Free A Boy Worth Choosing (The Worthy Series Book 2) by S.M. Smith

I’m feeling light as a feather and have nearly forgotten the whole reason I needed this day. The girls, however haven’t forgotten my dilemma at all and are keen to remind me of it as soon as I get seated.
    “So just how dirty are these dreams?” Shaina asks, head tilted back with green goop drying on her face and sliced cucumbers hiding her eyes. If the goop wasn’t holding her cheeks in place, I’m sure there would be the biggest cat-ate-the-canary grin there.
    “Dirty enough she had to have it massaged out of her,” Daphne rumbles from her seat and I nearly throw the cucumbers from my eyes at her.
    “The yoga did the job; the massage was just for the fun of it.  But keep laughing it up, ladies. Just remember what they say about paybacks,” I tell them, settling back in my chair.
    Light flute music plays behind the ambiance of a water fountain, reminding me of a swanky Asian restaurant Stephen and I tried a couple of weeks ago. The thought of him brings some heat to my cheeks. I’m glad that there’s dried green goop all over my face and that the other girls are too blinded by cucumber to see. After a few moments, Shaina gets antsy and picks up the conversation again.
    “So this whole thing with Stephen, you seem really happy. Tension-filled wet dreams aside,” her voice betraying the inevitable smirk on her face.
    “I am. Things are definitely different. From both my relationships with Jake and Caleb.”
    “Good. Listen, love, don’t get me wrong. You had every right to have a problem with Caleb.” Daphne interrupts Shaina’s confession with a snort. “But I’m really glad Stephen doesn’t make you so… whiny.” Daphne explodes into laughter from her lounger beside Shaina.
    “Whiny?!” I peel the cucumbers off my eyes as I sit up. She and Daphne lift their heads up simultaneously and nod awkwardly so as not to drop their cucumbers.
    “Well, don’t take this wrong, but yeah. Whiny.” Daphne’s voice drips with contempt.
    I replay a few segments of my conversations with Daphne and Shaina about Caleb. I can see where complaining about the same things that were bothering me for months on end could be whiny.
    “I really should have left him sooner.” Hindsight is 20/20.
    “Yes. Yes you should have.” Daphne agrees without missing a beat. Shaina chuckles.
    “Anyway, I like Stephen. He brings out… a glow in you,” Shaina says.
    “A glow?” I raise my eyebrows and giggle, feeling the tightness of the dried mask.
    “Yeah. You know that ‘in love’ glow.”
    My breath catches in my throat, but doesn’t get stuck. I’ve loved Stephen for a long time, but things are different now and I’m not sure that I love him quite like that. Yet.
    “He told me I’m his future.” I confess quietly. Daphne nearly flies out of her seat, clearly shocked that I hadn’t told her this yet.
    “When?! And what did you say to that?” she asks offended.
    “Last week. And well, I haven’t really said anything. But we’ve started talking long term. Well, more like getting to know what the other wants and is planning for. Our plans mesh kind of well actually.”
    “You two were made for each other.” Shaina props herself as she sits up.
    “Seriously.” Daphne agrees, giving her a very matter-of-fact look before turning back to me. “So…how do you feel about being his future?”
    “It scared me at first. I mean I couldn’t talk to him at all. But Dad made a comment while we were leaving church last week about how much life he’s seen in me since I’ve started dating Stephen and it all started to click. I mean, I ‘whined’,” I say rolling my eyes at Shaina, “about Caleb not making me a priority and not taking me and my life seriously, and here is Stephen, willing to put his goals and career on the line to take care of me and my career. And it’s not like I haven’t taken into account what he’s done for me since even before my break up with Jake. Now that I see the intention behind it