by K. A. Berg
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 word date. 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 movie Bad 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.
“This is Luke. He’s filling in for Mrs. Lavalli, who is ready to pop out a baby any day at this point.” She smiles at him and then turns back to me. “He just survived his first open house.”
He adoringly looks at Danielle, and my urge to piss a circle around her is strong.
“Thanks to the two of you, I did,” he says, giving Danielle a wink.
She beams at Luke. “Teachers helping teachers. That’s what it’s all about. We’re all in this together.”
“I’m Ryan,” I say interrupting them gushing over each other. I offer the man my hand, anything to get him to stop looking at Danielle with those doe eyes.
“Nice to meet you.” His smile is genuine, and it irks the hell out of me.
The situation makes perfect sense. The man is new, and Danielle has been helping him. Of course he’s grateful. Of course they have rapport. They’re colleagues.
Tone down the alpha, asshole.
“Everything went well?” I ask, trying not to come off like a total douche as I take Danielle’s bag from her.
She carries everything for school around in it, and I swear, it’s like twenty pounds.
Her face lights up. “It did. We had a great turnout. Almost everyone’s parents showed up, which makes me happy. I like getting to meet the parents and seeing their involvement in their child’s school.”
“Great.”
“But I’m ready to get home and relax,” she adds. “It’s been a long day.”
“You can say that again,” Brooke says. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
“I’d better head out too,” he says. “Thanks for all your help.”
Danielle waves to him and then we head toward the subway.
“He seems nice,” I say, lying through my teeth.
“He is,” she says as we cross the street. “It’s his first year heading up his own classroom. Brooke and I have been spending a ton of time integrating him into the ways of the school. I forgot how overwhelming it can be when you’re first starting out. Especially as a long-term sub. Parents always seem to insist on asking when the ‘real’ teacher will be back. It’s so demeaning for a teacher in Luke’s position, like parents view you as something less than a teacher.”
“Well, that sucks,” I say even though a deep part of me is glad he won’t be around for long.
“Yeah.” She yawns as we head down the stairs to the platform. “I’m so exhausted.”
“Did you eat?” I ask.
She nods as she leans her head on my shoulder while we wait. “I had a slice of pizza earlier.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, mad at myself that I didn’t think ahead. “I should’ve brought you something from the bar.”
“It’s okay,” she says with a sexy smirk. “The last thing I’m thinking about right now is food. I have other plans for you when we get home.”
“So, are we drinking to celebrate, or drinking to drown our sorrows?” Raul asks.
This afternoon, I met with my finance guy, Pete, to hammer out the final details for Cohen’s West. We finalized all the numbers for this endeavor and . . . shit, this almost feels better than getting the first business loan for Cohen’s East. Since I’m so far East in the city, Cohen’s East and West make sense in my head.
“Come on man, don’t leave us hanging,” Evan begs. “Is it a go or not?”
I try to keep it cool and not thrust my hand in the air. “It’s a go!”
Evan holds his beer up in salute. “That’s fantastic, man. Congratulations.”
Raul slaps his hands down on the bar in excitement. “This calls for a celebratory shot, my friends!” He waves his hand in the air. “Esperanza, three shots of Patrôn, please.”
“Esperanza,” Evan calls out. “Just two shots of Patrôn.” He looks over to Raul and me. “Sorry, guys. I have a showing later this afternoon. No tequila for me, some of us have real jobs.”
Raul scoffs. “You couldn’t handle my job. Running three restaurants would make your hair fall out and your balls shrivel up.”
Evan takes a bite of his gambas al ajilo. “Keep talking, big man. Without me, you would have signed the lease on that shithole you wanted to move into, and your last restaurant would have been a f
lop. Read the reviews. People go there for the location and the view. The food is secondary.”
Esperanza brings another plate of fried squid. “Shut up, the both of you. I want to hear more about Ryan’s plans for his new space. Does Danielle know yet? Is she going to look at places with you?”
“Danielle? Why would he bring her?” Evan asks as he stuffs his face. “Can we get some more of that ham and cheese thing?”
“No. No more for you,” Raul says. “If my food is secondary, you don’t get any more.”
