Page 22 of Perfect Date
Fire. In my blood. Again. Over a simple compliment.
“I’m a dental hygienist.”
“Oh yeah? Where do you work? I could use a new dentist.”
“Sure, you can,” I shake my head not believing a word he says and feeling slightly silly that his hotness combined with sweet words makes me feel like I could faint at his feet. Or at least could use one of those mini hand-held fans to tame the flushing I feel in my cheeks.
“So, tell me about the guy that’s getting the pleasure of your company this evening,” he says leaning back just a little. He picks up a rag and wipes the counter in front of him.
“T.J.?” I ask stupidly.
“Yeah, T.J.” he says and I swear it comes out as a slight growl.
“I don’t know much about him other than he’s a single dad, works in advertising, and enjoys water sports and hiking.”
“Hm, sounds like a douche.”
“Hey! That’s presumptuous!”
“You’re not worried about the fact he’s a parent? Maybe there’s a crazy ex in the picture? Or maybe an ex that’s not really an ex, but he’s lying. Or maybe his kid is a terror.”
I laugh at his questions “I mean, I suppose all of that is a possibility. As far as him having a crazy ex - that’s a possibility for anyone, really.”
“Good point.”
“I don’t think I’d judge a child. I mean, not that a demon child, as you put it, would be easy to manage, but they have to have some goodness in them somewhere I guess. They’re just a kid.”
“Alright. And the other? You wouldn’t always be a priority.”
“The fact he’s a single dad? I mean, my mom was a single parent,” I offer the personal fact and he stops wiping the bar and makes eye contact with me. “I know first-hand how hard being a single parent is. The sacrifice, the having to be the good guy and the bad guy, the frustration, wanting alone time and never getting it, the lost sleep, the times I know my mom felt unappreciated and not respected. I mean, there are many rewards, sure, but it’s also challenging as hell. I sure didn’t always make it easy for my mom, that’s for sure.”
“Are you telling me you were a little terror, Charlie?” He asks with a smile and small laugh and I chuckle as well finding I quite like the way he says my name.
“I mean, sure. Isn’t that a child’s job at some point? To be difficult and have growing pains?”
“That’s a yes, then.”
“Yes, that’s a yes. I was an angry teenager. Mad about the dad that left us, internalizing it and feeling like it was my fault and not knowing how to verbalize it, so it was easy to take the feelings out on my mom. She always told me it was his loss, his problem, that his decision had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him. As I child, I didn’t understand that. How could I not think that I was at fault? Or that my mom was and be angry at her for whatever role she played in the loss of him? Knowing that a result of him leaving meant my mom was alone, tired all the time, working hard to support us the best she could - no she worked her ass off,” I correct myself. “All while having to deal with a moody teenager that certainly didn’t care much about making her life easier because the world of course revolved around me.”
Signing deeply, I shake my head feeling ashamed, “I feel bad when I think about it now.”
“Being a moody teenager is a rite of passage,” he says softly. “No doubt your mom was also one herself.”
“Were you one?” I ask with a smile thinking about him being all rebellious.
“Absolutely,” he nods emphatically. “I hung out with some rowdy friends, and we were always getting into trouble. Of course, I also knew everything too.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Some say that I still think that I know everything,” he says louder and a choked laugh grabs my attention as I see the same bartender that served my drink listening to our conversation. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“Charlie, this is Sam, she’s a childhood friend of mine, meaning she knew me when I was the aforementioned terror.”
“Hi, officially, Charlie,” she nods at me and her smile looks a bit forced, until she turns it on Justin and it’s at full blast. “And yes, Justin definitely raised some hell back in the day.”
“It’s cool that you both work together,” I say awkwardly trying to decipher what exactly the relationship is between Justin and Sam.
“Yeah, well, Justin was kind enough to h- “
