CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Twenty-Five

"Jolene, what’s wrong with me? I have more love for Jack than could fill up a galaxy, but when I see Justin, I feel...I feel..."

"You feel what?" Jolene, at the other end of the phone line, asked.

"I get that feeling up and down my arms and legs like all the nerves are having a little party. And my stomach does a back-flip. And my vision kind of twists. You know the feeling." Rose twisted her hair around her index finger and then let it go.

"Where’s Jack right now?"

"I told him I was feeling under the weather, but to talk to old friends anyway."

"So you’re alone in the room?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Quick. Who would you rather have walk through that door, Jack or Justin?"

"Jack, of course."

"See? You have nothing to worry about."

"Well, then, what’s the matter with me? Why do I feel this way about him?"

"Maybe you just have a thing for blue-eyed, blond men."

"That doesn’t make any sense, Jolene."

"Sure it does. Think about it. You were with Cal, a dark-haired, dark-eyed man. Things didn’t work out. Then you were attracted to Jack; blue eyes, light hair. After that, it was Rich. Dark blue eyes, and gorgeous blond hair. And now that you’ve described Justin to me, it seems like the same old thing again."

"So, you don’t think I’m a terrible person?"

"Of course not. You’re on vacation. You deserve to have crazy thoughts and do wild things. You’re young, smart, and gorgeous. You shouldn’t feel like crap every time you’re attracted to some guy other than Jack."

"Thanks, Jolene."

Chapter Twenty-Six
Stories