You Changed Me (Re-Written)

3: just here for the food

Vanessa

"Mommy, pick this one." Kristi pointed to a neon pink dress."

"Um those are some pretty loud colors." I chuckled.

"What does that mean?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"It means that they are really bright and colorful."

She nodded and continued looking around.

"Look at this." Jessica called.

I turned around and instantly frowned at her.

"Jess." I groaned.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"This looks like a piece of lingerie."

"It does not. "It's just sexy."

"I don't need to be sexy for a banquet. "And besides, I'm wearing white and he's wearing black."

"Not for the banquet. "For the date that's taking you."

"Jessica I am not trying to get with the man." I said, looking through the racks of dresses.

"I thought the plan for this summer was for you to find a man."

"No, the plan was only if there was a really nice guy that I liked and we hit it off, then I'd think about a relationship." I laughed.

"I don't see why you don't just let me set you up on a blind date."

"I don't do that." I sang.

"Well that's the same thing you said about Tinder but that didn't stop me from making..."

She stopped talking and I shot daggers in her directions.

"You made me a Tinder account?" I whisper-yelled.

"Ok the bright side, you already have 20 people that are interested." She beamed, scrolling through her phone.

She held up her phone and I shook my head.

"No thanks. "I don't wanna see what kind of thirsty men are gawking over my profile."

"How do you know that they're thirsty?" She laughed.

"Who signs up for a dating app that's not thirsty?" I side eyed her.

"Vanessa you gotta stop being so uptight."

"I am not uptight, I'm just old fashioned."

"Exactly. "Men these days don't just come to us."

"Hmm. "I see your point but that doesn't mean you have to rush a relationship or your process either. "You have to always trust the process."

I felt her staring at me, making me look up.

"What?"

"Ok, now you know I hate sounding cringey and mushy."

"Yeah." I laughed.

"But I really admire the way you carry yourself. "Even after James the jackass." She whispered the last part.

As far as Kristi knows about her dad is that he left and never came back. One day I knew I had to tell her the full truth, but she's too young right now.

"Day by day, right?" I asked.

"Step by step." She nodded. "You deserve to be happy more than anybody."

"I am happy." I smiled at her.

"You deserve a man that makes you happy." She rephrased.

"What man do you know that takes in somebody else's child?" I asked.