Page 6 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

“See?” He straightens, holding the winning pair of shoes. “It’s not aboutfriendship. It’s aboutlove.”

I rip the shoes from his hand. Ever since Jace fell in love he thinks he’s all insightful and knowledgeable and shit.

He’s notwrong. But it’s still annoying.

“I can’t help it,” I say. “It’s been years, and I still can’t help it.”

“Well, have you even tried?”

“Tried what?”

“To get over it. Over her.”

Good question. It’s not like I’ve been swearing off women altogether. I go out, kiss, make out a bit, but when it gets to that part when things should probably go further, I can’t seem to, um,rise to the occasionunless I’m thinking of Theresa. And, well, that just ruins it for the both of us.

“Sort of.”

Jace puts his hand on my shoulder. “Other women, man. Youneedanother woman.”

I shrug him off because I’m still not wearing a shirt and I’m not evolved enough to let another man touch my oily shoulder. “There is no other woman. I can’tseeanyone else.”

“I know. I used to be the same way.” That gets a gut laugh out of me. Before Shay, Jace had eyes for practicallyeverywoman.

Jace puts his hands up in his defense. “What I mean is that sometimes the best things you find are in unexpected places. Take a look at Shay and me. I was after another woman when I fell for her.”

“No offense, but you weren’t exactlyin lovewith another woman.”

“Not the point.” He looks at his “guy,” who’s finally come back with a larger shirt, then back at me. “I mean this with all the sincerity of a bro, Alec. Theresa and you? It’s not happening. So find something worthwhile somewhere else. Might be where you least expect.”

The definitive statement should gut me, but maybe I’ve already been gutted to the point where there’s nothing left. Fact is, I’ve been thinking the same thing. Idoneed to find someone else. Put myself out there. Stop thinking about the one I’ll never have. Icouldfind her where I least expect.

“Like at an auction?” I ask him.

He smirks. “Yeah. Like at an auction.”

Guess it’s not a bad idea. If someone bids on me, they get me for the whole night. Jace fell in love in a week. Landon said it took him a day to fall in love with Liz. Maybe all I need is one night.

One thing first…

“Hey, man, can I please get better-fitting pants?”

He laughs, then shoves a pair of jeans at me.

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