Free And Then It Happened: An Unexpected Romance by Annie Green Page A

thing?
    You can use me anytime, Janet.
    It’s Jane
    :) I know that.
    I didn’t know what to say to that so I set my phone on the table and continued scanning job listings online. I didn’t have much of a resume, as I’d worked as a receptionist since graduation. I was kicking myself for lacking any kind of foresight while I was in college. At the time, though, I believed Craig and I would be together forever and he’d provide for me. When I was with him, I didn’t need a career. I just needed a job. I was paying for that mindset now.
    My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts.
    When are we hanging out again? I miss you already.
    My heart did that stupid flutter again and I pushed it aside. Adrian was never serious. I needed to play his game if I wanted to come out whole.
    I miss you too. I can’t stop thinking about you.
    Silence greeted me and I stared at my phone in horror. Quickly I typed out: Just kidding! We can hang out anytime.
    Anytime?
    Relieved I sighed audibly and wrote, :) Anytime.
    So let’s finish our Twenty Questions game , Adrian wrote a few minutes later.
    Don’t you have anything better to do?
    Nope. I live for stuff like this.
    I glanced at the people milling around the coffee shop. Most of them were students from Cal State Fullerton and I suddenly felt incredibly old. But I’m at Starbucks right now and I’d feel weird sexting around all these people.
    Which Starbucks are you at?
    The one off of State College and Chapman.
    Cool. Be right there.
    And before I could type back a message, Adrian was striding through the doors. I could feel the women in the room stop and stare as he made his way through the crowd of people in line. He really was something to behold.
    “Hey,” he said, smiling only at me and I suddenly felt incredibly special.
    “Hi,” I replied as he pulled out a chair and lowered himself onto it. “You following me?”
    He grinned . “No, I was actually just across the street at Panera with my business partner.”
    “Business partner? You mean for your at-home porn company?”
    He placed a finger on his lips. “Shhh, don’t tell. It’s a secret.”
    And then he leaned back and placed his hands behind his head. I, and every other female in the shop, ogled him as the muscles in his arms bunched and flexed. Holy mother, this was bad.
    “So really though,” I began, “what business is this?”
    “Oh just a computer programming site. Nothing big,” he said before he glanced around, “So this is where you hang out?”
    “Yeah, and sometimes I go to McClain’s down the street.”
    “Been there. Love how it’s open all night. So what are you working on?” he asked, leaning forward and glancing at my screen.
    “Just searching for a job. I don’t have much of a resume though.”
    His forehead bunched in confusion. “Thought you were going to focus on your art.”
    “Unless you’re famous, no one makes money off their art.”
    “Ah,” he replied, casually grabbing my drink and taking a large sip before making a face, “What the hell is that?”
    “Espresso with milk.”
    He looked offended. “You’re seriously the only girl I know who drinks manly drinks at Starbucks.”
    “Well, what do you normally get?”
    “Something with a lot of sugar. Like a hot chocolate or a white mocha. Speaking of which, that sounds delicious right now.”
    He pushed himself up without another word and strode into line. I watched as he casually started speaking with a girl in front of him who flirted outrageously with him. She leaned forward, touched his chest with her ugly, pink nails and smiled like a chimpanzee. She looked ridiculous, but for some reason I felt a little envious. I’d never had that kind of confidence with attractive guys. If one started talking to me, I’d flounder around like a fish out of water and stammer like I had a speech impediment. All in all, it never made a good impression.
    Which is why you’re still single.
    “Oh shut it,” I muttered as my