Page 102 of Lovesick
With a sigh, I said, “Don’t use that tone.”
“I didn’t use a tone.”
“Thattone. The self-righteous one that suggests you know me better than I know myself.”
“I definitely do, even if you’re sort of enlightened.”
“I’m not enlightened.”
Megan sighed, and I felt a stab of guilt for making this hard on her. “I’m sorry about Lizbeth, JJ. It sounds like she’s having a hard time. I’m sure you really miss her.”
My throat worked as I swallowed. I did miss her. Like air, actually, and I hated that. Hated that segments from her stupid romance novels were coming to life in my world. Hated that something inside me had actually started to believe in her idea thatlove and romance are a force for good in the world.
Because she had been a force for good in mine. Everything I’d read about in those romance books had been utterly true. Tingles on my skin. Feeling breathless when she smiled. The desire to just be near her, even if we didn’t speak.
“Yeah, I really do miss her,” I said quietly.
“And I will concede that I used the tone, but it was appropriately placed,” she said. “Now, spill. How are you really?”
My fist tightened around the steering wheel. “Angry.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“At least you’re saying it. With Stacey, you just went totally quiet. Mark said you didn’t talk for almost a week. We had no idea what was going on in your brain.”
“Stacey was more of an embarrassment than anything. While I was definitely sad, I can look back and see all the signs there.”
“And Lizbeth broke your heart?”
“You know I hate that phrase.”
“I know.” She sighed. “But sometimes it’s best to state the truth explicitly like that.”
A gust of wind slammed into the Zombie Mobile, and I closed my eyes. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Sounds like she’s trying to find the middle. Lizbeth has lived in both extremes. She grew up with the utter depravity of love that’s used to manipulate. So she wove a different world, equally wrong but mentally safer. She used romance to feel safe. She’s trying to land somewhere in the middle, I think. Her ideas on romance were a little naive, J. She’s even toldmeabout them when I’ve gotten coffee. You have to know that.”
“Well, yes.”
“This is her path. Let her be on it,” Megan said. “Sometimes, the most romantic thing you can do is just be her friend and give her time.”
“What if that’s not enough?” My fingers tightened on my phone. “What if she sees this stupid plan through and doesn’t ever come back? Doesn’t ever date anyone?”
“She might.”
“What if she’s never ready?” I asked.
“That’s the gamble of love. Be there for her, JJ. She’s gone through a lot. I’m willing to bet she comes through.”
All my hopes of Megan finding a way to fix this deflated like a bubble. She was right. I couldn’t fix this for Lizbeth. But I wanted to.
“This is new for me,” I said. I picked at a loose string on my pants.
“Very new for you. It’s ... surprising. I’ve never seen a woman unseat you from your vow of perpetual bachelorhood.”
“Me neither.”