“Fine, fine. Your food is amazing. The best I’ve ever had. Just bring some more.”
Esperanza glares at him.
“Please,” he adds.
“That’s better,” she says before returning to the kitchen.
Raul pours another beer for himself. “So how is your pretty lady friend? You haven’t mentioned her much lately.”
Evan snorts. “Hopefully that ship has course-corrected and sailed off into the sunset.”
I groan. “You just can’t help but be a dick, can you? It’s a compulsion. You’re incapable of ignoring the impulse.”
Evan shrugs. “My dick and that woman have nothing in common. I don’t even want us mentioned in the same sentence. And if you were smart, you wouldn’t either.”
“See, you just can’t help yourself.” I gesture to Raul for another beer.
Raul nods, then refills my glass. “You don’t like Danielle?”
“He’s never taken the time to get to know her.” I clarify before Evan has the chance to say a word.
Evan rolls his eyes as he takes another bite of shrimp. “I don’t want to get to know her. I’m merely tolerating this shit until her crazy ass is gone. Or your dick falls off and I get to say, ‘I told you so.’”
Esperanza delivers the chorizo, ham and bread dish. As she sets the plate down, a large group walks in the door. She walks away, clearly disappointed that she’s missing out on all the gossip.
“I liked Danielle” Raul says. “You looked happy in here with her. There was fire and passion in the way you two looked at each other on the dance floor.”
Evan digs into the new dish. “Did he tell you about the STD she gave him? Or how she made a huge scene, humiliating him in front of the entire, crowded bar? Then she threw up all over his office? He had to replace the fucking sofa, that’s how nasty it was. The girl is non-stop drama. He should run in the opposite direction as fast as he can.”
Raul shrugs his indifference. “If Ryan doesn’t care about this stuff, then why should we?”
Evan wipes his mouth with his napkin. “Because, as his friends, we need to stop him from making a huge mistake.”
Again, Raul raises his shoulders, disinterestedly. “Who are we to say what is a mistake and what isn’t? Do you see yourself getting serious with this girl?”
I pop a shrimp into my mouth, giving the question thought before answering. “Yeah. Maybe? We’re taking things slow, but I think it could get serious.”
Evan chokes on his beer. “Serious? Dude. You’re her rebound. There ain’t nothing serious about it.”
“Rebound?” Raul asks. “Things look like a bit more than rebound to me.”
Evan looks over smug as hell and I kind of want to punch in his teeth. “I bet he didn’t tell you how he met her?”
Raul shakes his head and Evan gladly fills him in as if it’s some dirty secret he can’t wait to reveal. “Her fiancé cheated on her. On her wedding day. She came in to get drunk and lover boy here decided to take her upstairs and help her forget all about her failed marriage.”
Raul looks unphased. “Love is messy.”
I take a sip of my beer. “Things between us are going fine.”
“Let me ask you,” Evan says. “Has she asked you to go steady or whatever the fuck the kids are doing these days?”
“Grow up, Ev,” I reply.
“See, she hasn’t, and you know it,” he continues. “She hasn’t said shit because you’re the rebound, dude. You’re her good time to help her get over the heartache. One of these days, she’ll be ready to move on and you’ll be left in the dust. Hopefully without a disease that will make your dick fall off.”
“You don’t know her!” I say through gritted teeth, trying hard not to punch my best friend.
Seeing I’m pissed, he calms down. “Look dude, I’m not trying to be an asshole. I’m just trying to protect you. This is the definition of rebound. I don’t want you to get all invested and have her fuck you over. She’s not worth it.”
I open my mouth to defend her, but Raul chimes in. “I don’t think you should worry about this rebound nonsense. You can’t control when you fall in love. Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time. That doesn’t mean you just let her go. If she’s worth it, have patience. It will work out.”
I raise my glass to him. “Thank you. That’s what I’ve been thinking.”
Clearly frustrated, Evan drops his chin to his chest. “She isn’t the right person at the wrong time. This is not some rom-com. She’s just wrong for you, no matter which way you look at it.”
“I repeat, you don’t know her.” Patience for Danielle, I have in spades. Patience for Evan, shrinking by the second.
