Title Dempsey’s Grill
Author Bryan Fagan
Genre Contemporary Romance, Comedic Romance
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb
Gibson Baker had it all. A beautiful house. A beautiful girlfriend. A steady job and the world's most comfy couch. But when Gibson loses his job and his girl on the same day, he is forced to crawl home to Mom and Dad. At least Mom’s happy to see him.
Excerpt
Chapter 2. Tail Between My Legs
By the time I reached the bus station I was wet, hungry, and in dire need of my couch. As I would never see that couch again, I made the best I could out of the nearest wooden bench. The bus station matched my mood on every level. Cold to the touch, dampness in the air, and echoes of another lost soul throwing up in the nearest bathroom.
I had to call home and warn them I was on my way, beg them to take me in, but a huge chunk of my brain demanded I wait. The moment I called was the moment it became real. I was five months shy of my 30th birthday. I had no job, no money and at the moment no home. I was calling my parents to ask if I could move into my old room. The one with the Spiderman posters, and Marvel comic books. Trust me, Mom kept everything.
My parents still lived in Eugene, Oregon. I checked the schedule. The next bus to Eugene left tomorrow at 6:45am. Or I could wait two hours and take the bus as far as Portland. On top of everything, I would need someone to drive two hours up to Portland and pick me up. The only bright spot in all this was that my older sister Hope had moved out, so I wouldn't have to face her when I got home.
I removed my finger from the speed dial. I needed this moment. I had to remind myself why I was here before I shared it with someone else. I deserved this. The dim lights flickered above my head. The smell of diesel blended with the afternoon air. Near the door, a homeless couple was fist-fighting. The woman was winning, in case you were curious.
I had a chance of making this relationship work but deep down I knew this was where I'd end up. Maybe that's why it was so easy to leave or maybe it had something to do with her father being twice my size. Whatever it was, quitting was easy. I was good at it.
I fought back another anxiety attack and made the call. I kept it quick and to the point. Mom cried and Dad said nothing. Mom put the phone on speaker so he could join in. I always found that funny. Dad and I never talked. I told them when my bus would arrive in Portland and asked if Dad could pick me up. Mom agreed. Dad was silent.
After I hung up I took a deep breath. It was now officially real.
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Author Biography
I was born and raised in Burlington, Washington. A little farming town 70 miles north of Seattle. I bummed around with odd jobs after high school until one day I spotted a small college in Ashland, Oregon. I later settled in Eugene, Oregon with my wife and two daughters. I began my writing career with the help of my daughters. When they were little, they drew pictures and created stories. One day they asked me to join them. I remember the day my four-year-old asked if I would do something for her. She asked if I would write a novel. And that was the day I began to write.
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