Page 97 of My So-Called Perfect Life

“Well, whatever station that was is now my favorite station. I will listen to them all the time!” I shout back.

Simon coughs loudly, clearly annoyed the drama hasn’t settled down.

“Sorry Simon!” I wince at Ryan. “I swear, I will calm down. I’m just so jazzed! I’ve never seen them live before! And now I am. Saturday night! Can you believe it!”

“Saturday night?” he asks. “This Saturday?”

“Yes! It’s going to be A-mazing! There are rumors that JT may join them on stage!”

“So… I guess we’re not going to my parents’ house then?”

The expression on his face pops my balloon of excitement. Two seconds ago, I was flying high and now I deflate in front of him. “Oh Ryan, I’m sorry! We can go over there next weekend, right? This is just a once in a lifetime opportunity. You get it don’t you?”

“Sure,” he says with a shrug. His words may say he understands, but he’s deflating as fast as I am. Clearly, he doesn’t get it at all.

“I know it may seem like a stupid concert. It’s just a boy band from the nineties, but this is a big deal for me. It would be like you climbing a mountain or jumping off a cliff or one of the other crazy things you do. That’s your thing, and this is my thing.”

He turns away from me and pulls six-packs from their boxes, then puts them in the fridge behind the bar. “I get it. I really wanted you to come with me. It’s my grandparents’ anniversary and—”

Mercy screams, grabbing my attention. “Oh! My! God! We have backstage passes too!”

I spin on the ball of my foot and run to Mercy. Screeching and hugging resumes. There’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me to finish talking to Ryan. That whatever this was isn’t over. But, the *NSYNC excitement wins out. I’m sure he’ll get over it. It’s not like his parents are going anywhere. There will be plenty of other opportunities to meet them. There won’t be other opportunities to see an *NSYNC reunion.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ryan

The sound of Danielle’s laughtercarries over all the noise in the bar as she enters with a few colleagues.

“Doesn’t she have anything else to do?” Evan sighs. “Like grade papers or something?”

She called about half an hour ago, letting me know the PTA meeting had finished and a few teachers wanted to come to Cohen’s for a drink.

I may be pissed about how she acted last night but I still appreciate business.

Danielle smiles timidly as she greets me at the bar, “Hi.”

“Hey.”

“Hi Evan,” She says. He ignores her so she adds, “As always it’s such a pleasure to see you.”

He takes a sip of his beer before finally responding to her. “Because I’m cool like that. You, on the other hand, it’s like waiting on bated breath to see what trick you’re going to pull out of your hat next.”

Danielle rolls with the punches. “You couldn’t handle my tricks, Evan.”

I almost choke on my own saliva.

Evan glares at her. “Spreading diseases isn’t a trick. It’s a health hazard. I just hope you don’t give Ryan something permanent before he’s through with this game of Russian Roulette he’s playing with his dick.”

I see the sparkle in her eyes before she opens her mouth. Whatever she’s about to say is going to put Evan in his place. “I gave him Herpes for his birthday. He said it was the best gift ever. Best night of his life, I believe he called it.”

Evan’s eyes bulge in surprise but it’s quickly replaced with disgust.

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you two and your insane fetishes but I’m walking away before it rubs off on me.” He stands from his stool and heads toward the back office mumbling, “Fucking weirdos” on his way.

“How was the meeting?” I ask, refocusing my attention on Danielle.

“Long,” she says, taking Evan’s seat. “The first one of the year is always long. We have new parents, and they have a lot of questions. I get it. It’s their children, but after a full day of school, having to go back for a two-hour meeting is rough. How’d things go today? Find any places you liked?”