Page 48 of My So-Called Perfect Life

That hits right between my thighs. After everything, the man can turn me on like a light switch—and through a freaking text message. It’s unbelievable. Even when I was mad and yelling at him last weekend, he still managed to get to me. It was hard to focus at first because everything from our night together came rushing back in a wave of serious sexual tension, but then I remembered that he had given me chlamydia—or at least, I thought he had—and the anger came back. The wink he tossed me as I left the bar the other day made my heart skip a beat like I was a schoolgirl.

This man seriously fucks up my rationale. My brain just shuts down, and my body takes over.

Ryan:So, how about that dinner?

A giggle bubbles from my chest.Stop enjoying this so much, Danielle.

I can’t help myself though. His attention is nice, and I like it. It reminds me that there’s still so much out there, and it’s mine for the taking if I want it.

Me:I’ll let you know.

Chapter Seventeen

Danielle

My parents stand at thefront door, waiting for Amelia and me as we exit the Uber.

“I really wish you girls would consider getting a car,” my mom starts in as soon as we reach the stairs of the front porch of our childhood home.

“We don’t need a car in the city, Mom,” I say for the millionth time as she pulls me into a hug.

She grabs Amelia next. “But if you had one, you wouldn’t have to rely on strange people driving you places. You know I worry about you girls. There’re horror stories about these ride companies every day.”

Here we go. My mom and her worries.

“It’s okay, Mom. I promise you, we are safe, careful, and not in any danger.” Amelia tries to pacify her.

“How are you doing, Sweet Pea?” my dad asks as he wraps me in his warm hug.

I smile up at him. “I’m doing good, Daddy.”

That’s the truth too. I know he thought Scott’s actions would crush me, and they did, but honestly, I haven’t really thought about him often this last week. Not really much at all over the last month. I have to say, I’m shocked myself at how easy it has been to move on from him. I guess you can only hurt someone so much in such a short amount of time before they become numb to it and begin forgetting about you since you brought them nothing but hurt.

To stop the hurt, stop thinking about the reason causing it.

Life goes on.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and something tells me that it’s the man who has been helping my life go on these last few days.

“You look good, darling,” my mom adds as we head inside.

The table is set for dinner, and the scent of my mom’s chicken pot pie fills the house.

I follow my nose straight to the kitchen. “It smells amazing in here, Mom. Do you need any help?”

“No, everything is ready.” She shoos us out of the kitchen and into the dining room. “Why don’t you sit, and I’ll bring everything out?”

I pull my phone from my back pocket before sitting and see Ryan’s name on the Home screen.

Ryan:You’re doing some pretty hard thinking over there. How long are you going to torture me?

Me:I haven’t decided yet.

Ryan:How about just a drink then?

Me:I don’t know. I’ll think about it.

“Hmm … what’s going on here?” Amelia asks, leaning over my shoulder. “Who’s that?”