Second Chance for Romance полностью

I was just telling her that you totally changed since last year, and—”

“Hold on a second. What d’you mean, ‘totally changed since last year’?”

“What?”

I repeated the question.

“Well, you know.”

“No. Enlighten me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You were a total horndog last year.”

“What!”

“Yeah. You nailed everything but the crack of dawn.” She talked over my glare. “You did! Daphne, Sara, Gracie, and a whole bunch of others whose names I don’t even know.”

“I never had sex with Sara,” I protested.

“Okay, but the list is still pretty long. And then there’s Leah.”

“She’s different.”

“I know. But—”

“She is.”

“All right! But I’m just sayin’, you slept with a lot of random women last year.”

I shot her a baleful look.

“Okay! Not Leah.”

“Not Daphne either.”

“Fine. But the others?”

“They weren’t random.”

“Then what were their names?”

I sighed in exasperation. “Tracy. And, um…”

She gestured impatiently.

“Lemme think!”

She let me flounder for a ten count. “See what I mean?”

“Fine, whatever. But why is my sex life anyone else’s business?”

“It isn’t, but…”

“But what?”

Her eyes searched mine. “You really don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Christy.” She sighed and debated whether to keep going. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this,” she said at last, “but she had a major crush on you

last year.”

That cut through my irritation. “For real?”

“Totally.”

“I had no clue.”

“Didn’t think so. And I didn’t tell you ’cause…” She shrugged. “She got over it. You were a total jerk and then… well… you sort of went off the deep end after you found out about Trip and me.”

I’d had good reason, I thought sulkily, even if it was selfish and immature.

“But I think she might still like you.”

“Why is my life so complicated?”

“Just lucky, I guess.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“No problem. Anyway, I’ve been telling Christy how you’ve changed.”

I waited for the other shoe to drop. “And…?”

“Well… I might’ve told her that you’re saving yourself for someone special.”

“Super,” I said sarcastically. “And lemme guess, she could be The One?”

Wren had the good sense to look chagrined.

“Thought so.” I took another deep breath and exhaled through my nose.

“You’ve been spending so much time with her lately. I thought it might be true.”

“I’m modeling for her! It’s nothing.”

“I know, but…” She leaned forward earnestly. “She’s really great, Paul. I know you’d like her if you gave her a chance! She’s per—”

“Stop,” I said. “Just… stop. I really, really don’t need you to fix me up.

Least of all with Christy. She’s more of a goody-goody than Kimberly. Aha!

Kimberly! Total prick-tease. Catholic, too. Uh-uh, no thanks!”

“Whatever. Christy’s—”

“Paige,” I blurted. “The other girl’s name was Paige. Huge hypocrite.

Said she was ‘saving herself for marriage,’ even though she— Well, you get the picture.”

“Christy isn’t like that.”

“I don’t care.”

“But you’d—”

“Wren, please! I asked you before. Please stop. I don’t need help finding a girlfriend. I don’t even want one at the moment.”

“But—”

“Quit! I know you mean well, but seriously! You aren’t in charge of my life.”

“I just want you to be happy.”

“Then let me be happy by myself. I’ll find someone when I’m ready.

Okay?”

“Don’t be mad at Christy. It wasn’t her fault.”

“Fine. I’ll blame you next time she says she doesn’t want to sleep with me. Fair enough?”

“Yes. But if it makes you feel any better, I think—”

“Stop! I don’t wanna know. Sorry. Just leave it alone.”

“Okay.”

“Listen,” I said to lighten the mood, “I appreciate the thought. I really do.

But I don’t need help in the relationship department. I’m fine the way I am, alone.”

She put her hand on mine and squeezed. “Are you sure? I know you haven’t… you know, had sex. Not since camp. You must be…”

“I’m fine. I jerk off twice a day. I swear.”

“Twice a day? You’re probably serious.” She rolled her eyes when she saw my expression.

“Hey,” I spread my hands, “a guy has needs.”

She laughed but then turned serious. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I know. And thanks. But I’m pretty happy now.”

“Okay. Well. I’m sorry I started this whole mess.”

I nodded amiably.

“Now, I’d better get downstairs and start on dinner, or you’re going to tease me about having to order pizza.”

“What, you didn’t like my tuna flambé?”

“Flambé is an actual cooking technique. What you did is called incineration. That poor casserole. Disgusting!”

“Stank up the house too.”

“God! Don’t remind me. It was awful.” She stood and planted a kiss on my head.

She genuinely cared about me, which made it hard to stay irritated.

“I’ll stop matchmaking,” she said. “I swear.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“Because you know me too well.”

Mark arranged a limo for Leah’s party. The driver picked us up and drove to a disco club called the Limelight. It was a legendary place, with a glass dance floor over a massive fish tank. Mark had finagled his way onto the VIP list, so the limo dropped us at the head of the line, which already stretched to the road.