Page 91 of My So-Called Perfect Life
She tries for nonchalant, but I can see the wheels turning in her head. “I’m not doing anything. When you’re ready to introduce me to your girlfriend, you will.”
“I didn’t say she was my girlfriend, Mom.”
Mom pulls the pan of eggplant from the oven and then turns back to me. “In my day, when you took a girl to your parents’ beach house, she was your girlfriend. But then again, in my day, a son wouldn’t do that without first introducing the girl to his parents, but—”
“Leave him alone, Marlo,” my father says, coming in to back me up. “And Teresa, don’t hold a man’s food hostage. That’s one way to ensure you’re single forever.”
He tosses me a wink, but all I can think about is my mother’s words.
Girlfriend?
Is she my girlfriend? Does she think of herself as my girlfriend? I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve just been enjoying the time with her. She just got out of a serious relationship. I wasn’t even looking for one. Why complicate things with labels?
“Ignore the hens, Ryan,” Dad says clapping me on the shoulder and shaking me from my wayward thoughts. “Don’t let them in your head.”
Chapter Thirty
Ryan
Danielle’s school seems pretty muchcleared out as I arrive. I check my watch and see that I’m right on time. Danielle said she would be done with back-to-school night at about nine, and it’s ten of. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I guess I thought more people would be here.
This last month has been rough on the two of us getting time together. Danielle’s been swamped with schoolwork, and my attention has been fixed on putting together a business plan for the second location. It hasn’t left much time for us to see each other, but when we have, it’s been great.
Since time together has been so limited, we made plans for me to pick her up after back-to-school night ends. Tuesdays are slower days at the bar, and with Roxy ready to take over some of the management responsibility, I’ve been giving her time to find her groove without me a few days a week while I focus more on Cohen’s new location.
One of the things I adore most about Danielle is her dedication to her job. She’s so damn committed to the school and her students. She has the same drive and passion in her career as I do mine. She hasn’t complained about not getting to hang out with me because of our jobs, we are working opposite schedules.
Subconsciously, I wonder if that’s what has always held me back from getting serious with someone. I’d never want to have to choose between my business and a woman. Any woman who would try to make me choose, isn’t the woman for me.
Danielle shows an interest in what I do and even encourages me to follow my dreams. It’s the perfect balance so far. Everything fits and clicks, and it all works.
But maybe it’s because we’ve been keeping it casual? It’s easy for everyone to go-along-to-get-along when there’s nothing at stake. Maybe if there were more to us, she might not be so understanding of all the late nights and monopolized weekends.
It’s hard to know what we are. After my birthday dinner at my parents’, my mother and sister warped my mind with all the talk about Danielle being my girlfriend. Outside of the baseball game, we haven’t used the worddate. We’ve never had a discussion about what we are, and I’m not sure we’re ready for one.
It’s not that I’m opposed to the word, “Girlfriend,” or the label or whatever. I don’t want to rush things. I don’t want to assume too much, but I also don’t want to take things too lightly. A couple of months ago, she was supposed to get married. Married. “Till death do us part,” married. That’s some serious shit. Who jumps back into a relationship so quickly after that life-altering-U-turn? Especially after how much he hurt her.
I really like this girl. We have a great time together. Based on everything she’s been through; it makes sense to me to keep things light and easy. There’s no rush, right? She’s got school to focus on and I have my bars. Who has time to get bogged down nitpicking over labels?
The main doors to the school open, and a group of people file out. I instantly spot Danielle. Teacher Danielle is adorable in her long, flowered dress. She’s completely opposite of the naughty vixen she likes to play at night. She smiles and waves at a few people as they head off.
She hasn’t noticed me yet. She’s chatting with the teacher I met the day I helped her in her classroom and another man. Danielle throws her head back and laughs. She’s so gorgeous when she laughs.
Truthfully, I probably look like some kind of stalker as I stand outside the gate of the school, watching everyone leave.
The other teacher—Brooke, I think her name is—shakes her head at the other man while Danielle places her hand on his arm. A tiny spark of jealousy flares in my gut as she smiles at him.
Chill, Ryan.You don’t even know anything about him or who he is. Don’t get all macho possessive.
As if she hears my inner thoughts from across the way, Danielle turns her head, and she spots me leaning against the fence. She waves at me then the three of them walk toward me as they continue chatting.
“Hey,” Danielle says as she greets me. “You remember Brooke, right?”
“Yes.” I nod at her. “It’s nice to see you again.”
The small redhead grins. “You as well, Ryan.”
Danielle gestures to the man who reminds me of the guy Justin Timberlake played in the movieBad Teacher.He has on black dress pants, a blue button-up, and a matching tie. His thick-rimmed black glasses give him a hipster look.
