To The Single Dad in the Store by J.S. Cooper
Chapter Ten
“Shelby,I’ve gone and done it now!” I walked into her bedroom without knocking.
She sat up in the bed and yawned. “What’s going on?”
“I did it.”
“You called him?” She looked surprised.
“Yeah, wasn’t that our deal?”
“I didn’t actually think you’d go through with it, though.”
“Yeah, well, I kept my end of the deal.”
“So? What happened? What did he say? What’s going on?”
“I have a date tomorrow, kind of? Maybe? I’m not really sure?”
“You what?” She jumped off of the bed now. “You have a date with the guy in the store? The same guy in the store we were talking about earlier? The hot single guy?”
“Well, I don’t know that he’s single, but he is hot. And I mean, I don’t know if it’s technically a date or if he thinks I’m going to be offering him some free nanny services or something.”
“What?” Shelby looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re going to be a nanny?”
“Well, no, I didn’t say I’m going to be a nanny, but I kind of let it slip that I could give him some advice if he needed some.”
“Give him some advice on what, Nellie? You don’t know anything about kids.”
“That’s not true. I used to babysit when I was younger.”
“You babysat like three times and you hated it so you stopped doing it.”
“Well, yeah, but he doesn’t know that.” I laughed. “Plus how can I be an authority on kids if I only babysat three times?”
“Exactly, you’re not an authority.”
“Well, he doesn’t have to know that, Shelby. What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.”
“Oh my gosh Nellie. You’re absolutely crazy. You’re not going over there to babysit for this man’s kids, are you?”
“No, I’m going over for dinner. I told you that.”
“So it’s a dinner date?”
“I think so. I mean, I’m so confused. I don’t really know what it is.”
“Wow!” Shelby looked astonished. “I’m kind of shocked, to be honest.”
“Why are you shocked?”
“I mean, you just don’t really hear about single dads going on dates with college students. I mean … I don’t know,” she shrugged, “it’s cool.”
“Well … he doesn’t technically know I’m a college student.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t technically know you’re a college student? Either he knows you’re a college student or he doesn’t.”
“Well, he doesn’t know I’m a college student.” I shrugged.
“Are you going to tell him?”
“I don’t know. Should I?” I said softly, thinking about it. “I mean, I don’t want to be a liar, even though I kind of led him to believe I’m a little bit older and a professional when it comes to child-rearing. But I don’t want that to be what he thinks about me. You know?”
Shelby nodded slowly. “Because if you guys hit it off, you don’t want him to think you’re a liar.”
“I mean, it’s very unlikely that we’ll hit it off given how we started, but I definitely don’t want him to think I’m a liar. Just in case.”
“Yeah, girl. I don’t know what to tell you. I think you just need to bring it up casually tomorrow.”
“How do I bring that up casually?”
“Just say, Hey, this has been amazing, but I kind of have to get home to study because I have a midterm coming up.”
“No way, I’m not saying that. That sounds like I’m a little kid. I’m not a little kid, I’m an adult. I’m an adult woman who can do adult womanly things.”
“Well yeah, you’re twenty-two, but…”
“But what, Shelby?”
“You can’t really do that much. You live in your brother’s house. Your parents support you—”
“Hey, I’m not going to be living here forever, and my parents aren’t going to support me forever. I’m going to have to get a job sooner or later.”
“But if you wanted your parents to support you, they would.”
“Yeah, but only if I live by their rules, and I don’t want to live by their rules.”
“It’s still nice that you have the option that they’ll support you forever.” She looked at me wistfully.
“Oh, Shelby, come on. Your parents are pretty well off, too.”
“My parents don’t own a bank, though, Nellie.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. So my parents own a bank but …”
“But what? You’re stinking rich.”
“Okay, fine. I have a trust fund and I don’t have to worry about money, but that doesn’t mean that my life is perfect. You know that.”
“I know,” she said with a little nod. “I’m just being a little bit of an idiot because …” she paused. “Well, you know.”
“No, I don’t know. What?”
“I kind of wanted to go to art school for an MFA.”
“Oh wow, that sounds amazing.”
“Yeah, but my parents can’t afford to send me, and I don’t really have scholarships. So I’d have to take loans, and I mean, I don’t really think it’s smart for someone who wants to have a career as an artist to go one-hundred-thousand dollars in debt.”
“Oof. That’s a lot of money.” I chewed on my lower lip. “So you’re sure you want to be an artist?”
“Well, I think it would be cool. I’ve already sold a couple of pieces on Etsy.”
“Yeah, I know. And you’re going to be in some art shows, right?”
“Yeah. I think.”
“So?”
“You said you’ll come with me, right?”
“Of course. I’ll come with you. I’ll work my butt off for you. We’ll sell as many pieces of art as you have available to sell.”
“You’re awesome, you know that, Nellie?”
“Well, I try.”
“You don’t even have to try, girl, you’re the best friend anyone could ever have.”
“Uh-oh, why are you buttering me up?”
“I’m not buttering you up. I’m just letting you know that you are. I’m so happy that I get to live here with you. And you know, I say, go to that dinner tomorrow, and yeah, maybe you don’t tell him you’re in college unless he specifically asks you, but don’t lie. Okay? And don’t go offering any childcare advice because I could see you ending up in court if you give him the wrong information.”
“I would never give him the wrong information. I …” I chewed on my lower lip. “Though, I guess technically I wouldn’t know if I was giving him the wrong information. I guess I should keep my mouth shut, huh?”
“If you can.” She grinned.
“Well you know that’s hard,” I laughed. “Come on, I think the pizza is nearly here. Let’s go to the living room and join Hunter.
“Sounds good to me,” she beamed. “I love me some pizza.”