Read Online How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison - Free Book Online Page A

out.”
    â€œWhat?” I looked around the lunchroom, searching for Jesse so I could, I don’t know, pelt him with carrot sticks or something. “He can’t do that. We’re not dating anymore.”
    Daphne nodded sympathetically. “I know. It totally violates the rules of breakup procedure, but obviously he’s not over you yet.”
    Raine bit into a chip. “Or he wants to make you suffer.”
    I ignored her. “He told guys not to date me? He actually had the nerve to do that while he and Bridget have been traipsing around the school like a pair of magnets?”
    Charity watched me, her eyes turning sympathetic. “It sounds like the two of you need to sit down and talk things out.”
    I picked up my utensils and cut into my salad with more force than was necessary. “Yeah, the last time we talked things out I ended up in an agreement where I may have to eat my shoes.”
    Raine shrugged. “You could always start hitting on the freshmen. I bet Jesse didn’t threaten any of them.”
    Daphne leaned across the table as though she had the answer and it was already settled. “You need to meet some guys from Swain Academy. I know tons of them. I can set you up.” Daphne’s flitting between social groups didn’t stop at Bickham High’s doors. She also frequented parties from Bickham’s only other high school, Swain Academy.
    I pushed a tomato chunk back and forth between two pieces of lettuce. “I don’t know. Blind dates never work out.”
    â€œWho says?”
    â€œAnyone who’s ever been on a blind date before.”
    â€œThat’s because they’ve never been on one of my blind dates.” Her eyes narrowed, considering me. She leaned back in her chair. “You’re on the quiet side, so you need someone who’s outgoing, someone who knows how to have fun.” Her head tilted and she looked into my face with the intensity of a fortune-teller gazing at a crystal ball. “And yet you’re half Italian, which means you’ll need someone with an untamed, passionate side as well.”
    I didn’t contradict her, even though the only thing really Italian about me is my name. I’ve never been to Italy and know approximately twelve words of the language—and all of those are curses I picked up from Grandma Petrizzo.
    Daphne gave me a motherly smile. “And yet you’re in a fragile state of mind, so he’ll need to be gentle and understanding too.”
    With her elbow on the table, Charity rested her chin in her hand. “Does this guy really exist? Because if Giovanna doesn’t want him, I do.”
    Raine nudged her. “You can’t date until you’re sixteen. I claim the leftovers.”
    â€œI’m almost sixteen,” Charity said. “July isn’t that far away.”
    Charity skipped a grade back in elementary school. The downside of being this smart is that when you reach your junior year, you still can’t drive. Plus, Charity’s parents have a no-dating-until-you’re-sixteen rule. It’s partially due to her religion, and partially because Charity’s dad has counseled too many teenage boys over the years.
    Also, if you’re a petite blond with an angelic face, like Charity is, people tend to mistake you for a freshman and volunteer to show you where your classes are.
    â€œSo do you actually know a guy like this?” I asked Daphne. “You know, an outgoing, fun, passionate, understanding guy?”
    â€œI know several,” she said.
    Which should have made me suspicious right then. I mean, there are probably only several outgoing, fun, passionate, understanding guys on the whole planet. What were the chances that Daphne knew all of them? But you know, a woman in the desert longs for water, and I’d been parched all week.
    â€œI guess I wouldn’t mind you setting me up then,” I said.
    â€œAre any of