Page 25 of Somebody To Love

Speaking of Meredith, I had to remind myself that I had to pick Meredith up from school today because Carter was going to a conference and Dana was still feeling like crap. It turned out that Meredith didn’t have the stomach flu like the rest of the family. She just had way too much candy and other goodies from her classmates who apparently weren’t a huge fan of the snacks their parents planned to give them at the after party, so they had come prepared with their own. I didn’t blame them. If I had to choose between chips or strawberries, the winner would always be chips.

I went to get a cup of coffee and spent the rest of the morning working. Before I knew it, it was noon and I was starving. I wanted a slice of pizza but figured that since I was lactose intolerant, pizza wouldn’t be the best idea. I knew my body stayed bloaty for days after I ate dairy and that just wasn’t a good look. I planned to wear something figure hugging for my date and the last thing I needed was to look like I was four months pregnant in a dress. Unless he was in to that kind of thing, I thought to myself wryly.

I sat at the coffee shop drinking more coffee and working until it was time to get Meredith. I was still working in the pick-up line while I waited for her to come out. I was also internet shopping. I was a little bit of a shopaholic which was ironic since I spent years abroad living in conditions that most foreigners would balk at. I guess all the years of living like a pauper made me appreciate discretionary income even more.

I heard a tap at my window and l looked up to find Ty there. He smiled at me and then peeked into the car to see what I was looking at.

“Hey,” I said slamming the laptop closed. “Mind your own business.”

“I just wanted to say hello. I don’t care if you spend all your free time looking at panties online.”

I wanted to roll up the window and pretend he wasn’t there. Why, oh why, did I continue to embarrass myself around him? Then I stiffened up, it wasn’t my fault. It was his. He had the worst timing. Just play it cool, Piper.

“I find shopping online convenient.”

“Me too. But I go commando, so I don’t bother shopping for underwear.”

I couldn’t help myself. I looked straight at his crotch when he said that. And, of course, he caught me. He gave me a teasing smile and I hurriedly looked anywhere but directly at him.

“Gotcha,” he said. “See you later, Piper.”

Without another word, he turned away from me and went to greet his nephew with a high-five. And then like the boys they were, they started to shadow box each other.

“He’s a big kid,” I said disapprovingly to myself. I shook my head. Now I was turning into a stick-in-the-mud. Since when did I have a problem with someone enjoying himself and being youthful?

Oh yeah, since I decided those were the type of men I would definitely stay away from. After all, hadn’t I admired that youthfulness in plenty of my failed relationships? It wasn’t that I was becoming unbending and losing my sense of humor, I was just finally being practical about dating and matters of the heart. At least that’s what I was telling myself.

Meredith popped up while I was in deep thought and hollered something to Danny before getting in the car.

“Hey, kid,” I said as she got in. She smiled up at me and was about to greet me when Danny called out to her and ran over to the car.

He shot me a glance and then said, “Meredith don’t forget to tell your aunt about the party. You know, just in case your mom is sick again, I don’t want you miss it.”

He sounded so eager and so in love.

Meredith rolled her eyes. “I told you already. I’ll be there.”

“Promise?” Danny asked.

“I promise,” Meredith mumbled. That was good enough for Danny, it seemed. He promptly jumped in the car with his uncle and they drove off.

I pulled off behind them. “So, you’re going to a party?”

“Yep, Danny’s birthday party. I go every year. I’m not sure why he feels he needs to remind me. That’s annoying.”

“Boys can be annoying.”

“No kidding, but Danny is like over the top annoying. His uncle likes you by the way,” Meredith said, going through her backpack and looking for something. She pulled out a tablet and started playing a game.

I couldn’t believe she would drop that news on me and then just start doing something else.

“How do you know he likes me?” I asked, not able to bare the silence. I needed answers and I needed them now. My love life depended on it.

“Danny said so.”

“Ok.” That told me nothing. “How does Danny know?”

“He said his uncle Ty was asking about you.”