Page 27 of A Journey For Jasmine

“Have you?” Violet asked.

“No. I’m not sure how long I should wait,” she said. She was starting to wonder if that wasn’t one of her stupider decisions to play it this way.

Violet grabbed her arm and started to pull her to the hallway. “You need to ask Poppy. She’ll know. I’ve got no advice for you. I haven’t seen a man’s naked body outside of TV in years. It sucks, but it’s true. I’m not the best one to give you advice.”

She didn’t remember asking for advice but figured it wouldn’t hurt. It’s not like she could yank her arm free of Violet who had a grip on her tighter than a nun dragging a kid to detention.

“Slow down,” she said laughing. “We have to open the shop in a few minutes.”

“It won’t take long,” Violet said. “We’ll tell Poppy and then run back and open up.”

“If you say so,” she said.

They stopped in front of Poppy’s office and Rose was in there talking to her. She didn’t want to bug both of the owners, but Violet had no problem being vocal. “Jasmine needs man advice, Poppy. She got Wesley’s number and doesn’t know the next step.”

“Woohoo,” Poppy said.

Rose covered her ears with Poppy’s screech. “No one wants my advice?” Rose asked. “I’m engaged too and did it all on my own.”

Jasmine looked at the white gold rose ring with a large diamond in the center. Rose had made her own engagement ring and it was stunning. Just like Lily and Poppy’s were gorgeous too.

“Please,” Poppy said, dragging the word out. “It took you and Thomas years to even go on a date. If Jasmine takes after you or your advice, she might be past child-bearing age.”

Violet laughed and Jasmine knew her jaw dropped. “Wow. Thanks for that. I didn’t think I was that old. I’m younger than you all in this room.”

“Now I’m starting to feel like the odd one out,” Violet said, crossing her arms. “At least Poppy and Rose have men. I’m not even close.”

“No one says I am either,” Jasmine argued.

“We’ll get you there. Fill me in,” Poppy said.

Rose wasn’t leaving so that meant she was interested too.

She told them about Friday night and caught them up to speed. “So you see. I don’t want to push. It’s delicate. I can tell.”

“Hmmm,” Poppy said. “This is a hard one.”

“No, it’s not,” Rose said. “Something tells me he needs a push. If he wasn’t interested, he would have walked away. Or he wouldn’t have given you his number. I don’t think he would have sat down to eat next to you either.”

“I think you’re right, Rose,” Poppy said.

“Did you all hear that? Mark the calendar right now. Poppy not only said I was right but said it when it came to a man.”

“Very funny,” Poppy said.

“I thought it was,” Rose said. “My point is, it seems to me like whatever is going on in his life or went on, he took a step for him. If you wait too long, he’s going to have more doubts. Waiting the weekend is fine. You could have plans or he could have too. But it’s Monday and I say, go for it. Send him a text.”

“I don’t have a problem doing that,” Jasmine said. “What I’m not sure of is what to say.”

“Say you know a place that has great nachos,” Poppy said. “Didn’t you say his mother commented on Wesley liking nachos? And he brought it up too?”

“I did, but I don’t know a great place.”

“You’ve lived all over the world,” Violet said. “You can’t make a plate of nachos and have him at your place?”

She wouldn’t take offense to that comment. She knew Violet was busting and Jasmine had mentioned in the past some of the different cuisines she’d had in her life.

“Yes,” Poppy said. “I was going there too.”

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