Page 62 of Somebody To Love

“You really need to stop beating yourself up over your past romances. They’re in the past. Let them stay there.”

I sighed. “Everything you’re saying is absolutely right and logical, but I still feel defeated and unsure about myself when it comes to this kind of stuff. Like what if my family is just cursed to spend eternity in bad relationship after bad relationship.”

“Yikes, then I hate to see who Meredith starts dating.”

I knew she was being facetious and that exasperated me. “I’m not joking, Dana. Sometimes I feel as if I’m just destined to keep making the same mistake. I don’t want to trust the wrong man again and in the long run end up getting hurt or worse yet, end up hurting someone else I don’t even know.”

“That was a fluke, Piper. It’s not as if every man you’ve dated was harboring some dark secret.”

“That I know of...”

“Stop. You can’t let a few bad apples spoil everything for you. Be positive and optimistic. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me?”

“Maybe that’s bad advice.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Piper?” she said and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I would like to think that I’ve finally grown up.”

“Well don’t do that. Unless you want to turn into me. I mean, have you seen my crow’s feet yet?” she asked, pointing at the barely noticeable wrinkles at the edge of her eyes.

“You’re beautiful and perfect. You don’t have crow’s feet.”

“You’re so sweet, that’s why you’re my best friend. You’re way better of a person than I’ll ever be.”

“You’re a good person, too,”

She laughed harshly. “Only on the weekends when I get to sleep in.” She stood up and said. “I need to run and get my laptop out of the car so that we can get started on work and then meet Becca back at the school.. .be back in a sec.”

While she was gone, I thought of what she said. I had frequently downplayed how I felt about Ty when talking to my friends. I really did feel as if at any moment the proverbial other shoe would drop and then I would be back at square one: loveless, alone, and feeling sorry for myself.

And it wasn’t that I didn’t trust Ty. I just didn’t really trust myself.

Soon enough Dana came back in and I focused the next few hours to listening to her marketing plans for my business. Dana was clearly good at her job and I felt lucky to have her help. I told her as much. She had just shrugged and said, “It’s the least I could do after all you’ve done for me and Meredith over the years.”

We wrapped up what we were doing and headed to the school. On the way there she asked me if I had any dinner plans for the night. I figured that I would give Ty a day off of cooking and told Dana that I would be glad to accompany her and her family to dinner.

“We’re having spaghetti. Be warned. Only one kid knows how to use utensils properly, so if some spaghetti goes flying across the table and lands in your lap, don’t take it personally.”

“Duly noted. I won’t.”

After the school event, I looked at my phone and realized that I hadn’t reached out to Ty all day. I had a text from him though. “What would you like for dinner tonight?”

“Having dinner with Dana.”

“Oh” he said, followed by a frowning emoji.

I laughed. “I’m giving you a break.” I texted back.

“I like cooking for you,” he replied.

“You’re sweet.”

I smiled and put my phone down and then another text popped up. “You have my key. Swing by when you’re done with dinner. I miss you already.”

Feeling warm and fuzzy inside, I texted back, “I miss you too.”

The day went by faster than I expected and the next thing I knew, I was helping Carter and Meredith put away the dishes whilst Dana got the twins ready for bed. Dinner had been yummy. Nothing fancy like Ty made but homey and filling.