“So? They are all weirdos in college too and that doesn’t stop anyone from dating them.”
Good point.
“What if one of them is a serial killer or something?”
“Then at least you’ll have plenty to talk about . . . you know, about burying his victims and stuff.” Lyla’s fingers tapped the touch screen. “There, your profile is done!”
“What? OK, that’s crossing the line.” Jessica hurled herself out of bed and almost tripped on her blanket en route to Lyla’s bed.
“Oh, don’t be stupid. It’s a great profile.” Lyla showed it to her. “Jessica, 19, college student. Loves baking, taking romantic walks in the park and reading. Looking for a guy who will accept her for the way she is and not try to change her, and she’ll do the same for him. Very much into monogamy and believes in saving it all for ‘the one’.”
Accompanying the caption was a very flattering photo of Jessica in her prom dress. The dress was a sleek and very fancy, blue, off-shoulder, satin number that didn’t hide Jessica’s curves but emphasized her big bosom in a way that was deliciously sexy.
“You practically spelled out I’m a virgin!” Jessica groaned.
“And what’s wrong with that? It’ll hook in the guys like flies!”
“That’s exactly the type of guy I don’t want!”
“But you’ll also reel in the type of guys you want – the ones who believe in monogamy and true love and being with only one person. We’ll know how to screen them out soon enough. Trust me on this, Jess, it’ll be a breeze!”
THE VIRGIN
Kyle stared at the screen of his Mac.
The profile read: “Jessica, 19, college student.”
Hmmm, so she’s young, he thought. He preferred them a little older, but asking for a virgin in anyone over the age of twenty was stretching it a bit. Just like the last one he had snared over the website this way. He had spent two whole weeks wining and dining her, and when the test came, she jumped him, and he found out she wasn’t a virgin.
Two wasted weeks.
Anyhow, it was time to move on. This ‘Jessica’ actually seemed interesting.
“Loves baking, taking romantic walks in the park and reading.”
Well, he liked eating baked goods, talking walks in the park – which usually led to sex – and reading a lot of James Patterson.
“Looking for a guy who will accept her for the way she is and not try to change her, and she’ll do the same for him. Very much into monogamy and believes in saving it all for ‘the one’.”
This for some reason touched him more than any profile he had ever read. She was plus-sized. That much was obvious; otherwise she wouldn’t be on this website he had set up. Then of course, there was the clue which indicated she might be a virgin. He couldn’t very well put up ‘Virginity Status’ as a criteria on the website, but he had learned to look for clues.
It was imperative that she was a virgin.
‘Saving it all for the one.’
That was a red flag if any.
He studied her photo again. She was very pretty. Devastatingly so. She was obviously dressed to go to a ball, but her whole ensemble came across as wistful and happy and eclectic and conformist all at the same time. It was as if there were many facets to her to be explored. He sensed that not many men gave her that opportunity because of her plus size.
Their loss.
He found himself wanting to get to know her better, and not because of the reasons by which he was compelled.
Because she was the perfect candidate.
Simply perfect.
A pang flitted across his chest as he thought of what he must do to her.
The clock was ticking. He had to do it in five days.
HOUR
Jessica hadn’t expected any guy to write to her through the website. Nevertheless, she found herself checking every hour if someone had anyway. You’re such a loser. She knew she shouldn’t set any expectations at all because there were so many women out there, and most of them were probably prettier and more accomplished than she was.
Still . . . it was nice to hope. And equally dreadful.
What if no one checked out her profile? The website had a counter for the number of clicks on her profile so that she could gauge how popular she was.
Argggh!
What if lots of clicks registered on the counter, which meant lots of people checked her out, but no one wrote to her? That was far worse!
She wished she could take back her profile now. Oh wait, she could. She could just deregister herself. Yes! That was an option.
Only Lyla would berate her for being a chicken.
Screw Lyla! It wasn’t her life.
But Lyla had always been so well-meaning and helpful that she hated to do this to her best friend without actually talking it over with her first.