Free Soul Mate (The Mating Series) by S. Swan

We are going to save the frogs!’ the woman exclaimed. I guess she’s working with some environmental group going to South America to save some kind of endangered bull frog.” I laughed. People, me included, searched for answers about life. They used Jimmy for validation.
    I wasn’t a deep theological thinker, but with Mom and Jimmy around, I couldn’t help thinking about things such as destiny and fate. Over the last four years, Jimmy and I engaged in many deep discussions. He understood life so well. I valued his insight. Before Mom, I staggered through life not caring about what it all meant, but Jimmy opened my eyes to purpose and destiny. “You’re meant to be a healer,” Jimmy once said. “You’re a nurturer.”
    Mom agreed. “She brought home every stray and injured animal as a kid. She’s still trying to bring h ome strays, but this time they’re stray people.”
    “You know, that’s why we’re together.” Jimmy said , breaking my thoughts.
    “To save the South American frogs?” I asked.
    “No,” he said “because I get the pictures, but I can’t always interpret them.”
    “Just like with the frogs,” I said. And Carson Kittheridge. I thought, but didn’t verbalize.
    “Yes. I thought it was bad news, but it was good news to my client,” he said. “I realized that maybe I have misinterpreted the picture of you and him …or at least I hope so.” 
    “I do too ,” I said.
    We finally arrived at Blaine’s. Jimmy found a front row parking spot. He put the car in park, and turned the engine off. “Cassie,” he said.
    “Yes.”
    “No matter what happens, I’ll always care about you,” Jimmy locked his green eyes on me. “You know that right?”
    “ I’ll always care about you too,” I said.
    Jimmy leaned over the gearshift. “Come here.” he whispered. I leaned in. Jimmy kissed me. As his tongue probed the inside of my mouth, my hand found the front of his pants. I felt Jimmy’s hardness. It aroused something in me. I held on to Jimmy. What am I doing? We are in public, quit touching him!
    “Stop,” Jimmy breathed, “before I rip your clothes off right here.”
    “I don’t think I’d mind ,” I said. I’ve waited years for this.
    “ I don’t want to rush into this,” he said and pulled away from me. I frowned. “Come on, let’s eat.”
    Blaine ’s imitated a trendy New York style restaurant. The design assaulted my eyes. The darkly lit interior added to the effect. Cobalt blue abstracts danced on the walls. Oddly contoured tables and V-shaped blue velvet chairs jutted up from the mosaic tile floor. The wait staff zoomed to and fro causing a chaotic atmosphere. The dishes looked more like art creations than actual food. Sauces dotted and circled the plates creatively.
    I read about the art deco style in the Star News. They gave it great reviews. I mentioned it to Jimmy several months ago.  “Oh, it’s alright,” he said.
    “You’ve already been?” I wanted to try the restaurant, but couldn’t afford the expense.
    “Yeah, but it wasn’t that great ,” Jimmy said.
    “With who?” I asked.
    “Some friends,” He replied, “mostly local artists.”
    I realized that Jimmy and I traveled in different circles. Actually, I had no social circle. While Jimmy ate at fashionable restaurants and went to gallery openings, I sat at home eating lean cuisine and talking to my dead mother. I suddenly felt uncomfortable and out of place.
    Was I really the girl for Jimmy? Of course not, I already knew my future. What would my soul mate be like? I wondered. I thought about the woman who’d be Jimmy’s soul mate. I bet she would be stylish, and up with the latest in fashion, not sitting in a dress she bought in college.
    Once seated, Jimmy ordered our meals. It offended me. Was I so defunct that I didn’t know how to order? “What?” Jimmy asked.
    “You ordered for me.”
    “Do you mind?” he asked, concerned. “It’s just they have this great artichoke and