Anything But Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

leaning down to kiss her on the top of her head.
     
    Jen lifted her head, looked deeply into Drew’s large hazel eyes, and hesitated a moment before softly kissing him on the lips. Just as he was returning her kiss, the phone rang. “That must be my parents,” Jen said, as she walked towards the kitchen to answer the phone. “I told them we were on our way out here.”
     
    Ten minutes later, Grace and Peter LaBella walked through Jen’s front door with a roasted chicken, asparagus, foil- wrapped baked potatoes, warm bread, and two bottles of chilled chardonnay from a local vineyard. “Dinner for four,” Grace said with a smile, holding up the canvas bag containing the food.
     
    Jen rushed to hug her mother, a former Southampton High School homecoming queen, who met Jen’s father while she was working as a nurse at the Manhattan hospital where he was a surgical resident.
     
    “Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Drew Crawford,” Jen said.
     
    Drew shook hands with Jen’s parents. “Just so you know, I’m not the billionaire you read about in the newspapers,” he said with a chuckle, putting everyone immediately at ease. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. And I now know where Jen gets her looks from,” he said, smiling at Grace.
     
    Conversation flowed easily over dinner. Grace and Peter knowingly exchanged glances, as Drew and Jen completed each other’s sentences. After they finished eating, Peter and Drew went down to the basement to pick out a board game while Jen and Grace loaded the dishes into the dishwasher. “Drew is so nice, Jen, and you obviously like each other. Is he the friend you go running with?”
     
    Grace watched as her daughter blushed and nodded her head. “He seems to really be interested in you, and you’re interested in him too, I suspect.”
    Jen nodded again, and whispered “I do like him, Mom, I like him a lot, but I’m really not ready to move on yet. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
     
    “Then just take your time. I have a feeling he’ll be patient and wait until you’re ready,” Grace said just before Peter and Drew arrived back in the kitchen with the game Scattergories.
     
    Later that evening, after her parents left, Jen locked the front door and turned off the driveway lights. Turning towards Drew, she said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. I think I’m just about ready to turn in for the night.”
     
    “Umm…Jen?”
     
    She yawned, and replied “Yes?”
     
    “One question: what are the sleeping arrangements?”
     
    “Oh. Oh, right,” Jen replied, nervously wringing her hands. “I didn’t think about that.” Jen walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Drew. “What do you think?”
     
    “Whoa, Jen,” Drew said, holding up his hands. “This isn’t about what I think, because you know what I think. I’m crazy about you, and I want to be with you. Very much. The important question is, what do you think?”
     
    Jen shook her head and looked at the floor. “I don’t know. I want to be with you, too, but I don’t want you to be my rebound guy.”
     
    “And I definitely don’t want to be just your rebound guy. I want to be with you, but only when you’re ready.”
     
    “So you think we should wait?”
     
    “Jen, I think patience is a virtue. Whether it is tonight, next week, or next month, I’ll be here for you when you’re ready. I care about you, a lot. You’re my best friend. So, take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” Drew stood up and, gesturing towards the staircase, asked, “So, which bedroom should I take?”
     
    “Umm…pick whichever one you want. There are four upstairs. My bedroom is down here,” she said, standing up.
     
    Drew kissed Jen on the top of her head, then on her lips. “Good night,” he said, before grabbing his duffel bag and climbing the stairs two at a time.
     
    Jen watched him go up the stairs, and then returned to the kitchen to place the last couple of dirty wine