Men! They are just a bunch of dicks!
***
With the Italian amoretti biscuits baking and my bags packed for my three-day trip, I decided to spend some quality time with Jada. We were relaxing and sitting on the back porch, sipping some lime and soda. It was quite warm for October and after baking in the hot kitchen, I was in much need of a cool drink.
Milan was supposed to have stopped by to help out, as well, but she called to say she got held up with a patient at the clinic.
“So?” Jada asked. “How did your date go with Zane last night? Did you do the deed?”
“Yep.”
Jada squealed. “And?”
“Oh. My. God. Why didn’t you tell me it’d be like that? He was everything, so amazingly perfect, romantic, hot, and sexy. Sweet. Intense. God, is he intense.”
“Okay, I don’t want down and dirty details, because, eww, he’s my husband’s best friend. Plus, I won’t be able to look him in the eye if you tell me too much. But please, tell me he treated you right.”
“Unbelievably right. A couple of times.”
“Too much information. So now that your cherry’s been popped by your dream man, you’ll be the Barossa’s next hot couple, right?”
“I’m not so sure about that just yet.”
“Why? What did he do?”
“It’s not what you think—”
“What the hell! I’m going to kick his arse if he’s pulled that typical ‘love them and leave them’ bullshit—”
“No, calm down. It doesn’t have anything to do with that."
“Then what?”
“There are a number of factors. The major one is that he’s been hurt before by his ex-fiancée and apparently she has come back and is causing trouble for him. He sends me mixed messages, too. One minute he’s on fire for me and the next he drops me like a hot potato and leaves me in the lurch. I don’t get him. Or maybe I’m reading into it too much? I know he is a busy man and his workload is huge, but I’m not sure how to act around him. At the wedding he made it clear he didn’t want a relationship; he even told me to get my head out of the clouds if I wanted what you and Max have. That hurt me. I mean, doesn’t every woman want her own Prince Charming? Then when we were together in his apartment, he did a complete turnaround. So, I have no idea how I am going to act around him or my family at our Sunday lunches and my brothers at work if we have to keep it a secret or under wraps?”
“Come on, your brothers will be fine. I'm telling you, half the time they are all talk and no action. But Max does tend to be a touch over-protective with you when it comes to men,” Jada pointed out.
“Gee, thanks. You’re supposed to be cheering me up, not making me more depressed.”
“Sorry. So, will you be officially dating Zane now?”
“I hope so, but he was very evasive when I left this morning and like I said, he’s very hot and cold. I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
“It is probably for the best. You don’t want to rush things, honey; not when you have waited this long. You need to look on the bright side. I mean, you’ll get to live out your sexual fantasies with the wild Zane Mitchell and no one will be the wiser. As for not knowing how to act around him, I wouldn’t worry. You are going to have three glorious days and nights in Port Douglas. I know it’s work related but it’s three days and three nights, all alone with him. You can snap him out of that hot-and-cold attitude; all you need to do is continue to make him squirm. Tease him and taunt him and remember not to give in too easily.”
“Okay, I’ll take your advice. I’m just annoyed that he leaves me all the time and I hate it!”
“I think you are reading into things and it’s normal to do that, so stop stressing. At least you don’t have to play the dating game any longer. I mean look at Milan; she’s been dating Blake for a couple of months, but honestly that man is just too nice for her.”
“Yes, I think you are right there. Milan needs someone who will put her in her place and not put up with the bullshit she dishes out. Unfortunately, Blake is the perfect gentleman and Milan is most definitely not nice,” I announced.
Jada cracked up laughing.
“Don’t laugh, I’m serious. Your sister is getting worse; she can be such a bitch sometimes.”
“I know, I know. I only wish Milan would just stop dating all these men who don't do it for her and go after the one man she’s truly interested in!”
Jada barely had time to finish her sentence when Milan strode in. Her arms were folded over her chest and for a minute I actually thought I saw tears well up in her eyes. It didn’t last long because she stood there with her hands on her hips and a look which could kill.