."

"Aww that's my big baby!" I remarked and smiled wide.

I took my exit off the beltway and saw the "Welcome to Clearwater," sign coming up.

"Well dad, I am officially in Clearwater so I will see you in about 15 minutes."

"Okay sweetheart, can't wait to see you!" He responded.

We exchanged goodbyes and I hung up the phone, everything started to look familiar as I drove so I turned off the navigation and just cruised the streets and seeing what has changed. Soon enough I pulled up to my neighborhood gate and hit my gate clicker giving a quick wave to the night time security guard Alan. I drove down the long street leading into the neighborhood and took a right and passed darkened house after darkened house until I came to my very well lit house. I pulled into the long driveway and saw my dad standing at the end of it. I turned off the car and pulled the keys out of the ignition and opened the door.

"Dad!" I smiled as I jumped out of the car and ran into his arms.

"I missed you Zed," He said as he called me by my nickname and picked me up off the ground and squeezed me tight.

He set me down and looked at me and held me by my shoulders and smiled.

"You hungry kid?" He asked.

"Like you wouldn't believe! I've been running off fumes and caffeine for the past four hours and I could really use something hot."

"Then let's get some eggs, sausage, and pancakes into that stomach." My dad said and put his arm around my shoulder.

I locked my jeep and we walked into the house together, as soon as he opened the door I heard two different loud barks and the crashing of paws against the hardwood floor. Suddenly my two dogs Max, Apollo came into the room and sure enough Max jumped into my arms, almost knocking me down, and started licking me like crazy.

"Max!" I shrieked and squeezed him super tight. I set him down and sat on the floor and let the dogs overpower me with licks and sniffs.

"Okay boys, I need to breath." I gasped and stood up, I walked toward the massive kitchen with the dogs hot on my tail and immediately heard the sound of sizzling sausage and smelled the pancakes.

"Dad that smells amazing!"

"Well I should hope so, you know it's one of the best things I cook!" He replied and set his spatula down. I smiled and took a seat at the bar and waited for my food to come up.

"Order up!" dad said as he plated the sausage, eggs, and pancakes and set them down in front of me. I dug right in an muffled a "thank you' through inhaling my food.

"Your welcome kiddo, how was the drive?" He asked

I took a break from my food and sipped my orange juice and swallowed everything.

"Long, and I saw so many signs that said "go to church or the devil will get you."

Dad laughed and shook his head, "well you know it is the south."

I nodded and returned to my food.

It was good to be home.