Page 50 of My So-Called Perfect Life

“Amelia, Mercy, and I ate at some street fair last weekend, and the food didn’t sit right in my stomach. We stopped at the bar for some drinks, and I got sick.”

My mom looks horrified. “Why wouldn’t you go to the restroom? How’d you wind up getting sick in his office?”

Lying is not my thing. I’m not good at it, and I want to hit my sister upside the head right now for getting me into this mess.

“Someone was in the restroom, Mom. I didn’t throw up in his office because I wanted to.”

My mom nods as if she’s satisfied with my answer. “If he was a gentleman after all that, maybe you should think about dating him.”

Christ, not her too.

“Yeah, sure, Mom,” I say just to get her to lay off, “I’ll think about it.”

Chapter Eighteen

Ryan

Danielle:I just thought of something …

Me:Which kind of drink you’re going to have with me?

Danielle:Ha-ha … no.

Me:What you’ll eat for dinner?

Danielle:Again, no.

Me:Damn, I can’t win with you girl. What did you think of then?

Danielle:You own that little love nest above the bar.

Me:I do.

Danielle:Is that your home? Or just where you take girls from the bar, so they don’t know where you live?

Me:It’s exactly what I told you. A place for employees to crash if they’re too tired to make it home.

Danielle:So, everyone does have access to it?

Me:Any of my employees can stay there. Why?

Danielle:Because I’m not sure I can think about a drink or anything else with you while I’m still pretty salty that you left me alone up there where I was totally naked and anyone could’ve walked in.

This is what’s been bothering her . . . stopping her from going out again? She gave me Chlamydia and she’s mad I ran down to the bar? I was coming right back. If anyone gets to be salty about that night, it’s me!

Me:The only person who has their own key is Roxy, who was downstairs, working at the bar, and knew we were up there. No one had access to the loft that night but me. If employees want to stay the night, they need to ask for the extra key from the bar.

Me:Now that we’ve cleared that up, should I ask again?

Danielle:I’m not sure. You still ditched me. Who knows where you’ll leave me naked and alone next time?

Me:Look at who is assuming I’ll sleep with her on the first date.

Danielle:Since when is drinks considered a date?

Me:Since when isn’t drinks considered a date?

Danielle:Since forever. Drinks is not a proper date. It’s a get-to-know-you thing, and I think we already know enough about each other to be past drinks. So, it’s not a date.