The Dating Deal

Ch. 7: The Dating Deal

Ashley

My plan tonight was to rot in bed while watching rom-coms and hope that I'd magically forget about the incident with Kris.

The one where I asked him to fake date me.

The one that caused him to look at me like I was an alien specimen and dash out of the café like the building was burning down. The one that made him drop out of Psychology 101. There was no other explanation for him not showing up to class two days straight.

I had scared the guy away.

It would have been better if he'd just laughed in my face and called me stupid. But no. Kris being the nice guy that he was, just smiled and said, "It's uh...it's an interesting thought."

It was a very valid reason to come home, wrap myself in my fluffy blanket, and eat my weight in cookie dough ice cream. The perfect Friday night plan.

Instead, here I was getting scrutinized by tiny humans half my age and size. Thanks to my mom accepting a babysitting gig on my behalf. Without my opinion on the matter.

"Ashley, how tall are you?" Jake asked, the six year old I was supposed to babysit tonight. His dark eyes scanned me as if sizing me up.

"I'm 5'11," I answered even though I wasn't sure if he'd understand that.

His brows furrowed as he folded his arms across his chest. "How tall is that?"

"Really tall," Dawn, his sister and my other charge for tonight, chirped from beside him. She then turned to me grinning, showing off her missing front tooth. "You are taller than Lily."

I had no idea what their older sister, Lily looked like as she wasn't here tonight, but I still plastered on a smile. The kids and I were going to spend the rest of the evening together and it was imperative I got in their good books.

"I don't understand. I didn't know girls could become this tall," Jake exclaimed, his expression one of disbelief. "Can you stand beside the refrigerator so I can see how tall you are?"

"Can I touch your hair? Is your hair real?" Dawn asked at the same time, green eyes sparkling with curiosity. "How is your hair so shiny?"

A chuckle bubbled up my throat. It had been so long since I'd babysat kids that I had forgotten how hilarious they could be.

"Kids, stop troubling Ashley," Mrs. Diaz walked in, chastising her children before turning to me with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry. They are usually very easy going."

I waved her off. "No need to apologize at all. We are getting along just fine."

Mrs. Diaz smiled up at me, the petite woman nearly a foot shorter than me even in her high heels. The black evening gown she had on hugged her curves like second skin, accentuating her pear shaped figure. Looking at her, no one would be able to tell that she had three kids. One being almost my age.

"You're looking beautiful, Mrs. Diaz," I said and a bright smile spread across the older woman's lips.

"Oh, you're being too sweet," she said and grabbed my hands. "Thank you so much for doing this. Your mom told me you just drove back home from university for the weekend. I'm so sorry for making you come here last minute. You must have had other plans."

"It's alright."

Not that I had any spectacular plans that got ruined. Besides, it wasn't like I had driven back home for a special occasion. I did this twice a month because my home—new home—was close to Wellsfield and having me over for the weekend gave my parents peace of mind.