A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr Read Free Book Online Page B

Titans scored, Ikind of figured you might be a sore loser. That's OK. It's cute. My ex-boyfriend was a sore loser too.”
    Releasing my hand, Jim asked, “How ‘ex’ is the ex-boyfriend?”
    Crap! I wasn't supposed to mention “the ex.” I chewed on my lip. “Very ‘ex.’ We broke up over a year ago.” I hoped I sounded casual and completely available for a new relationship.
    Jim took my hand back and kissed it. “Good. So, do I get a second date? I promise it will be more upscale than a sports bar!”
    Happy that he didn't ask for more details about Bob, I said, “I look forward to it.”
    “Great.” Jim stood up and extended his hand to help me up with him. “I'd better run. Gotta catch the bus to Hoboken. But I'll call you to set up date number two. I promise you'll have my undivided attention.”
    “I can't wait. Thanks, Jim. I had so much fun.”
    Jim hugged me and said, “Me too.”
    I walked in the apartment, shut the door behind me and, through the peep hole, watched Jim walk back down the stairs.

    *   *   *

    I couldn't believe my luck meeting Jim right after the Randall disaster. I thanked God I hadn't slept with Randall. If he couldn't wait for the third date, that was his problem, which is what I told Claire at the Tasti D-Lite on First and 73rd, right between my apartment and hers on 62nd and Second. She asked why I was so excited about some guy named Jim and didn't I mean Randall?
    “Randall was a slug. Just like Lainie said. He just wanted to get laid. He did me a favor by not calling again.”
    Claire took a spoonful of her toasted almond fudge ice cream, if you could even call it ice cream. It tasted more like flavored air. “You're certainly taking this well for someone who was so into Randall just a week ago,” she said, raising her eyebrow.
    Shrugging, I said, “I've been out of the game awhile…”
    Before I could finish, Claire interrupted. “Yeah, you were never in the game!”
    “Whatever! Anyway, I fell for Randall's fake charm but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. It's done. And now I have Jim who's so much better anyway.”

C HAPTER 12
    On our second date, after Jim paid the bill for the slice of seven layer cake we had shared at the cafe across the street from the movie theater, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. And I wracked my brain for a way to subtly let him know I was game for third date sex without coming out and saying it. I wasn't ready to bring him home that night but I needed to send the message that I was almost ready to progress to the next level.
    Returning from the bathroom, Jim sat down and said, “I still can't believe you liked the movie. What exactly did you like about it?”
    “Do I think it was Oscar worthy? No. But I don't get why you hated it so much.”
    “So, you just think it was Golden Globe worthy but not Oscar, huh?”
    When he teased me, Jim got slight laugh lines on the corners of his eyes, making his otherwise flawless skin less pristine, but I liked it. I reached across the table, locked his fingers with mine and said, “I had fun watching the movie with you and totally forgive you for making fun of my taste in theater.”
    Jim let out a snort. “Theater? What we just experienced doesn't qualify as ‘film’ or even ‘cinema.’ Certainly not theater. It was a movie. Plain and simple.” Smiling, he said, “But I'd watch it again with you and only you.”
    Holding my breath, I asked, “Does that mean you want to see me again?”
    Squeezing my hand, he said, “The sooner the better.”
    “Awesome. How about I cook for you?”
    “Do you cook?”
    “Actually I do! My skills are not limited to spaghetti either!”
    The laugh lines appearing again, Jim teased, “Oh, you cook penne too? And rigatoni?”
    “Just for that, there will be no pasta on the menu at all. How do you feel about rack of lamb?”
    “Sounds awesome. I'll bring the wine. And dessert. Unless you're a pastry chef as well.”
    Locking eyes with Jim,