Page 18 of No More Heartbreakers

“Oh, the boyfriend, right? He the jealous type?”

“He might be, if I’d ever given him reason to be.” I never had.

After fleeing Brown University in the middle of first semester freshman year, I’d come home with my tail tucked between my legs, enrolled at University of Georgia, and met Hale Gentry, adorable sophomore, a few days later. We’d been exclusive ever since.

Well, until our break, which meant technically we were free to date other people. But Aric didn’t need to know that.

“So… that means you’re the faithful type. Lucky guy,” he said.

Or the dishonest type.

The jealous boyfriendwasa convenient excuse, but it was also a lie, and I was starting to get uncomfortable taking it this far.

“Listen Aric, I—”

“Hey girlfriend—” Mara came charging out of the edit bay, her face gleaming with excitement.

As she rounded the partition and realized I wasn’t alone, she stopped, looked from me to Aric, back to me again. “Sorry. Did I interrupt something?”

“No. Not at all. We were just saying goodnight,” I said quickly, darting my eyes at him.

One corner of Aric’s mouth turned up. He raised his hands in the surrender position. “Hey, I can sense girl-talk coming a mile away. I’m out of here. See you tomorrow, Mara. Heidi…”

He dipped his chin and nodded to me. “Tell your boyfriend I look forward to meeting him.”

Grabbing his bag, he slung it over his shoulder, and headed for the door.

When he was gone, Mara looked at me. “What was that about?”

“What was what?”

“Um, the pheremonal meteor shower I just walked into?” She waved her hands around her head like twin pinwheels. “And are youstilltelling him you have a boyfriend? What is the matter with you? Have you even talked to Hale lately?”

“Yeah, sure. A little bit.”Not really.

“But you’re still on a break.”

“That’s right.”

“Well, what’s a break for, if not to explore other options? I’m sure that’s what Hale is doing.”

“Aric’s not an option. I can’t handle him, Mare. I know you’re allmaneaterand everything, but I’m not you. I’m just not.”

“I don’t want you to be me. I want you to beyou, having a good time with the world’s hottest sports anchor, who’s obviously dying to get to know you better.”

After taking in my obstinate expression, she gave up. “Whatever. What I wanted to tell you is I signed up with a headhunter tonight. You wouldn’t believe the jobs they have available. I’m sending for this reporter job in Baltimore—reporting only, no shooting your own stuff. And—I saw some sweet anchor openings for you on their website.”

I scrunched up my face, shaking my head. “That’s great for you, but I don’t know if I’m ready. I threw up before the show tonight. Again. How can I apply for bigger market jobs? And my reel is lame. I only have a couple of live shots and hardly any good stand-ups.”

“Your reel is fine. Yes, you could use a few more good stand-ups for the montage, but the reporting is solid, and they understand—you’re one-man-banding in a tiny-toe market in the middle of nowhere. They’re looking for potential, and you’ve totallygotthat.”

“I don’t know. I only have four months left to look for something. If I don’t get a good reel put together by then… I’m thinking I might sign on for another year here.”

“What?”

Mara’s hands went to her hips, her expressive face the portrait of horror. “Why? So you can keep shooting your own video in a hundred effing degrees, and keep dreading weekly dinners with your parents, andnotgo out with Aric? Or anyone else you might actually be attracted to?”

I blinked and took a step back. “I’m attracted to Hale. He’s really nice-looking. And sweet.”

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