All Chapters of Jaded: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

Lisa"I actually hope I end up just like your dad. I want to give myself over to you in a way that would leave me scarred if anything happened to you." Marc rubbed his thumb over her fingers."Yeah, sounds romantic, but what if I get cancer and die in three years? You're ruined for the rest of your life?""No. I would cherish the time we had together for the rest of my life. I can't imagine anything feeling better than being in your arms or hearing my name on your lips. I want as much of you as I can have, for as long as I can have it. If that time is cut short, then yes... I want to be bent over from losing you. It means that you were, without a doubt, the center of my heart, Lisa.""Do you really believe in love that deep?" she asked, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair. They moved through a thick brush of forest and emerged in front of a vast waterfall, the wind carrying a cold mist."Yes. I feel it already building inside of me. I think most people would do anything to

SicilySicily pressed her forehead to the door of the dressing room and let out a long sigh. Was there anything more depressing than trying on clothes because you couldn't fit into a damn thing in your closet?"You okay?" Kari's voice was far too soft, her friend aware of her struggles."I guess. I just think this is stupid. I plan on losing this extra weight... like now. Spending money I really don't have on clothes that I'm not going to be able to wear soon seems dumb." Sicily moved back and unzipped the pants that fit perfectly. Too bad they were two sizes bigger than she wore back in New York. It had been six months since she, Lisa and Kari had left New York and moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. The need to break away from the big city and start a new life had panned out well for both Kari and Lisa, each of them in happy, healthy relationships.I'm the only one without a guy. Maybe if I was thinner... Definitely."Sicily. Losing weight is a great plan, but you have to have something c

SicilySicily had done her best to push the conversation off the night before, Kari less than thrilled with her unwillingness to open up. How would she start a conversation like that anyway?"I hate myself most days because I've gotten fat like my mother? I don't want anyone looking at me because all I see is condemnation and pity?"Making a sharp left turn, she let out a soft growl and pulled up to the shop. A little red truck was parked in the spot beside hers, the young guy she hired at the end of the summer a god-send. Martin was nineteen and had just graduated in May from Bar Harbor High, but he wasn't yet sure what he wanted to do with his life, so his parents gave him a year to figure it out. He would be forced to go to college the following year. She was happy to have him as long as he could stay.Sicily let her emotions wash out as she sat in the serenity of her car and forced herself to focus on the day she had ahead of her. The small square in the middle of the town had two

SicilyIt took damn near forever to force herself out of the car when she got to the gym. The large brick building in front of her seeming far too commercialized for their sleepy town. The parking lot was half-full, which was surprising seeing that it was only three in the afternoon. Did all of the retired folks work out? Probably. Most of the people she had seen walking the streets were relatively healthy.I'm in the minority here. The door to the gym opened and Drake moved out, holding the door for an elderly couple. The smile on his face was kind, the expression reaching all the way to his eyes.Sicily let out a long sigh, her heart fluttering in her chest. There was no way he would ever see anything but a project in her, but God if she didn't want him to.He glanced toward her, a smile spreading across his mouth.She couldn't help but stiffen as he walked toward her, waving once more to the older couple before stopping outside of her door.Opening it, she stood up and looked him

SicilyThe last thing she wanted was to have a dinner date with Lisa and Kari, but there was no getting out of it. They had pushed her toward the shower, both of them cheering because of her going to the gym. She had agreed to go out to dinner if they chose someplace with a healthy menu and promised to shut up about Drake.What was it with the two of them? Drake wasn't interested in her and yet they both nagged non-stop about him. They were nagging the wrong half of the equation. She resigned herself to putting on a fake smile and making it through the evening. She would analyze her epic fail on the treadmill later over a shot of tequila and a good cry. Having Drake be the one to carry her off the machine had sealed the deal.She wasn't joining his gym - ever."Come on already. I'm fucking starving out here." Lisa's voice came through the bathroom door as Sicily worked to get her brush through her wet, tangled mess of hair."I'm coming. Get a snack. I just went shopping on Wednesday."