Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21644 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Savannah looks utterly shocked and titillated.
“Holy shit. Is your sister going to go out with him again?”
Cindy shrugs with a teasing air.
“Who knows? I know if I were Karen, I would.”
The two girls dissolve into titters, and then there’s the sound of water running, drowning out their voices. Finally, the water shuts off and the two women mince out of the bathroom, tossing their hair over their shoulders while giggling like hyenas.
As soon as they’re out of sight, I burst out of the stall, my heart pounding in my chest as a rushing noise fills my ears. OMG, could it be true? Were they talking about my new neighbor Carl? Is he so huge that Cindy’s sister was left sore and achy after just one steamy night together?
I don’t doubt it because from the few glimpses I’ve caught of our neighbor, he looks like the kind of man who can deliver. Carl Jager is a firefighter, and he’s got broad shoulders, a muscular chest, and thick, tree-trunk thighs. I can imagine his other wood being just as impressive.
But then reality hits and I sigh because there’s no way that the gorgeous, hung Carl would be interested in someone like me. For one, he’s probably in his forties, and I’m nineteen. Second, he can get beautiful model-like women like Cindy’s older sister, so why would he settle for someone with frumpy looks and a few extra pounds? The world has made only too clear in my short time on Earth that I’m not a “conventional beauty.” With my wild, curly locks, mud-brown eyes and generous figure, I’m pretty much the opposite of a cover model, in fact. There’s substantial junk in the trunk, and no matter how hard I try, it won’t go away. That’s probably proof enough that I don’t stand a chance with Carl.
But then again, who knows? Anything can happen in life, right? Take for example, my older sister Sarah. Sarah’s like me. She’s a bigger girl, but she’s now dating two gorgeous men, and the three of them have a baby. Not only that, but she’s ensconced in a fancy penthouse in Manhattan, living the high life with her boyfriends and her daughter. So really, anything is possible if you just believe.
With that, I straighten my shoulders and wash my hands. I’ve been in the bathroom for far too long and Mr. Hoffman might send a search party if I don’t get back soon. Right now, I need to focus on finishing senior year so that I can get out of Monroe and start my real life. But as I stroll down the hallway back to class, my mind keeps darting back to the rumors about Carl. Is what Cindy said true? With a secret smile, I bite my lip. There’s only one way to find out, and I want to be that woman.
2
Colleen
I throw my lunch tray down on the sticky table and plop onto the hard bench. Oof, I wish these things had some padding, but I’ll have to depend on the natural padding of my rump as a cushion.
“What’s with you?” my friend April asks, eyebrows quirked.
I sigh dramatically.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. That’s all.”
April nods with sympathy, her brown curls bobbing.
“I hear you, girlfriend. Have you tried melatonin? I love that stuff because you know I used Ambien once and it was crazy! I got up in the middle of the night and ate two sandwiches, but I don’t remember any of it! Isn’t that insane?”
I giggle.
“Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors about Ambien, so I want to stay away from that stuff. But you’re right. I should give melatonin a try because it’s natural.”
Meanwhile, a few teachers stroll around the room, chatting with co-workers and students. The cafeteria is bustling today, and there’s a buzz of excitement in the air because they’re serving Hawaiian pizza. Why anyone likes pineapples on their pizza is beyond me, but judging from the kids salivating in the lunch line, there are a lot of folks who appreciate fruit with their ham.
The walls of the cafeteria are covered with posters, but I try to keep my gaze away from the ones offering information about applying to college. It’s another thing that I just hate about being at a college prep school. Even if there are tons of kids dying to get into Harvard and Yale, that’s not necessarily what I want in life. To be honest, I’m not sure what I want, but it’s definitely not four more years of sitting around listening to professors drone about this and that. I’d prefer to get life experience, and maybe even travel a bit.
But right now, I’m in Monroe, so I smile.
“So how are things with that guy you’ve been seeing? Dave or Dylan or Don? What was his name again?”