Love on the Brain

I love Rihanna, but sometimes her songs take me down a memory lane I'd rather not revisit...

Apr 03, 2025

Welcome to Dishing with Danielle, a new Give Them Romance column. I’m the leading lady of Kayla Love’s second book from the “Bliss Bay Romance” series, Danielle, a feisty and fun romance novel. As a journalist, I naturally ask lots of questions. Count on me to keep it 100 in this column as I also share my journey of finding answers - especially when it comes to love. Enjoy my first post, Love on the Brain.

Must be love on the brainnnnn…that’s got me feeling this way…

I paused mid bite. The warmth and sweetness of the bread pudding permeated my mouth. I hadn’t noticed the song until now as the bartender turned up the volume. My pineapple rum cocktail washed down the bread pudding, but couldn’t wash away the forlorn feelings that started to form as I thought about what was…and now wasn’t. The sting was even more prevalent as I sat at the bar solo. Despite my initial excitement to try out a solo date, at that moment, it just felt a little…sad. I had instantly been transported back several years when everything I thought to be true came crashing down…

Life had been fantastic! I was twenty-five and on top of the world. I had a job I loved with lots of potential for promotion and progress. I had my first apartment on my own that I adored. And I was happily in love with Isaiah.

We’d met at a bar the year before and quickly found ourselves in a relationship. I admit, I was hesitant to date another athlete after my college relationship crashed and burned, but I figured we were both grown now and those youthful indiscretions wouldn’t be a thing. For that, I was correct. He didn’t care to sow his wild oats anymore. He wanted to be committed. And committed we were! We had just started a few talks about potentially moving in together later in the year when our leases were up. I just knew we were going to be the next Barack and Michelle! (Well, the version that was an accountant and a journalist.)

And then, it all changed.

The song had also changed.

Hey I heard you were a wild one…ooooohhhh ooooooohhh ooohhh ooohhh…

It hadn’t helped change my mood. Even the up-tempo songs of summer reminded me of us, like our carefree moments on the dance floor when things were good. And, of course, our ultimate demise…

“Babe! Guess what?!” I had called Isaiah after a meeting with my manager.

“What’s up?”

“I got a promotion!”

“You did! That’s my girl! Congrats!”

That enthusiasm soon faded as we resumed talks about the potential move in. When we started to get more in depth about finances, I could feel the shift.

“What’s going on Isaiah? All of this makes sense to me!”

“Yeah, it’s just…I mean…”

“Spit it out! Do you not want to move in together yet? Is something else up?”

“It’s…you make more than me now. What do I look like with my girl making more than me?”

“Are you serious right now? I mean, yeah, but why does that matter if we are building together toward something. I’m sure there will be a time when you get a new role and it will switch. I just don’t see the big deal here.”

“I don’t know…”

I thought he would take some time, come to his senses, and we’d move forward. But he didn’t. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t. And so I had to let the dream go.

After that, I didn’t have the desire or energy to pursue anything serious. And so I didn’t. And then I met Marcus, my on-again, off-again, friend with benefits. We were off-again, and that’s how I ended up at this bar with my dessert and cocktail on a solo date not expecting to traipse down memory lane.

By the time I’d returned to the present, I was grateful that the bartender had changed his playlist to something more vintage. Classic love songs that didn’t remind me of the love I’d lost, but instead the hope of the love I was still determined to find. One day. And so I decided in that moment to take a deep breath, focus on my future, and love myself just a little bit more.

Bliss Bay Romance Series

Want to know more about Danielle’s story? Check it out here. And while you are at it, why not start with the original story of the series, Brandy?

The Bliss Bay Romance Series follows the romantic lives of a set of friends whose paths intersect through a fictional beach town outside of New York City called Bliss Bay. There, the salty air and steamy nights create the conditions for everything from finding the perfect fake relationship to getting over an ex. Whether in Bliss Bay, the city, or on their travels, these characters support each other on their quest to find love. This series highlights the diverse stories of Black characters living and loving.