Page 85 of Game of Love
“We haven’t done anything much,” I confessed, and that was a bald-faced lie and a half. It made me blush more and she gasped.
“Oh my God, Jia, did you sleep with him?” At least she kept her voice down low with the question.
She squealed when I gave her a slow nod.
“Anya please, it’s nothing to be excited over. Truly, it’s not.” It was best to point that part out because I didn’t want her getting all excited for nothing.
The worst thing ever was telling your friend you had a new love interest and then things went south before they really began. I had to admit though that I’d rarely had that happen to me.
Most guys I’d been with had established a date with me first before I told any of my friends anything.
In some cases I may share slightly more with Anya if I liked someone.
Like Xander.
However, I was starting to think that I’d probably told her too much.
“I’m just excited. It’s nice that one of us is getting some bedroom action.”
“Please tell me that’s not some way of making me feel sympathy for you not seeing Mike.”
“Actually it’s not. I am still Mike-free and I have a date on Saturday,” she informed me.
This was good news. Something to smile about. “That’s awesome. Details please?”
“His name is Tim. He’s a vet. We met at the coffee shop on South Main Street. He has his own practice and he said he’s been wanting to ask me out for a while.”
That was more along the lines of what I’d wanted for her. I nodded with definite approval.
“I like the sound of him,” I chirped giving her an encouraging smile.
“Me too. He’s thirty and has a stable career unlike Mike, the dealer…Asshole.”
I reached across the table and took her hand. She might say those things but I knew part of her still felt for him.
“You’re going to be okay Anya. This new guy sounds really interesting. I know you wouldn’t mention him if you didn’t like him. I think you’re going to be okay.” I gave her a firm nod and her eyes twinkled with the hope I knew she wanted desperately.
She’d been through a lot with Mike. There was no doubt that she’d been in love with him. I might have gotten all worked up and bitched at her every minute about his behavior, but I knew it had to be different when you were in love. I’d never been in love before, so I wouldn’t have known. I could imagine though that it must have been hard to unlove him and put reality into perspective so she could do what was best for herself.
“Thank you. It feels promising. You too, Jia. I think you’ll be okay too.”
I let go of her hands and gave her my best impression of me looking like I really believed that was possible.
I wasn’t so sure about it. I hated that there was something going on with Pa that I’d been kept in the dark about and to add to it I couldn’t get Xander out of my head.
I couldn’t get him out of my head, same as he couldn’t get me out and I didn’t want to. I liked him being in my head too much.
The memories of that night we shared were so wild and unreal and taking him out of my head would mean forgetting.
I didn’t want to do that.
“I hope I’ll be okay,” I told her and at least tried to sound like I had hope.
“You’re Jia Marchesi, the strongest woman I know. You can do anything you put your mind to. You will be okay.”
I went to answer but the words trailed from my mind when I saw him coming up the stairs.
He seemed like he was looking for someone.
