Mending the Soul by Alexis Lauren Read Free Book Online Page A

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    "Because I don't know her that well.  Besides, I need you to put in a good word for me, buddy."  Nate said.  "Well, that is, as long as you meant what you said when you told me you were just friends."
    Nicholas sighed.  "I'll see what I can do.  I'll talk to you later."  He hung up the phone and walked back inside.
    Jenna looked at the scowl on Nicholas's face as he approached the table and got worried.  "Is everything ok?"
    "Oh, yeah.  Sorry.  Nathan just frustrates me sometimes.  He was calling to ask about you."  Nick told her.
    "About me?  And that put you in a bad mood?"  She asked.
    "I just hate it when he tries to use my friendship with him to get what he wants."  He said, trying to cover up the fact that he was just annoyed that Nate had wanted to go out with Jenna.  "So, he wants me to talk you into going out on a date with him, and I know he won't leave me alone until you say yes, so will you go, please?"
    "Nathan was the loud one, right?"  Jenna asked.
    "Yes."  Nicholas said, a little reluctantly.
    "Well, I'll go, on one condition.  You go out with Vanessa and we have a double date.  She's been bugging me about hooking her up with you since Cole's birthday."  Jenna proposed.
    "Ugh, she better not try to get me into bed with her."  Nicholas said, wrinkling up his nose as he made a sour look on his face.
    "She will, but just be clear that you don't want to sleep with her."  Jenna told him.  After she realized how it sounded, she added, "I mean, as long as that's what you want…As long as you don't want to sleep with her."  Jenna stammered.
    "No, I definitely don't."  Nicholas told her, chuckling a little at how jealous Jenna had sounded.  "So, I guess it's settled.  We have a double date."
    Jenna wasn't looking forward to going out with Nathan, and she was even less enthusiastic about Nicholas going out with Vanessa, but she was happy to know that Nicholas didn't want to sleep with Vanessa.  'Let's just hope he still feels that way at the end of their date.'  Jenna thought to herself.  'And let's also hope I'm not ready to kill Vanessa at the end of the night either.'
    "What are we getting ourselves into?"  Jenna asked and shook her head.

Chapter 7  The Dates
    Friday came all too quick for Nicholas and Jenna.  Neither one was really looking forward to their dates, and on more than one occasion, both had tried to think of ways to get out of it.  In the end, nothing worked, and the date was going to happen as planned.
    Vanessa showed up at Jenna's early, to help Jenna get ready.  Jenna would have preferred to get ready alone, especially due to the fact that she resented Vanessa for forcing this date on Nicholas, and wasn't really in the mood to make nice with her.  Instead, Jenna bit her tongue and tried to act like nothing was bothering her.
    While Jenna worked on her hair and makeup, Vanessa busied herself in Jenna's closet, trying to pick out the 'perfect outfit'.  She laid out a short black cargo mini skirt on Jenna's bed, along with a tiny red tank.  When Jenna came out of the bathroom to get dressed, she looked at the clothes laid on the bed and got annoyed.
    "Where the fuck are we going tonight, street walking?"  Jenna cried.  "I'm going to have people coming up to me all night asking me how much I charge for my services!"
    "Oh stop."  Vanessa laughed.  "You're going to look great, no one will mistake you for a hooker, just don't wear those over-the-knee vinyl boots that I saw in the back of your closet."
    "You're funny Nessa.  You know I don't own anything like that!"  Jenna grumbled.  She sighed and said, "Fine, I'll wear this outfit.  Tonight is going to be such a mistake!"
    "Not if I have anything to do with it."  Vanessa mumbled.  "So, where are the kids staying tonight?"  She asked louder so that Jenna could hear what she said this time.
    "Oh, they're staying at Nicholas's house.  They stayed here the last time we went out, so he thought it would