Page 37 of My So-Called Perfect Life
“He seemed sincere last night when he told us he was positive he didn’t give it to you.”
“Of course he’s going to say it wasn’t him, Amelia. Did you think he would own up to it? The man probably takes a new girl home from that bar every night. He’s a total player.”
“I’m a player, Dani,” Amelia huffs. “That doesn’t mean shit. I’m not spreading STDs around the city. Don’t be so judgmental.”
“Two plus two equals four, Amelia,” I remind her. “I didn’t have chlamydia. I slept with him. I got chlamydia. Ergo, he gave me chlamydia”
Amelia sighs. “I know that the timeline adds up, Dani, but that doesn’t mean this didn’t come from Scott either. Let’s face it. He was cheating on you. You have no idea where Mandy’s been. Regardless, does it matter where you got it? You have it. You’re taking the medication, and it’ll be gone before you figure out whether it came from Ryan or Scott. You took yesterday to deal with it and try to drink it out of your system. Starting today, you need to move forward.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I point out. “Would you just move on if this was your life?”
“Yes. The damage is done, and it will be gone in a few days. Did you know that there are over a million cases of chlamydia each year? It isn’t the end of the world. Stop letting all this shit drive you mad. I think the more important thing we should be discussing is the bomb Mercy dropped on us yesterday. Can you believe she wants to settle down?”
She raises her brow, trying to get me to engage in her topic change. Even if I don’t love her suggestion for handling this, I do love her for giving me the easy out to change the subject. This is one great thing about my sister; she’ll give you her two cents and then move on.
I’m just not sure I know how to do that at this moment.
Chapter Twelve
Danielle
My feet are killing me,and I have sweat in places where it shouldn’t pool. It was nearly one hundred degrees by eleven a.m., and of course, today had to be the day that we were taking the kids to the new spray park that just opened in the city. It’s amazing how you can be surrounded by water but still feel like you’re on fire.
The kids are all different hues of pink from the sun. I tried my damnedest to get them to reapply their sunblock, but I would have had better luck herding the mosquitos. I’m going to get an earful from the parents—the last thing I need right now. My brain feels as fried as their skin. All I want to do is go home and pass out.
“I think my bathing suit has melted to me,” Mercy tells me as she leans her head against the bus window. A bus that doesn’t have air-conditioning.
“I was just hoping that all pick-ups are on time because the idea of going home and taking a cold shower sounds like the most amazing thing in the world at the moment.”
“At least the kids had a blast.”
The chatter on the bus is low. The sun wiped out the kids as well. Usually, we have to constantly yell for them to keep it down or sit down or stop throwing things. Today, there’s nothing but quiet conversation between the kids.
“Yeah, I think this is the quietest bus ride we’ve had in a long time.”
We pull up to the school at a few minutes past five o’clock. Somehow Mercy and I muster the strength to get off the bus and motivate the five other counselors and sixty kids to do the same. By the time we get everyone checked-in from the trip, parents have arrived for pick-ups. We hand every child off to their parents and guardians by quarter to six.
* * *
Pulling out my key,I check my mailbox before heading to my apartment.
Junk mail. Bills. A package from Amazon that I don’t remember ordering. A letter from an address I don’t recognize.
I shove them inside my bag next to the papers I need to fill out and dash up to my apartment, that cold shower calling my name.
Once inside my very cool apartment, I drop everything in a pile near the door and start pulling off my sweat-soaked clothing. I jump in the shower without waiting for the water to warm up. The cold water feels like heaven as it glides over my shoulders and down my back. I can feel the tension in my neck ebbing, and the headache already forming seems to be giving way a bit.
Nothing feels worse than being hot, sweaty, and stressed. I love my job, but sometimes, on days like today, it can be a bit much.
My big plans for the night include camp paperwork, ice cream, andStranger Things. I pull out some pajamas—a cute little tank and short set, covered in cats with the phraseCheck meow-t.
I pad out into the living room, grabbing the file of paperwork along with the mail. I toss the junk mail, set the bills aside, and open my package, trying to rack my brain for what I ordered. Reaching into the white envelope, I pull out a small, plush green thing.
What the hell is this?
I didn’t order a stuffed animal.
Pulling it from the clear plastic, I read the card inside and shake my head.
