Page 37 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

“Because you’re right. Focusing on his career doesn’t mean he won’t date. Even if it’s just for…” I don’t want to say it, but Scott knows what I mean.

“Sorry I brought it up. I was just being honest.”

“No, it’s good. I’d rather know that now than run into him when he’s on a date.” I shove my plate aside. “I don’t know why I assumed he’d stay single. I guess because it hurts less to think of him being alone than with someone else.”

“You shouldn’t be alone either, at least not because of him. I know you said you don’t want to date, but maybe just think about it some more.”

“I have, and I can’t see myself getting out there again. In my head, I’m still marrying Asher. He was supposed to be it. I can’t imagine myself with anyone else.”

“That’ll change. It just takes time. And going out with someone else may help you get over him. You’ll stop seeing yourself with only him and be able to see yourself with some other guy.”

It’s not as easy as he makes it sound. My heart is still with Asher. As angry as I am at him for what he did, part of me still wants to be with him and marry him like we’d planned.

“Enough about me,” I say. “Now it’s your turn.”

“For what?”

“We had a deal. I tell you the name I called you, and you tell me about Bridget. I did my part. Now it’s your turn. What’s your history with Bridget?”

CHAPTER TEN

Scott

Why does Trina want to know about Bridget? Why does she care? And why am I so reluctant to tell her?

It’s not like she won’t find out. If she spends any time with my friends, she could ask them about Bridget and they’d tell her. So why am I acting like it’s some big secret?

“We’re not dating,” I say. “But we used to.”

“When?”

“Last year. For a few months.”

“So she was your girlfriend.”

“More like a friend that became more. But it was never serious. We agreed to keep it casual.”

Trina nods. “That makes sense.”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“Jenna described you as kind of a…” Trina clears her throat.

“A what?”

“A guy who… has a lot of women.”

“She said that? Jenna said I sleep around?”

“I don’t know if she used those exact words, but that was the impression I got.”

So Jenna didn’t tell her that. Trina just assumed I sleep around because I don’t have a girlfriend, and because she thinks so poorly of men. Her experience with her ex has convinced her all men are like that, which is too bad. I’m not saying there aren’t a lot of jerks out there, but I’d like to think some of us are good. I can’t really judge myself when it comes to that, but I think my friends would say I’m a decent guy. I don’t purposely try to deceive women or make promises I can’t keep.

“I think you got the wrong impression,” I say. “What Jenna meant is that I don’t want to be in a relationship. That doesn’t mean I sleep around.”

“But it means you date a lot of women. Isn’t that right?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s a lot.”

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