Unlucky In Love by Carmen DeSousa Read Free Book Online

movies all day? Men
could be so inconsiderate sometimes .
    “That’s amazing!” Seth said, surprising me.
“What a wonderful career. I wish I could do that.”
    I shook my head to clear it. Clearly, Seth
wasn’t real. “You could.”
    “No, I couldn’t. I’m still paying on my
student loans. It’ll be a long time before I can do what I want to
do.”
    I rested my chin on my fist. “What do you
want to do?”
    “Anything but what I do,” he said through a chuckle. “I’m an attorney.
Unfortunately, it’s nothing like I envisioned it would be. After I read The Firm , I decided I wanted to be
a lawyer, even though it hadn’t turned out well for the main
character. I think what I really wanted was to be John
Grisham.”
    I laughed. “Being John Grisham is a good
career choice.”
    Seth threw his head back. “Yeah … I was
hoping if I became a lawyer, I’d have some interesting cases worth
writing about.”
    “Have you?”
    He shook his head. “Regrettably, no. Nada!
Mostly just workman’s comp and personal injury claims.”
    A career wasn’t like a marriage, so I
wondered, why did people hang on if they weren’t happy? I wasn’t
unhappy in my marriage, but even when I got down or started
questioning where my husband was, I knew I couldn’t just quit. But
a job …
    “Silly question …” I started. “Since I’m
self-employed, and I’ve never worked a regular career, but I can’t
help but wonder … Why not quit? What’s the worst thing that would
happen?” I shrugged. “Sell your house, pay off your remaining
bills, and live like you did in college. Not in a frat house,” I
laughed, “but what are you working toward?”
    Seth dropped his shoulders. “I don’t know.
Nothing. I think you’re right.”
    He reached across the table and touched my
hand. “I’m glad I met you, Jana. I think you’re absolutely correct.
I was going to ask what else you recommend, but it looks like I
have a lot of work to do.”
    “Wait … that’s not how you’re supposed to do
it. You’re still supposed to set aside time to
read.”
    He laughed quietly. “I will. Do me a favor,
review some more mystery books.”
    I bobbed my head up and down as I tried not
to laugh. “Okay.”
    Seth peered down at his phone. “Well, I have
to head back. Still employed, for now.” He winked as he hopped up.
“Thanks, Jana.”
    And he darted off toward the door.
    I dropped my head on the table. Great
advice! You missed your calling, Jana. You should have been a
psychologist. Instead of getting a date with a hot lawyer, you told
him to quit his day job and become a writer. Smart!
    I felt a pat on my back and I looked up to
see Media Man. “You okay?” he asked.
    “Uh, yeah.” I gathered up my few things and
rushed toward the closest exit.
    “Jana,” Media Man called, but I rushed out
the front door as fast as my legs would carry me. I didn’t know
why, but I was pretty sure I’d hear an Action News alert about
Media Man. I could hear it now, “He was so sweet. Always so
helpful.” Yikes! My dad had warned me to always go with my gut. Too
often, I’d chosen to ignore that small voice, but not in this
situation. Alarm bells might as well have rung over his head.
    I hopped in my car and pressed the lock
button. I still had hours before I had to pick up Eric.
    When I’d been getting ready, I’d envisioned
running into Mr. Forgetful and him asking to take me to lunch — on
the beach. We’d be having such a good time, discussing books, but
then I’d have to dart off like Cinderella to pick up my son,
and he’d be longing after me.
    Instead, Seth had dashed out of the library
as though he were the prince and he’d just remembered that he had
to go to war today.
    Sigh! Why didn’t men ever do what
women expected them to do? Or, the better question was … why did I
expect a man to do anything?
    This was my life. If I wanted something, I
would damn well have to learn how to ask.

Chapter 6 – People Don’t