“Think about it, dude. The only reason you ever saw her again is because she gave you chlamydia. She had her good time, and she wasn’t planning on coming back. Wham bam, thank you ma’am. She came back to flip out about the chlamydia. Then you had to basically beg her to go out with you. Face it, man, she’s just not that into you. I have milk in my fridge with a longer shelf life than this relationship.”
It takes every ounce of self-control not to lay him out. Smashing my fist through that smug grin would make me feel better, but it might end my friendship and fuck up my friend’s restaurant. I’m not looking to do either. “You need to back off man. You’ve made your point, loud and fucking clear. But we’re just going to have to agree to disagree here. If she does bail, then you get to hold it over me for the rest of time. Until then, you need to shut the fuck up.”
Evan holds his hands up in surrender. “Message received.”
Raul brings the conversation back to Cohen’s West and the tension eases. We get through the rest of lunch without me smashing a beer bottle over Evan’s head.
I replay the conversation in my head as I walk to the subway. I get where Evan’s coming from, I really do. I’m not a complete idiot. On paper this relationship, or whatever it is, looks like something born out of a reality show with no hope for a second season. It’s not like I’ve run out and bought a ring or anything. I just want to give this thing between me and Danielle a little room to breathe. Is that so crazy? Why does everything need to be set in stone?
Across the train car, I notice a couple. She’s talking his ear off, but he’s not paying attention. He’s scrolling through Tinder on his phone. She keeps talking about plans for the upcoming weekend and a possible vacation over the holiday, and he’s thinking about the next bed he’s going to hop into.
What’s the shelf life of that relationship? A week? A month?
Fuck. What if Evan is right?
Chapter Thirty-One
Danielle
Dating a man who owns a bar can come in pretty handy. Like most people who live in the city, my apartment is a shoebox. I love it but entertaining at home has its limits. If I invite any more than five people, the apartment becomes too claustrophobic to breathe. But, with Cohen’s, I can invite as many people to the bar as I want. Ryan gives the group the girlfriend discount, and I don’t have to stress about cooking. Bob is a killer chef and makes everything better than I do anyway. So, it’s a win-win.
On Wednesdays, almost all of the teachers stop in for a drink after work. Getting drinks at a reasonable price, makes it so much easier for broke teachers to join in. Tonight, we’re celebrating Luke. He killed it at his first IEP meeting. He handled it like a pro.
By seven-thirty, only Luke and I are left. Intermittently, Ryan pops by
for a quick kiss. It’s sweet that he takes the time, but the interaction between us feels off. He seems so tense and stressed.
“Does he always have that dark and broody thing going on?” Luke asks after Ryan stopped by our table.
My eyes narrow as they follow Ryan across the bar. I can’t recall ever seeing a man fill out a pair of jeans quite like Ryan. The Cohen’s T-shirt is a bonus. I swear he shrinks them in the dryer, so they mold to every muscle of his chest and biceps. He looks hot, but the vibe he’s putting out is all cold. “Not really,” I reply. “He’s usually pretty laid back. But, tonight, he’s so. . . intense.”
“Everything okay between you two?” Luke asks.
“Sure,” I reply as I pick at the label of my cider. “I mean, I think so. I bet he’s just in work mode. Plus, he’s looking to expand. That comes with a ton of stress.”
“I bet,” Luke says, finishing his beer. He sets the bottle down, then stands. “Alright. I’m out of here. Thanks again for coordinating this. It was a fun way to blow off steam after that meeting.” He drops some cash on the table. “Be sure to thank Ryan for me, too.”
I stand and give him a quick hug. “You got it. Have a good night.”
Once Luke leaves, I bring my bottle up to the bar. Ryan has an iPad in his hand and is checking the inventory behind the bar. “Hey,” I shout to get his attention.
When he turns around to see me, he smiles in a way that makes me feel as though the arctic chill from earlier seems to have melted. “Everyone gone?”
“Yup. Just me.”
He sets the iPad down. “Good, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Uh oh! Am I in trouble?” I give him a coy smile then nibble my lip. “Do I need to go to the principal’s office?”
He releases a playful groan. “There’s nothing more I’d rather do, but I’m being serious right now.”