Page 34 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

Jenna: No, I won’t look at it until tomorrow morning.

Unknown Number: Okay, can I come grab it?

Jenna: Yeah, just give me one second.

I leap out of bed like one of those track-and-field hurdle jumpers and glance in the mirror. There’s enough moonlight coming in from the balcony for me to make sure I still look decent. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why do I even care how I look in front of him? I don’t. I tousle my hair just to prove to myself that I can be ugly and not care.

My phone lights again, and I pick it up.

Tawny: I zoomed into his picture in the article. After seeing his chest and muscles, please tell me exploring the ridges of his pecs and six-pack is part of your practice tomorrow.

I shake my head.

Jenna: Can you stay focused? Any physical touch that happens tomorrow is about building on-screen chemistry. It has nothing to do with how attractive Cody or his abs are.

Tawny: So you admit to finding him attractive?

Jenna: You’re a terrible friend. Do you know that?

Tawny: And you avoided answering my question. Come on. Spill the beans.

Jenna: I avoided answering the question because whether or not I find Cody Banner attractive is a non-issue. We work together, and that’s the only relationship we’ll ever have.

Tawny: Not true. For you to have on-screen chemistry with this man, you need to find him attractive off-screen, which shouldn’t be hard.

Unknown Number: Okay, be there in a sec.

Cody’s newest text slides onto the top of my screen. What is with the intense heartbeats happening in my chest right now? I drop brick by brick on each beat, hoping my fortifying wall can smother them out.

Tawny: Do you get what I’m saying about the need to find this man attractive for your career?

Holy cow, Tawny. I cannot deal with you right now and keep my thoughts and feelings in the appropriate box. Cody Banner is about to stop by my bedroom for a clandestine meeting. Actually, there’s nothing clandestine about borrowing my script, but I’m panicking regardless, and I don’t even know why.

I tell Tawny what she wants to hear to get her off my back, pushing send on the text.

Jenna: Fine. I can admit that Cody Banner has the most exquisite chest, arms, and six-pack I’ve ever seen. I don’t need to zoom into the picture to know that. I witnessed it firsthand. And I can also admit that, yes, I find his arrogant, bad-boy persona attractive sometimes. Now, if we knew whether or not he was a good kisser in real life, that may impact if we have any chemistry *winky-face emoji*

There’s a knock on my door, and I grab The Promised Prince script before opening it.

“Hey!” Why do I sound so winded? It was a four-foot walk.

The hallway light illuminates Cody’s bare chest and arms. Does this man ever wear a shirt? From a peripheral angle, I see his cotton shorts slung low on his waist, and my brain starts yelling at my eyes, TAKE A BETTER LOOK! FOR THE LOVE, WOMAN! TAKE A BETTER LOOK! But I stay strong, holding eye contact like my life depends on it.

“Hey.” He smiles in return.

There’s a text alert, and he lifts his hand, glancing at his phone. I don’t even mind when he completely ignores me to read the text because now I can indulge my eyes.

And what an indulgence!

Tan skin.

Effortless, defined stomach muscles.

And two perfectly edged out Vs trailing down his hips. Thank goodness cotton shorts don’t have belt loops. Otherwise, I might not have seen those Vs.

Cody snickers, and my eyes whip to his face.

A smirky smile covers his mouth. “The most exquisite chest, arms, and six-pack you’ve ever seen?”

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