Page 5 of Saint

I chuckled. Not because I found him funny. It was just one of the many ways I displayed my discomfort. His invitation was tempting, but only as tempting as a candied apple in a snake pit. There was something about Javier’s offer that didn’t feel inviting at all.

“I’m gonna get back to work, Javi. I’ll chat more with you later.

We’d only been dating for two months. I didn’t love him. I wasn’t even sure I had deep feelings for him. Javier was just a good time. He knew how to make me smile. He exposed me to the thrilling side of life that my family tried to shelter me from.

Despite the world of fun we had together, I was still hesitant about leaving the country with him. There was something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, which gave me pause about the entire idea. Instead of delving too deep into my head and overthinking the entire notion, I brought it to my girlfriends. Typing out the message weighing on my heart, I pressed send. Releasing it into the girlfriend group chat, I awaited their response.

Javi is still pressed

for this Indonesia

trip.

Girl, please. In a world full of

substandard men, please go.

Javi has been nothing

short of amazing.

Dream

Yes, if you can’t go to Bella

Noches, go to Komodo Island!

Luna

Luna’s reference to the old internet meme

birthed a chuckle from my lips. She always knew how to make me laugh.

It’s upsetting me, and my

homegirls.

Dream

Dream instigated, further encouraging me to go on the trip with Javier.

As long as you’re comfortable.

Robyn

The last message from Robyn gave me pause. She was always in my corner despite what everyone else was saying. She’d picked up on my uncertainty and had no issue making it known. Of all my girlfriends, she and I were closest.

I continued my day, pushing thoughts of Indonesia and Javier Reed to the depths of my mind. My focus was required for much more pressing tasks. My upcoming show took precedence over the possibility of a pending vacation.

Later that evening, Robyn and I met up for dinner and discussed the prospect of my travel with Javier.

“He’s a nice guy. He makes me smile. He’s been really sweet so far…”

“His pockets are deep,” Robyn added.

“That’s not a selling point for me,” I fussed. “Robyn, you know I don’t care about that.”

Earning early success with Demure made it challenging to locate men who matched or exceeded my income. As I acquired more success, the dating pool became a shallow pond. At thirty, I intimidated the men in my age group. If I applied my requirements for sameness to the men I sought, I’d be scouring through a dried-up puddle.

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