Page 21 of The Romance Rivalry

“I’m sorry,” she says, wrapping me in a hug. She releases me. “Now, tell me everything about your date,” she insists, looking down at me.

I raise my eyes to meet hers. I want to tell her it was great. I want to report that things are going exactly according to plan. I want to share that the age-gap trope might be the winner already. Instead, I drop down onto my bed.

“I think I’m broken,” I admit.

“Whaddaya mean?” she asks.

“You’ve seen Garrett. He’s gorgeous. And despite being a tiny bit ego-forward, he’s pretty nice. And semi-interesting. And decently good at listening.”

“Wow, what a resounding endorsement. You’re clearly head over heels for this guy.”

I’ve never heard Jeannette’s voice so flat and sarcastic. I start laughing. I stop. I start again. I can’t stop.

Jeannette drops down on the bed next to me and joins in. We both laugh until we’re grabbing our sides and tears are building in our eyes, threatening to spill over.

We’re both lying down on my tiny twin bed, legs hanging over the side, feet on the ground. Well, her feet actually reach the ground, mine just dangle there. She turns to face me. “Irene, there’s something I gotta say.”

“Okayyyy...” I turn my head toward hers.

“For being such a huge fan of romance novels, you really seem to hate romance.”

I groan, because she just hit the nail on the head.

“I know,” I whine. “I’m realizing that all the things I love in books feel so off to me in real life. I cringe at romantic words or gestures. I shrink from any thought of physical touch. I try to find anything and everything wrong with any person who shows interest in me. Like I said, I’m broken.”

“Look, this is all new to you, right? Give it some time. You’ve never been out there and dated like this. And I’m not saying that as a judgment. I’m just saying, well, I won’t lie, it doesn’t get easier. But it gets less hard.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Yeah, you’re right. But relationships don’t tend to make sense. And what do I know? The longest I’ve ever dated someone was three weeks,” she admits.

“Three weeks? Damn, you were basically almost married.”

We both smile and she grabs for my hand. I freeze just for a second, realize I don’t hate having her in my space like I often did with my sister or my friends from high school, and squeeze her hand back.

“It’s still early. I’m all for your plan, but don’t rush it. Now that you’ve told the universe you’re open to finding someone, it’ll work its magic and he’ll come,” she says.

I let out a breath. “You’re right. It’s still early. I gotta give it some time. And I can’t just slam every door shut if I’m not feeling it right away. Maybe I will go out with Garrett again. That is, if he asks me. Hey, what about you? We never talk about if you’re interested in anyone?”

“I’m a slow-burn kinda gal,” Jeannette says.

“Way to go! You’re picking up on the romance stuff fast,” I say. It warms my heart.

“Yeah, I’m getting into it. My roommate is kind of a big deal in the genre,” she says. “Anyways, I honestly have to focus on my schoolwork right now. This is way harder than high school, and I’m here on scholarship. Gotta keep the grades up.”

I sense the tension in her, so I squeeze her hand one moretime before I jackknife up to standing. I don’t want to even think about classes and grades right now. It’s only been a couple weeks. I have time to get caught up.

“I’m gonna go get washed up,” I say, grabbing my stuff and heading toward the door to the communal bathroom.

“Yeah, I’ve got to get back to studying,” Jeannette says.

“Hey, roomie?” I call out.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for always being there while I go through this bonkers plan of mine. I know I can be... a lot,” I say. I worry that Jeannette will come to realize that I’m actually too much, that the things that go through my head are too overwhelming even for her.

“We’re in this college life together,” she says.

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