Page 51 of My So-Called Perfect Life

Me:I asked you to dinner first and you declined. I figured drinks would be less intimidating.

Danielle:You downgraded me from dinner to drinks. It’s insulting.

Me:Then yes to dinner with me.

Danielle:Not now. You better think bigger now if you want me to say yes.

She’s freaking nuts! And for some reason, I kind of like it.

“What the hell is so interesting on your phone?” Evan asks, drawing my attention from Danielle’s text. “You haven’t heard a word I said.”

He’s not wrong. I kind of tuned him out about ten minutes ago. I should be paying attention to what he’s telling me though because it’s important. He just got a new listing contract for a space, and he thinks it’d be the perfect location for another Cohen’s.

I’m not even sure why I care this much or why I’m still trying to convince her to see me again. This isn’t me. I’m the guy who women flirt with after they’ve loosened up. I’m the one who the girls take home at the end of the night and then brag about to their friends.

Chasing women hasn’t been a thing for me since high school. I haven’t had the time. The bar has been my main priority since it opened. I’ve put everything I have into this place, which is the reason I’m standing here right now looking to expand.

But with Danielle, something about her intrigues me and I want to know what it is.

But at this moment, I should be listening to Evan about this property and its details. I should be thinking about Roxy and the idea of her buying into Cohen’s. Focusing on figuring out if a second location is even a possibility.

Not what kind of date I can plan to get this woman to go out with me.

“Dude!” Evan shouts.

“What?” I ask, my voice dripping with exasperation. Not toward Evan, but myself. “I’m sorry, man. What were you saying?”

“I was saying that with the square footage of this place, you could have two bar areas and double the seating you have now. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit,” he counters. “I’ve known you long enough to tell when something is bothering you.”

Evan and I met in college. Junior year in Operations Management. We were paired for a project and became friends by the time it was over. He’s been with me through a lot, including the start-up of Cohen’s.

“It’s nothing really.”

Evan is not going to want to hear about my problems concerning Danielle. He doesn’t even like her, despite not having met her. I’m not in the mood to listen to his theory that she’s crazy.

Maybe it’s me who is crazy.

“It’s about a woman, isn’t it?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because this is a Ryan I’ve yet to see. You’ve also never had woman troubles. Two plus two equals relationship issues, my friend. Did you knock someone up?”

What the hell is wrong with him?

“Seriously? No, I didn’t get someone pregnant, and if I did, why would I hide that?”

“True, you’re not apay her offkind of guy.” He taps his finger to his chin, thinking of some other explanation. “Did you get another STD from someone? Please tell me it’s not a forever one.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s nothing like that.”

“Well, what then? Because my imagination can keep going over here.”

“I’ve been trying to get this woman to go out with me. She’s been noncommittal.”