Page 89 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“I haven’t seen you around in two weeks, Jo.”

“Oh, you know. I’ve been around.”

“Crying over Nick?”

“I’m pretty sure that I’m out of tears.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve done a year before; I can do two now.”

“You know I don’t live far away if you need to talk, don’t you?”

“I do. Thank you. I may take you up on that. What’s going on with you and Molly? Are the rumors that I heard true?”

“Yes. We went out on a date.”

“That’s great news. Carter, I’m so proud of you.”

“Yeah, but it didn’t end that well.”

“Why not?”

“She didn’t like bull riding.”

“You took her bull riding? What were you thinking?”

“I was hoping if she got used to the riding motion, she might warm up to the idea of riding something else, if you know what I mean.”

Oh, I knew what he meant. What I couldn’t understand was how someone like Carter could be so brainless.

“You can’t think with your” – I looked down at his crotch – “penis all the time. Especially when it comes to Molly.”

“I promise, I don’t.”

“Liar.”

“I was just trying to get her loose. I mean Molly’s an amazing girl, but sometimes it feels like she’s got the wrong thing stuck up her ass.”

“Carter!”

“What?”

I shook my head. “You’re taking the wrong approach with Molly. You need to share her interests, enjoy her company, and be there for her.”

“I totally want to enjoy her… company. I really like her, but I get nervous around her and say and do the wrong things. She’s just so different from Daisy. Maybe I shouldn’t even be thinking about Molly that way. What if we really aren’t compatible?”

“You can’t force it. You need to let it happen naturally, and I’m sure you’ll look much less like an ass if you’re not trying to impress her.”

“I really look like an ass?”

“Bull riding on the first date?”

“Daisy loved it.”

“Daisy was a feisty spirit, but that doesn’t mean that Molly isn’t fun or adventurous. Molly may seem more reserved than Daisy, but she has so much to offer. Someone like you could really bring her out of her shell. She’s such a smart and loving girl, and” – I raised my finger to ensure I had his full attention – “she’s the one who initiated our skinny dipping that time at the lake. That should tell you something.”

“Seriously? I would have never thought that.”

---