Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 105306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Are you kidding me right now? Ryann Simone Winters, this isn’t a funny joke. That’s horrible.”
No shit, Sherlock, I want to reply, but she hates swearing of any kind, especially from me.
“I wish I were kidding because it was hella awkward.”
She kicks into therapist mode. “How did it make you feel?”
Pissed. It made me feel pissed. “First I was shocked because the guy who broke up with me was a complete stranger, but mostly I feel relieved. Because it was inevitable and, as Dallas said, Diego did me a favor.”
“Who is Dallas?”
“The guy who broke up with me.”
“Ah. And do you know how it made him feel?”
“I imagine it made him feel fifty dollars richer.”
“Ryann, who is this person?”
“He’s not anyone you would know.”
“But you said he’s Diego’s teammate. Does he also play football?”
I roll my eyes, grateful she can’t see me. “Yes, Mom.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you.”
She knows what the short-lived relationship was like; she asks about it every time she calls, so it was no secret that it lacked affection and communication.
“Everything happens for a reason, sweetie.”
“I know.”
Still, it sucks because I tried to give the dating thing a go, and if this is what guys my age are like—they suck, too.
“Relationships only work if two people are willing to put in the effort, and I don’t think either of you really wanted to make it work.”
True.
“And you’ve mentioned the lack of intimacy…”
I have mentioned it. I didn’t go into detail, because there wasn’t much detail to share, but I have given her a few nuggets of information, and she knew we barely kissed.
“Focus on your classes,” she goes on. “Some young gentlemen at this age don’t know what they want yet or who they are.”
“Mostly I just think we lacked chemistry.”
“There is that, too,” she says diplomatically.
“And sexual attraction.”
“Ryann…”
She may be a therapist, but she’s still my mom and hates when I bring up sex or the thought of me having it. But let’s be real, I’m not a virgin. I might not be having tons of sex, but I’ve had it a few times. Uncoordinated, fumbling sex.
Ugh.
“I knew it wasn’t going to last,” I continue. “The ironic part of the whole thing was I’d been talking to Winnie about it and telling her I thought we were wasting time—and that night he dumped me.”
“Via the boy on his team.”
“Right.” Though I wouldn’t actually call him a boy. Don’t know if I’d call him a man, either—he’s somewhere in between from what I could discern.
“And was he at least nice about it?”
“Eh. Define nice.” I laugh. “The fact that he even had the balls to do it should tell you everything you need to know about the guy.”
“The only people I know who would be willing to break up with a friend’s significant other are in middle school.”
“Exactly.”
“And you were at work when he did it?”
“Technically I was done with work, but yes, he basically ambushed me outside when I was trying to leave. The good news is I got a ride home from him.”
“Sounds to me like this young man probably has issues of his own if he’s willing to take on a task like that.”
Take on a task like that? Ha.
“He wasn’t the friendliest chap,” I allow. “Bumped into him again today—he’s in one of my classes.”
“Oh? Which class?”
“Business communication.”
“And how is that going?”
“Fine. We have to write a paper rather than take a final exam, which I guess is good? I definitely like it better than biology.”
“Why do you have to take biology if you’re a communication major?”
“Because I need one science class to fulfill the gen ed requirement.”
One science class and that’s it.
Thank God. I’m barely passing and can’t wait for the semester to be over.
We chat a bit longer; she tells me how she and Dad are going away for the weekend to a little boating town on the coast to reconnect, to eat some good seafood, and take a lighthouse tour. I tell her about Winnie, Rookie, and how I should start saving for a car so I don’t have to walk home in the dark.
She tells me to take an Uber.
I tell her it’s not cold enough for that yet.
She tells me it will be soon and says she’ll talk to my dad about paying for the charges in the app.
Later when I’m lying in bed, I get a text from Winnie.
Are you coming out this weekend now that you’re single?
You can’t just assume I’m ready to mingle…
Ha, good one.
But seriously, Rookie and the guys are having a party.
Is that supposed to be news? They have parties every weekend.
True, but this one is a Snow Pants or NO Pants party since it’s getting cold out.
And you think that’s something I’d be interested in? I happen to like ACTUAL pants.
Whose brilliant idea was THAT?