Read Online Perfectly Messy by Lizzy Charles - Free Book Online

with Jen for my Calc II midterm to fit this in. I’m afraid I may have hit my math threshold. I used to aim for A’s, but now passing seems damn near unachievable. I hope she’s up for rescheduling with me, that is if I can find the time.
    “So, Justin.” Carl clears his throat with a hack. “Jessie here is going to ask you some questions. Where you live, hobbies, aspirations, the regular stuff.” An older woman with a cat sweater and frizzy hair smiles at me from the stool next to the camera. She’s interviewing me, off-camera? My heart rate slows. Okay, cool. Maybe my instincts were wrong and this isn’t a crude reality show.
    “Hello, Justin. So nice to meet you,” she says in a smooth voice that no male on earth could define without using the word sexy. “How are you?”
    There’s a beat in her voice that I recognize. No way. I shift forward toward her. “Were you the voice for the evil female computer in the latest Bond film?”
    “That’s me,” she says with an aunt-like grin.
    “Wow. Very nice to meet you.”
    “Likewise.” The way she says it sends goosebumps down my spine. Weird. The computer chick from the film was so hot. Jessie laughs as she pulls out yarn and needles from her purse.
    “The industry calls her The Siren,” Carl explains. “Her voice draws everyone in. Men identify it as sexy and women find it confident and comforting, like a wise older sister.” He clasps Jessie’s shoulder and smiles. “As you can see, I’ve brought in my best to make you look good, Justin.”
    I nod, still amazed at how that voice comes from such a regular, obsessed-with-knitting type woman. A voice like that shouldn’t be legal.
    “Shall we get started, Justin?” She shifts her glasses down as she counts the rows she’s placed on her needle, then she looks up and smiles at me, like a friendly librarian.
    “I’d love to.”
    “Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? Who’s in your family?”
    So I do. I tell her a ton, even about Jackson. Carl’s right; she is a siren. I find myself spilling way more information than intended with each new question. She’s too easy to talk to. I’m telling everyone it’s because of the cat on her sweater, not her voice. Crazy cat ladies are easy to talk to, right?
    Jessie clears her throat. “Last question, Justin. How would you describe your perfect girl?”
    Lucy’s name almost slips off my tongue. I close it, swallowing the urge to explain I already have a girlfriend. “My perfect girl?”
    “Yes. What type of girl do you want to spend the rest of your life with?”
    Without hesitation, I look into the camera and define Lucy. “She’s strong, brave, beautiful and, although she doesn’t intend it, she’s really funny. She also must be able to survive a tornado.”
    “Survive a tornado? That’s pretty specific.”
    I nod, remembering my freak encounter with Lucy and a tornado last summer. The camera to my left moves closer, the lens changing for a close-up. “I guess I know what I’m looking for.”
    “I hope you’ll find it.”
    “I’m pretty sure I will.”
     
    ***
     
    “Justin, wake up,” Jennifer says as she snaps in my face. My eyes fly open and the room’s a blur. Clarification comes with a few blinks, however that exit sign in the front of the lecture hall is still fuzzy. Crap, I’ll need glasses soon. My first sign of aging and I’m not even eighteen. Sweet.
    “He’s starting the review for midterm. Don’t miss this.” She hands me her coffee cup.
    “I’m not going to take your drink. I’ll survive.” Truth? I’ve yet to acquire the taste of that addictive muck.
    “Seriously, drink it. Or do you want to miss your only chance to review after you blew me off last week?”
    Fine. With a huge swig, I burn a blister to the roof of my mouth. The exit sign instantly clears though… So that’s how coffee works.
    “Thanks,” I say, handing the paper cup back.
    “Justin, you’ve got to give something up. You’re