Page 4 of Cinderella Screwed Me Over
“Oh, do you come here often?”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“It’s not a line,” he said. “Unless it worked, then I’ll go with it.”
“You know, I’ve got to get back to my friend. Thanks for the help with the shoe and everything.” I turned to walk away.
“Wait.”
I glanced back at him.
He leveled those dangerous blue eyes on me. “Could I take you to dinner sometime?”
I motioned around. “Like, here? In this lovely restaurant you own?”
“Wherever you want,” Jake said. “It doesn’t have to be here.”
“I’m going to have to pass. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve really got to get back.” Before he could say anything else, I turned and walked away from the best-looking guy that had ever hit on me.
It’s such a shame he’s a liar. Otherwise, I might’ve been tempted. And I haven’t been tempted in alongtime.
Our food was at our table by the time I got back. Steph was even off the phone. “Where did you disappear to?” she asked.
I slid into my seat. “I was walking back from dropping a note off to Brent and my shoe got caught. This guy got it out for me.”
Steph grinned. “Did he slip it on for you, too?”
“No. I did that.” I picked up my fork, ready to devour my dinner. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“It’s just funny that the girl who is so anti-fairy tale had her shoe rescued by a guy. It’s veryCinderella.”
“The guy was definitely cute and charming. But he claimed he owned this place, making him a liar.”
“Maybe he wasn’t lying.”
“Steph, I’ve never seen him before and I eat hereallthe time. And I happen to know Brent, whoactuallyowns the place. So, yeah, the very handsome guy’s a liar. And ever since Allen, I have a strict no-liars policy.”
“Liars are the worst,” Steph said.
I lifted my glass, ready to recommit myself to what I’d come here to celebrate. “To male sobriety.”
…
Being burned time and time again takes an emotional toll on a girl. I’d know. After my last failed relationship, I called Steph, like I always did, and she came over for calorie splurging, guy bashing, and binge drinking. Over pizza, Steph and I rehashed our worst relationships.
The next afternoon, I got the idea to lay out all my relationships, so I’d avoid making the same mistakes. Since fairy tales were partially responsible for my messy love life, I’d drawn parallels to my failed relationships.
The first of my case studies demonstrates why I never date liars—even charming ones.
AladdinCase Study: Allen/Aladdin
My Age: 22
You know inAladdinhow he’s all charming and you’re rooting for him, even though he’s been lying to Jasmine the whole time? He comes in, says he’s a prince, and you think, okay, he had his reasons. He even tells her to “trust him.” Well, people do have their reasons for lying. It doesn’t make it okay, though.
Allen and I met at a cocktail bar. I was there with my coworkers, celebrating the end of a project. At the time, I’d had a few heartbreaks but was still optimistic about love. After all, this was the stage in my life when guys were supposed to be different—more mature.
Allen smiled at me from across the room. He was older, which made him more interesting to me. Feeling bold—thanks to the strong cocktails—I walked over and introduced myself. He and I chatted for hours. It was like everyone else in the room had disappeared.
