Page 59 of My So-Called Perfect Life
He must be able to sense my embarrassment because he quickly changes the subject. “So, I got you something.” The smirk on his face reeks of mischief.
“I don’t know if I like the sound of that, to be honest.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out what looks like a small gray snowman. He tosses it to me, and I look down, confused. It’s a keychain. That much I can tell.
“It’s cute,” I say before asking, “What is it?”
His eyes fill with mirth, and he smiles big. “Gonorrhea.”
“What?” I screech as the toy goes flying in the air.
Ryan laughs harder and catches the toy before it winds up in my breakfast.
“It’s only fair,” he says. “If this is going to work between us, you can’t be the only one giving out STDs. It has to be an equal partnership.”
“Oh, dear God.” I groan and hide my face in my hands.
* * *
We stop justoutside the fence to the school.
Ryan insisted on walking me to work. He claimed he had to head this way anyway. I think he was full of shit, but who was I to stop him from keeping me company on the subway?
He discreetly runs his hand down my arm. “We should do this again sometime.”
I think I’d really like that.
“The date or the sex?” I whisper just in case any little ears wander up to camp early.
He laughs. “Both. I don’t think I’ve had that much fun in a long time.”
I’m quite certain Ryan has fun. A lot.
“Oh, I think you have plenty of fun.”
“I’m no angel,” he says. “But I don’t take women to baseball games and make them breakfast often. Never actually. You’re my first baseball date, and I’ve never made pancakes for a woman other than my mom and sister before.”
There’s a heat in his eyes as he stares down at me, and I gulp. He makes me feel like he can see deep into my soul.
“Well, I’m honored. What do you have in mind for next time?”
Because let’s face it; there is definitely going to be a next time.
He threads his fingers through mine, and he steps closer. “I know there’s some kind of rule about waiting a certain amount of days to call or whatever, but I think we’re past that point, don’t you?”
My throat is suddenly dry as he invades all my senses, so I nod.
“Roxy is hosting Trivia Night at the bar tonight. You should come. I’d say let’s do dinner privately, but last theme night Roxy did, the bar was pretty slammed, so I don’t want to leave her to handle it alone. But I also can’t stand the thought of not seeing you tonight.”
I think I’m going to melt into a pile of goo right here on the sidewalk. Everything coming out of his mouth is like a play from the Romeo Handbook.
“I’ll think about it.”
The corner of his lips tip up, and his eyes hold a world of promise as he says, “You do that. You think about all the ways you can come tonight.”
He steps back, leaving me a little shaken and very achy between my thighs—from both last night and his words.
His smile splits his face as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the gray toy, tossing it to me. “Don’t forget your gonorrhea. Have a nice day, Danielle. I’ll see you tonight.”
