A Bad Bit Nice Read Online Free PDF Page B

probably spends as much on shoes and grooming as you.”
    “He does sound like my type, but quit trying to distract me from my goal, which is to get you situated in the man department. You need something different, Em.”
    Em sighed. “I know, Ashley. Tripp was never really my type anyway. I dated all those broken creative types in college. They never had money, or transportation, or jobs, or really even any talent. I took Tripp’s interest in me as a sign. He seemed to be just what I needed.”
    Ashley’s heart hurt for her friend. Em was beyond confident at work, but Tripp had really done a number on her personal self-esteem.
    God, she hated that guy. He constantly tore Em down but in such subtle ways that Em didn’t even realize that it was happening. Little digs about the way she dressed and talked, and when they moved in together, Ashley couldn’t find one bit of Em in that condo. Ashley shuddered. The townhome was so cold, like Tripp, with none of the homey warmth that Em had radiated in the past.
    Em had always had a little wild streak, but it was tempered with selflessness. She was the first person to offer to cook if someone was sick or caring for a loved one. She volunteered at various charities, giving time and money whenever she could spare either.
    Em was kind of a Mom—a foul-mouthed, tattooed mom, but a real nurturer, which was another cruel irony. That fucker Tripp hadn’t even visited her in the hospital when all of that had gone down.
    Em had put on a brave face, but Ashley knew she had been devastated. Ashley suspected that Em’s barrenness had been more of an issue in her relationship with Tripp than she let on. Ugh. Yet another reason to dislike Tripp. It wasn’t like Em really had a choice in the matter. It broke Ashley’s heart to see her treated with such callousness.
    “So what do you want, Em? I’m curious. If Mister Ideal walked through the door right now, who would he be? What would he look like?”
    “Mister Ideal? Hm. I don’t know. I’d have to think about it.”
    “Oh shut up. You know exactly what you want. Don’t think about it. Just tell me what’s in your gut.”
    “Mister Ideal would be tall and lanky with tattoos covering him and a big beard. A take-charge guy, but with a sensitive side. He’d have a good job, but not be a workaholic, maybe something that combined practicality and the creative, like an architect. He’d be someone who isn’t obsessed with sports; a reader, someone who really likes music but isn’t into the club scene. My age or older, but not a lot older. Oh, and someone who makes my toes curl when he kisses me, and can’t wait to get me naked and make me scream. I guess that’s about it.”
    Ashley whistled through her teeth. “You don’t want much, do you? Good God, woman.”
    “You said to be honest, not realistic,” Em laughed. “I know that man doesn’t exist, but he’s fun to imagine.” She sighed.
    What in the world had she been thinking, dating Tripp for the past ten years? He was none of those things, not one. Okay, he wasn’t a workaholic, but he was too far in the other direction. Content to rely on his father’s hard work and reputation, he had no ambition at all.
    “Well, Mister Ideal is not going to magically appear in your backyard, Em. You’ve got to get out, and not to go to the airport and back. I’ll be over at eight o’clock tonight to help you pick out an outfit for karaoke.”
    Em groaned. “I had hoped you had forgotten about karaoke.”
    “Not a chance girl. I’ll see you at eight, and I’m driving. I don’t trust you to not ditch me and be back in your apartment, drinking whiskey and dancing around with that giant cat of yours by a quarter ‘til nine.”
    Em laughed out loud at that. “Oh, you know me so well, Ashley. I’m lucky I have a friend like you. Let me go and at least try to get a few more boxes unpacked. See you tonight.”
    Em shook her head. Ashley was a mess. It wasn’t that Em didn’t