Free Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes) by Noni Calbane

up.
     
    “Number one, the guy can’t keep his eyes off you; number two, he’s flitting from sweet to sour, happy to angry in moments; number three, he doesn’t want to kiss you …”
     
    “Wait a second, why exactly does he not want to kiss me, if he’s in love with me, like you say?”
     
    “He’s afraid of getting hurt.   You hurt him once; he doesn’t want his affections trifled with and get his heart broken again” Jasmine declared with an air of authority.
     
    “What you say makes sense, I guess .   So what do I do?” Kit asked, blowing her nose for the umpteenth time.
     
    “You do nothing”
     
    “Nothing?”
     
    Jasmine closed up the tub of Ben and Jerry’s and went to the back of the store and deposited it into the freezer.   When she came back, Kit was still waiting to hear with bated breath what she meant by “nothing”.
     
    “Just go and paint Kit” she said at last.
     
    “Paint?   What do you mean “paint”?”
     
    “Just move on with your life.   If Barnaby is going to re-enter it, he will.   Have you learned nothing from the Jeremy incident?”
     
    “Which one?” Kit asked densely with a smirk.
     
    “High school Jeremy” Jasmine explained.   “You did everything you could to be noticed, to be loved, to be visible.   And in the end, it didn’t matter one iota”       
     
    Kit looked uncomfortable. “Thanks for reminding me.”
     
    Jasmine grinned at her.   “Just go about your business and let what happens, happen.   Don’t wonder about, or hope, or pine for things that are beyond your control.   You can only control what you do and feel; not what others do and feel.”
     
    “So you’re saying I should just let Barnaby walk out of my life without even a “sorry for trying to kiss you”?” Kit asked miserably.   The whole GAG theory had completely backfired, and she was now severely doubting everything she’d done up to now.
     
    “If you see him, what will you say?” Jasmine questioned with a hand on her hip.
     
    “Well, I’ll tell him I’m sorry I did what I did and that I really want us to be friends again.”   Kit replied sincerely.
     
    “Do you mean that?”
     
    “Of course I do” Kit said indignantly.
     
    Jasmine let out a frustrated breath, and continued her cross-examination. “What I mean is, are you sorry you wanted to kiss him, and do you only want to be friends , or do you want more than that, romantically speaking?”
     
    Kit felt a little on the spot.   Jasmine’s interrogation was unearthing a whole treasure trove of uncertainties with regard to her feelings.   “I’m not sure” she replied timidly.
     
    “Well, then.   I’d say I have to side with Barnaby.   There’s no way in the world you should have kissed him.   Not if you don’t want to take it any further.   If I were you, I wouldn’t be going near him any time in the near future.”
     
    “Ya think?”
     
    “No way, Jose.   You either have to be able to say “Barnaby, I’m not sorry I wanted to kiss you, and I want to be more than friends” or you have to really apologize for what you’ve done and try and make amends.   Until you’re sure of your feelings, I think you should stay well clear of Mr. Barnaby Calder”
     
    “Once again, you’re right Jas” Kit said in agreement, getting up off her stool and hugging her tightly. ”I don’t know what I’d do without you.   You’re a life-saver.”
     
    “Eh” Jasmine shrugged.          
     
    Kit giggled at her modesty.   Trust Jasmine to tell it like it is and be able to make her feel better; if not totally ready to join the human race again.   She was right, of course.   If Barnaby was still in love with her, he’d hate her forever if she pursued him with what would be, for her, just a bit of fun.   And she just couldn’t do that to him.   She’d hurt him too much in the past.
     
    “So are you ready for some good news?”   Jasmine said with a big