Page 64 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

He turns and leaves, but I’ve lost Jenna. Her nose is deep in the menu.

“It all looks so good,” she muses.

“Yeah.” I glance down, not really seeing the words. Instead, I’m wondering how I can rewind things back to how they were thirty seconds ago.

Jenna’s cell phone rings, and she quickly digs it out of her purse. My eyes shoot to the name on the screen as she swipes the call open.

Dave.

No last name.

Just Dave.

“Oh, shoot. I have to take this.” She scoots her chair back, waving to me. “Just order me whatever you’re having.”

Her back turns as she walks away, but I still hear the overly enthusiastic way she says, “Dave!” as she answers the phone.

She implied the other night, while filming the garden scene, that she didn’t have a boyfriend. But the mysterious Dave seems awfully suspicious. Maybe it’s not serious. Or maybe it is. I take a drink of my water, because suddenly everything feels tight and hot.

Jenna walks to the other side of the patio. She’s smiling—like, really big—as she talks on the phone, and by the time she gets back to the table, I’m convinced this Dave guy has just proposed, and she gladly said yes.

“Sorry about that.” She sits back down.

“No worries.” Except for the fact that you just got engaged while on a date with me. “Is everything okay?” I’m perfectly collected, despite the devastating news.

“Yes!” Her eyes beam with happiness. “It’s more than okay.”

Here comes a description of the three-carat diamond that Dave bought from Tiffany’s.

“That was my friend, Dave.”

Friend. Okay. Thanks for the clarification.

“He has this amazing non-profit organization that travels all over the world to underprivileged countries where people live in these remote villages, and they don’t have clean water, or good medical treatment, or school supplies. And he basically brings in an entire team of people to help dig wells and trenches, or build hospitals, or make repairs on existing houses. It’s just great what he does, and as soon as he told me, I knew I wanted to be involved. I’m just so passionate about what he’s doing.” If the bright, glimmering sparkle in her eyes is any indication of her passion, then I believe it. “He was calling to let me know that the trip we’ve been planning for next spring just got approved. I’m so excited to finally see my money going to a good cause and making a difference.”

Her smile widens in that genuine way I’ve come to adore, and my heart aches. It literally aches because of Jenna’s uninhibited goodness. I’ve never cared about being deserving of a woman like her until now.

“That’s awesome,” I manage between thoughts of how I need to change pretty much everything about myself so I can become more like her.

“Yeah, it is.” She self-consciously tucks her hair behind her ear. “But anyway, I don’t want to bore you with that.”

“I’m not bored.”

Her lips softly press into a smile. “You’re not?”

“Not at all. I want to hear all about it. Tell me everything.”

Because if Jenna is passionate about it, it’s definitely worth knowing.

JENNA

* * *

This feels like a date—and not a fake date.

A first date.

A really, really good first date with a man who’s actually interested in me for me, which never happens—like ever. There’s talking and getting to know each other and laughter and amazing conversation. Who knew Cody was capable of all that?

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