Part 38 (2/2)
Jenny managed a smile. ”Thanks for the pep talk. I appreciate it even if you don't necessarily mean it.”
”Huh?”
”Well, just look at you. You're my age and no prospects in sight for you, either. I know you're just as depressed as I am but you're keeping up a strong front for me. I appreciate that.”
Annja leaned back. ”Jenny, I am not depressed. Nor am I putting up some sort of front for you. I'm trying to help you as my friend.”
”You're not lonely?”
Annja snorted. ”I'm too busy running around the world to be lonely.”
Jenny eyed her. ”That's a convenient excuse. Are you sure you're not just using that to avoid the issue?”
Annja sighed. ”There's no issue. I've had plenty of guys in my life but nothing really has a chance to develop. It's the price I pay for doing what I do. I've made my peace with it. Anytime I think my heart's needs outweigh my professional aspirations, I'll simply stop.”
”You think it will be that easy? To stop, I mean.”
”I don't know. I've never really tried.” And with the sword, there's no telling if I'd even be able to, Annja thought.
”And what about the whole love thing? You think that will just happen easily, too?”
”What I think,” Annja said, ”is that if we put our minds to it, there's nothing we can't do.”
Jenny smiled. ”I guess. It's just hard. I mean, I'm a college professor. I see truckloads of good-looking young boys all day long. And all I want is a man to call my own.”
Annja leveled a finger at her. ”You'd better keep your hands off those college boys. You wouldn't want to add unemployment to your list of woes.”
”I know it. But we all want someone at the end of the day. That's what I'm saying.”
”So let's see if we can find someone for you.”
”Huh?”
Annja grinned. ”I'll bet that guy Simpson is available.”
”Please.”
”What about Baker? Did you see that receding hairline? Hot.”
Jenny shook her head. ”What the h.e.l.l, I'll just invite them both back at the same time.”
”There you go. Give 'em the thrill of a lifetime.”
Jenny giggled. ”Probably be over in thirty seconds and then I'd be no better off than I was at the start.”
”Probably.”
<script>