Love Takes Hold: The Helena's Grove Series Book 3 by Ivy Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

his blue eyes sparkling beneath his bushy salt and peppery eyebrows. “Anything for you sweetie.”
    Jen watched him leave. She stayed on the couch for a little while, just thinking. When her stomach growled she made her way to the fridge; not finding anything that looked satisfying she opened the pantry. Roger rarely ate in his apartment; in fact he probably wouldn’t even have any food there if Jen hadn’t shown up. She glanced up and down the shelves, finally deciding on some cereal and a granola bar.
    Ten minutes later she was sitting in front of the TV, munching on her snack. She had thought about getting dressed but figured she’d watch a couple episodes of whatever was on before she did. She fluffed the pillows around her and got cozy, turning her brain off to real life.
    She awoke suddenly; she looked around the apartment unsure for a moment of where she was. She yawned and scratched her head, she must have fallen asleep. The TV was still on and she quickly scrolled through the channels until she found something interesting. After a few moments she realized she felt hot. A cold shower sounded nice but after deciding it was too much work settled on some ice cream. She had just sat down with a bowl of rocky road when the door buzzer sounded. Jen looked at it, and then back at her ice cream. She rolled her eyes and walked to the intercom. “Who is it?” she asked before taking a bite of her dessert.
    “Jen! It’s Bianca. Let me in will you?”
    “Bianca! Yeah, come on up!”
    Sixty seconds later Bianca was at the door. Jen let her in and gave her a hug. “I haven’t seen you in so long! How have you been?” Jen asked.
    “Oh you know girl, working and partying, living the life.”
    Bianca               was one of Jen’s oldest friends. A tall African American beauty, she and Jen had ruled in high school, being two of the most popular girls there.
    Jen waved her into the apartment. “Come in, do you want some ice cream?”
    “Ugh! No thanks hun, I’m fine.”
    Jen picked up her bowl and made her way to the couch. Bianca followed her actions, her heels clicking on the hard wood floor as she followed Jen. She sat down slowly, her long dark legs crossing once she got comfortable. “Girl, why are you eating ice cream?” She was staring at Jen’s bowl as if it was poison.
    Jen stopped. “Why not?”
    “Is that all you’ve had to eat today?”
    “No.” Jen gave her a look. “I had some cereal and a couple granola bars, oh, and some cold pizza from the other day.” Jen looked around for her phone. “What time is it anyway?”
    Bianca looked at her phone. “Six-thirty.”
    Jen put her bowl down. “Seriously? Already?”
    Bianca laughed. “What time did you think it was?”
    Jen shrugged her shoulders. “Three or four. I wasn’t really keeping track of time.”
    Bianca pursed her lips and shook her head. “I didn’t realize you ate carbs these days.”
    Jen didn’t like her judging eyes on her so she changed the subject. “So what are you doing here?”
    “Your dad called me,” Bianca told her.
    “My dad? Why?”
    “He said you were in need of an intervention. And from the looks of it honey, he’s right.”
    Jen was slightly offended. “What? No, I don’t need an intervention. I’m fine. Dad thinks I need to get out but I’m good.”
    “I’m going to have to agree with him on this one.”
    Jen scoffed, “B, I’m fine. Look at me.”
    “Oh I am,” Bianca said as her eyes surveyed Jen from head to toe. She shook her head. “Hanging around in this apartment, eating cold pizza and ice cream? You aren’t dressed; your hair looks like a bird’s nest and I’m going to take a wild guess and say it’s been at least two days since you took a shower?”
    Jen refused to meet her gaze. She knew she was wretched but didn’t really appreciate Bianca bringing it up.
    “You go through the same routine every breakup you’ve ever had. And every time, who has been there to pick