Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez Read Free Book Online

felt.
    “It’s just a date,” Jen chided. “He likes you. I can tell by the way he looks at you.” Jen sat down on the end of my bed, already in her pajamas.
    “I know. That’s the problem,” I muttered.
    “Why is it a problem?”
    “He’s not my type, Jen.” I didn’t know how to explain it very well to her, especially since I knew she wouldn’t understand. “He’s too nice, too perfect, too much of a small town morals kind of guy.” I glanced down into my lap and fiddled with the comforter. “What if he’s like my dad?” I whispered.
    “Beth, he’s not. He’s a good guy and he might have small town morals but he doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would emotionally abuse and control someone using religion.” Jen’s eyes searched my face and I knew there is truth to what she was saying, but the fear that had always been in the back of my mind and heart was still as fresh as it had been when I was walking out the front door of my house when I’d turned eighteen.
    “He’s not your father, Beth.”
    “You’re right, Jen. Let’s get some sleep.” Jen sighed as she stood up.
    “I guess we should since I have a date with Hunter tomorrow,” Jen muttered. I gasped and narrowed my eyes.
    “When did that happen?” I asked. Jen blushed and threw her hands in the air.
    “I still don’t know exactly how it happened at all. I may have been a victim of a body snatching alien when I said yes.” Jen’s face was dead serious and I sputtered out laughter.
    “So you and Hunter tomorrow night. And then Matt and I in a few days.” I shuddered dramatically and Jen rolled her eyes.
    “Oh, don’t pretend … you know you wanna jump his bones.” She winked and left me sitting in my bed with my mouth hanging open. Jennifer Collins, you naughty girl , I thought, fighting a smile. I clicked the lamp off and snuggled under my covers with my snake lying beside me.
    “And that’s the problem,” I whispered to myself.

    The next morning dawned a sunny, gorgeous summer day with birds chirping outside my window, the scent of fresh coffee brewing, and the lovely sound of Jen’s voice singing softly in the kitchen. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was hoping for some sort of natural disaster so I could get out of going into town with Jen that morning to do grocery shopping. I pulled on a worn pair of cut off jean shorts and a red tank top and jerked on my not-quite-worn-out brown boots, planning to help Jen with the shopping and then perhaps some gardening later to try and rid myself of the nerves that were jittering through my body.
    The ride into town was abnormally quiet. Jen was sitting in the passenger side of my truck with her chin resting on her palm as she gazed out the window, not really noticing anything.
    “You okay?” I asked softly. She glanced up and blinked a few times before visibly shaking herself out of her thoughts.
    “Yes, sorry. Just wool gathering.” A half smile played on her lips, but the effort it took was evident on her face. Something was up.
    “Jennifer Anne Collins …” I warned. She smirked at that.
    “Oh no, you brought out the big guns.” She laughed and my shoulders relaxed a fraction.
    “Oh, I’ve got a lot more than the dreaded middle name in my arsenal,” I promised, with a wink. Her eyes widened and I began laughing as I clicked through my ipod.
    “You wouldn’t,” she gasped. I just smiled wider until I found the song I was searching for. Jen groaned out loud when No Diggity blasted through the speakers. It didn’t take long though … a few minutes later we were cruising down the country road with the wind blowing through our hair and both of us singing along with Dr. Dre. We only got a few nasty looks when we pulled into the grocery store parking lot. Jen turned beat red and I curbed in my instinct to turn the music up even louder. I jumped out of the truck and handed Jen the list we had made together before leaving the house.
    “I’ll get what we