Danny Walsh

Amara’s dad. 🩷 snacks packed. hair done. preschool chauffeur. undefeated at making up bedtime stories.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

🌟 29. Full-time dad to Amara. 🐰
🎧 AV + event production. 🔑 Building manager whenever somebody loses their keys.
🦕 Bedtime stories made up nightly. Continuity errors will not be acknowledged. ✨

💗 Mostly dad life, work chaos & whatever Amara has decided we're doing today.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

@whiskeyhour *I raised my glass toward the group.*
To terrible decisions and excellent company.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

@whiskeyhour *I looked up as the girls returned, grinning at Cooper.*

Pretend? I had a great time last night. Aside from the fact that my head currently feels like it's been hit by a truck.

*I picked up my rum and Coke and took a generous sip.*

Ahhh. Breakfast of champions.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

One milkshake and a stack of pancakes for the lady, please.

I leaned toward Elias, lowering my voice.

Amara's the only one here who isn't hungover, and somehow she's getting the best deal.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

I watched @IrisMOMents and @whiskeyhour make a beeline for the bathroom, then burst out laughing when @EliasRivers ordered alcohol.

Oh, we're doing this? Hair of the dog?

I considered it for a second, then shrugged.

It's five o'clock somewhere.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

She holds one tiny hand across the table toward him.
"Hi. I’m Amara."

I glanced at her hand, then at Elias.
"Very formal. You should probably shake it."

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

Amara and I rolled in and spotted Elias already in a booth. I give him a nod and slide in across from him.

"I'm leaving the shades on until the headache passes. Are @IrisMOMents and @whiskeyhour here yet?"

Amara climbs in beside me, then shows she has better manners than me.

[Elias Rivers @EliasRivers]

📱I'll be there

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

I paused before putting my phone down.
“Actually…”

I shot identical texts to @IrisMOMents and @EliasRivers

📱30 minutes, IHOP? Cooper is in!

[𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚜𝚎 @whiskeyhour]

Not… a… date

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

Technically true.
I took another sip of coffee.
Also had to shower, find painkillers and attempt to look like a person who hadn’t been wearing a pink feather boa twelve hours ago.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

I looked toward the living room.
"Amara, you want pancakes?"
YESSSSS!

I winced as the answer went directly through my skull.
"Okay."
I looked back down at my phone and typed.

📱Let’s do it. Give me 30. I have to get Amara dressed.

[𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚜𝚎 @whiskeyhour]

debating going to like an IHOP or Denny’s.

Sent.

I immediately placed my phone face-down on the counter.

“Nope.”

I turned toward the mirror again.

God.

I looked like shit.

The eye patches weren’t helping nearly as much as I had hoped.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

I took another sip of coffee.

📲Last night was fun. This morning is killing me 😂 How are you feeling?

I hovered over send.

Safe?
Then frowned.
Cowardly, but safe.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

Had we been flirting last night? I thought we had. Maybe? There had been dancing. Hands. A lot of laughing. Vodka. At one point I was pretty sure she’d been doing the robot.

I looked at the message again. Do I compliment her back? Heart? Was a heart too much?

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

From the living room, Amara was screaming “SCOOBY DOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOUUUU.”

I started typing.
📱So are y-
Delete.
📱We should hang out ton—
Delete.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

Then I saw Cooper’s message from last night.
📱you’re like unbelievably hot.
I snorted, finally pouring myself a coffee and taking the first sip.

I read it again as the caffeine slowly began bringing my brain back online.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

I stood in front of the coffee maker staring at my phone, waiting for it to produce the only thing currently standing between me and death.

[𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚜𝚎 @whiskeyhour]

screen.

Delete.

Delete.

Delete.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

📱215: The person cutting the grass across the street is being really loud.
"Across the street."
I closed my eyes.
"Not my grass. Not my problem."

📱311: Hey Danny, what’s my rent again?
I stared at that one longer.
"How do you not know your own rent?"

[𝙲𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚜𝚎 @whiskeyhour]

The Hangover

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

She bounced again as I groaned into the cushion.

[Danny Walsh @DannyEWalsh]

“Amara, Daddy is very sick.”
The ghost appeared on screen and she bounced.

Tiny fingers tangled into my hair and tugged.
“Daddy! GHOST!”
“I believe you.” I blindly reached behind me, trying to catch her. “Please tell him Daddy died.”