Page 49 of My So-Called Perfect Life

I haven’t told my sister or Mercy about talking to Ryan. For some reason, I feel the need to keep this to myself, but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen now.

“No one,” I say, sticking my phone under the table, hiding it between my thighs.

Amelia takes the seat next to me, and her troublemaking smile spreads on her lips. “It’s hot bar guy, isn’t it? You said his name was Ryan, and I doubt you know many Ryans. Your whole life was Scott until a month ago.”

“Shut up, Amelia,” I hiss at her.

My dad joins us and looks between the two of us. “What are you girls arguing about now?”

“Nothing,” I answer while Amelia says, “I was just asking Danielle about her new boyfriend.”

My father chokes on his water. “New boyfriend?”

“Who has a new boyfriend?” Mom asks as she enters the dining room with a baking dish filled with pot pie.

“Danielle does.”

I smack Amelia’s arm. “I do not.”

“She does too. She’s just being shy about it,” my sister continues lying to my parents. “Mercy and I met him. He’s nice. He’s a bartender.”

“Bar owner,” I correct her before I think about the implications.

Amelia has a smug look on her face. “Excuse me. Danielle’s new boyfriend is a barowner.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

My father shakes his head and sighs. “It’s like the two of you are still children. Do you ever stop bickering?”

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at Amelia. “Yes, when she can stop sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Mom starts dishing out the pot pie in heaping portions. “Well then, what is he, darling?” she asks as she hands me back my plate.

“Isn’t it too soon for a new boyfriend?” my dad grumbles.

“He’s just a guy I met. It’s nothing to get excited over. I’m not even sure I like him.”

Amelia chuckles. “Oh, you like him all right.”

“Why would you give him your number if you’re not sure if you like him?” my mom asks, finally taking her own seat.

I glare at Amelia. “I didn’t. I’m pretty sure this one over here and Mercy gave him my number.”

Amelia gasps, and I toss her a smug grin of my own.

You want to tell the parental units about Ryan? Then, I’ll throw your ass under the bus too.I know that she is just as involved in this as Mercy is. I don’t know how or when they pulled it off, but one of them gave Ryan my phone number. There’s no other way he could’ve gotten it.

“Amelia Jane Jacobs,” Mom admonishes her. “Why on earth would you give your sister’s phone number to some man without her permission? Do you know how dangerous that could be? There are some crazy people in this world. I know I taught you better than that.”

She holds up her hand, stopping my mom from continuing. “Relax, Mom. It wasn’t random. I’ve met him. We know where he works, and he was nice enough to take care of precious Danielle here when she threw up all over him and his office.”

“You bitch,” I mumble low enough so that only she can hear.

She laughs under her breath. “I can keep going all night.”

My mom asks, “Why were you sick in his office, Danielle?”

Amelia’s smug smirk is back again. “Yeah, Dani, why were you sick in his office?”