Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
He sighs heavily into the phone. “Tell me what’s going on, Jenna.”
Sometimes when I talk to him, he’s the same laid-back brother I remember from my youth. Sometimes, like now, he sounds like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I don’t want to add to his stress. “Fine. I was dating Paul and—my gosh, this is so embarrassing—he didn’t like what I was eating on our dates.”
“Wait! What? He had a problem with what you ordered? That cheap bastard.”
“No, it wasn’t like that. He, uh, thought I needed to lose some weight and thought I should be ordering salads on our date.”
The silence is deafening, and I can feel my face heat. This is so embarrassing. I’ve been overweight my whole life, but I love who I am and how I look. I’m definitely not going to stay with someone that doesn’t feel the same. But still, it’s an embarrassing conversation to have for sure.
“But, but you’re beautiful just the way you are, Jenna.”
I shake my head. I’m not so vain to say beautiful but ya know I’m definitely not going to argue with my brother. I never win when I do that. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over...”
“Yeah, I don’t believe that. So when this dipshit said that, what did you do? Did you break it off with him? How did he handle it?”
I lean forward in the chair and put my head in my hand. Do I admit I gave him a second and third chance? It wasn’t very smart on my part, but I’m chalking it up to being alone and needing male companionship. But at least I smartened up before I slept with him. That would have been horrifying. “Uhhh, well, after our third date, I did break it off with him and tell him I wasn’t interested.”
“And? I know there’s more, Jenna. I’m your brother, I know you.”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. “Well, he didn’t like it. He thought—well, he couldn’t believe that someone like me would break up with someone like him, so he’s not really wanting to take the hint. But it’s fine. Like I said, I can handle it.”
“What’s his last name, Jenna?”
Crap, I did let his first name slip. I shake my head. My brother works with men that could probably find out anything with a first name. “I’m not telling you his last name because it’s done. It’s over.”
“All I need is a name, and I’ll make sure you never see the dumb fuck again!”
“John! I don’t want him killed.”
“I’m not going to kill him. I’m just going to teach him a lesson.”
“Okay there, killer, listen. It’s not a big deal. I’m handling it.”
There’s a loud sound, and if I had to guess I’d say he’s punching something. “But you don’t have to handle it alone.”
“If it was a big deal, you’d be the first person I called. You know that. But it’s not a big deal.”
“Jenna, I can hear it in your voice. I know you’re not telling me everything.”
I clench my eyes tightly and feel bad for lying, but I don’t want him to go onto a mission while he’s worried about me. “I promise. You know everything. I’m fine. Now quit worrying about me and start thinking about your next job. I want you focused, John. I need you to come back in one piece, please.”
He doesn’t say anything for the longest time. I’m worried he’s going to keep pressuring me, but he surprises me. “You don’t want me to worry? Fine. Do something for me.”
“Anything,” I blurt out.
“Seeking Curves.”
It’s just two words, but it’s enough for me to wish I hadn’t agreed to do something for him.
“John, come on...”
“I’m serious, Jenna. If you were with someone that was good to you and took care of you, I wouldn’t have to worry.”
I throw my hand in the air in frustration. He may not be able to see it, but it makes me feel better. “First of all, I’m a grown-up. I don’t need someone to take care of me. Second of all, is this really my brother? The same guy that used to threaten boys in high school for just talking to me?”
“Yeah, but I’m not there anymore.” He pauses, and when he starts again, his voice is thick. “Jenna, I can’t lose you too.”
And just like that, he has me. I can’t argue with that. I don’t even want to. I worry about the same with him. I can’t lose him. If me signing up with Seeking Curves gives him peace of mind, I’ll do it. “What do you even know about this place?”
“You fill out a questionnaire. They ask everything. Then they guarantee a match. It’s all legit. I had one of the tech guys here look into it.”
I sigh loudly into the phone. I may agree to do it, but I don’t have to be happy about it. With everything with Paul going on, I really don’t want to date, but I’m not going to deny John. “Fine. I’ll do it.”