Look Before You Jump Read Online Free PDF Page A

morning after. I had yet to
stick around for him to wake up, much less share breakfast after
our nightly romps. That bespoke an intimacy I no longer wanted to
entertain. Ever again.
    I continued, “I’ve always been a sucker for
yummy accents.”
    “Not the only thing. Seems you’re a sucker
for yummy…”
    “That too,” I interrupted. “But there’s more
to life than just sex.”
    Did that statement just pop out of my mouth?
    “Ugh, I have no life.” Janine groaned.
    I’m not sure what I did would at times be
considered a life either, though it somehow held a glow of merit to
Janine. Call me Mary Magdalene to her Virgin Mary.
    “Hello,” I responded, tossing an Oreo her
way. “Who’s the little miss getting a doctorate while one of us
plays bartender?”
    “Exactly! Teaching Dr. Husingkamp’s students
by day and studying by night makes for a mundane existence.”
Kernels of unpopped corn peppered the carpet as she tossed the bowl
aside. “I’d give anything to let it all go for one week and live a
life of freedom like yours.”
    “What do you mean? You visit at the bar some
Saturday nights.”
    “Yeah, and have to race home by midnight
before I turn into a pumpkin,” Janine whined. “I can’t even drink
anything but pop or risk my mom’s wrath. That woman can smell
alcohol tinged breath in the next county.”
    “Living with the parents must suck.”
    “I’m so tired of being treated like a
twelve-year-old. I want to have some fun without worrying about
repercussions. Smoke a cigarette. Drink myself under the table – or
into someone’s arms. Experience a night of unbridled passion.”
Janine sighed. “Do you think doctors could put a hymen back
together once it’s broken?”
    “Not like it’s Humpty Dumpty or
anything.”
    Janine slumped against the armrest pillows
like a drama queen. “I’m doomed to forever remain a virgin, Vicki.
My only hope in this world is living vicariously through your
adventures and amorous activities with your boyfriend.”
    “No boyfriends,” I cautioned. “The last one
cured me of that title.”
    “Keeping options open, are we?” Janine’s
brows went north so fast they almost crossed the Mason-Dixon Line.
“Anyone I know?”
    The innocent act never worked with me. I knew
what the less-than-subtle girl was getting at – something to do
with an F-150 driven by the pastor’s son.
    “Bobby’s married, remember?” I reminded. “And
a pastor.”
    “It won’t hurt to look. Y’all have a history,
if I do recall, only now Bobby’s got an SUV instead of the
F-150.”
    “He’s got a pregnant wife . As in
till-death-do-us-part.”
    “Pish-posh,” Janine returned like a true
De’Laruse.
    “I don’t do married men, Janine.”
    “Well, there was that time…”
    “He conveniently forgot to mention that and
failed to wear a ring,” I huffed. “And we agreed never to speak of
it again.”
    “Fine,” Janine grumbled.
    Attention returned to the sappy movie Janine
had brought with her. After suffering through my collection of
mystery, horror, sexy slasher, and shoot ‘em up cop thrillers over
the years, my best friend made me suffer through hers in return.
She had a more delicate and sensitive palate in need of girlie
romance where love triumphed over all.
    They just made me gag. Romance was bo-o-ring,
and so unrealistic. Where was the action? Adventure? The blood?
    Janine piped up again. “What’re you gonna do
when you see him at church in the morning?”
    “Smile and say ‘howdy’ like a proper Texan,”
I said.
    The movie held her attention for all of
thirty seconds before Janine whispered, “I got to see him this week
when he was setting up his office.”
    “That’s nice.”
    “He’s still got all his hair.”
    For a split second the movie shifted and all
I could picture was my fingers entwined in blond hair in the bed of
that F-150. A phantom ache started in my lower back – until it
dropped even lower.
    Janine interrupted my