hard on men as it was on women.
“I like to play pool,” she volunteered.
“Be sure to include that in your profile when you’re on Match.com.”
“Sheesh,” she muttered. “I just wanted to have a little fun.”
“You’re getting chocolate. It lasts longer.”
“Not the way I plan to go through it.” If he hadn’t been buying a big box for her, she’d have kicked him in the that gorgeous butt. “Kind of inconsistent, don’t you think? Being all noble about not wanting to get together and yet buying me chocolate.”
They were at the check stand now. He set the box down on the belt and turned to her. “I’m buying you chocolate because I don’t want you to be sad. I’m not getting together with you for the same reason. Plus, it wasn’t that long ago that you were serious with the house peddler.”
“I was wrong about him, okay? I should never have been with him.”
She was suddenly aware of the person in line in front of her turning to gawk and she realized she was half shouting. She could feel her ears burning. And her cheeks. Okay, her whole head was on fire. The fire got worse when she saw who was one check stand over, buying steak and lettuce and tomatoes. Brody didn’t turn to look at her but she knew he’d heard by the way his body stiffened.
“Oh, boy,” she muttered.
Seth paid for the box of chocolates, then handed it over. He took her by the arm and escorted her out of the store, neither of them speaking.
She was the first to break the silence. “I hate my life.”
“I know.”
“But I love chocolate.”
“I know that, too.”
“Thanks. It was really sweet of you.”
“Hang in there, Jenna. Things really will get better.”
She stood hugging her Valentine’s gift and watched as he walked back into the grocery store. How could things get better when nothing had worked out with either of the two most important men in her life?
She went home and made herself a sandwich for dinner. Turkey, this year’s Valentine’s special.
She’d taken her first bite when Pete poked his head in the kitchen door. “Gotcha something,” he said, and held out the baby version of the big box Seth had bought her.
Another facet of the new and improved Pete. “Candy? Who are you?”
He scowled. “Don’t get smart or I’ll take it back.”
“Sorry. Come on in. Have you eaten yet?”
He shook his head and plopped down at the table. “Not hungry.”
A look of dejection stole over his face. Poor Pete. He was alone on Valentine’s Day, too.
“Have you got plans?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It’s not the same as last year.”
Jenna sat down across the table from him and he looked at her, his mouth working like he was going to cry. He twisted the gold ring on his left hand.
“Wish we had some of Edie’s cookies,” he finally said.
“Me, too,” said Jenna. “Maybe I should make some.”
For a moment he perked up. Then he shook his head. “Nah, I got stuff to do.”
Like go to his room and watch TV.
Jenna came to a sudden decision. “Are you sure? I was going to watch a movie. Why don’t you join me?”
“What are you gonna watch?” he asked suspiciously.
“I haven’t decided.”
She’d bought her great-aunt all manner of chick flick DVDs. There had to be something in there for a couple of Valentine’s Day losers.
“I guess,” Pete said, and ambled out to the living room. “Maybe I’ll take a sandwich after all,” he said over his shoulder.
She made him a sandwich and pulled a can of pop from the fridge, taking them out to him. He was already looking through the DVDs.
“Find anything good?” she asked.
“Not much to choose from,” he replied.
She fetched her own dinner and the chocolates he’d brought her and joined him.
“Looks like you already got chocolate,” he said, nodding to the couch, where she’d set the box Seth had given her.
“When we run out of the ones you brought, we can eat those,” she said. “What did you find?”
“Not much. We need some James Bond.”
She set down her plate and picked up a DVD from his stack of discards. Under the Tuscan Sun. “This is a classic.”
He looked at it dubiously. “Looks like a chick flick to me.”
“So you can get in touch with your feminine side,” she said, taking it out of its jewel case.
He grunted but took a seat.
“Yep, chick flick,” he said in disgust after they were barely into the movie. “I’m out of here.”
It was