Read Online The Expat Diaries: Misfortune Cookie (Single in the City Book 2) by Michele Gorman - Free Book Online Page A

shadows beneath her eyes that only she can see. When I arrived I looked like I’d just been sprung from solitary confinement. ‘Aw, Stace, it’s the jet lag. It takes a few days to adjust. Want to watch TV? They dub Friends into Cantonese.’
    ‘No thanks.’
    ‘Well, I’m exhausted.’ I mime a stretch. ‘Mind if I head to bed?’
    ‘Hannah.’
    Damn. ‘Yes?’
    ‘I wanted to talk…’
    ‘Oh, sure.’ Remember the comfortable ease with which Sam and I passed the evening? This is nothing like that.
    ‘I’m worried about you.’
    When people say this, they usually mean they’re about to criticize me in some hurtful way. ‘Really? Because I’m doing great.’
    ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about this. It’s… you’re… I think you’re getting too wrapped up in Sam.’
    ‘Well, I love him.’
    ‘And that’s great. But you should be a little careful.’
    ‘Why?’ I definitely don’t like the course this conversation seems to be tracking. ‘Be careful of what?’
    ‘Well, it’s such a new relationship, and it’s moving really fast. Don’t you think so?’
    ‘Yes, and I’m thrilled. That’s not always a bad thing, Stace.’
    ‘No, I know. But what’s the rush? You could still see other people here. After all, you’ve just moved to a new country. And Sam will be away a lot. Don’t you want to have some fun?’
    ‘No, Stace, I want to be with Sam. I love him. Why would I want to be with someone else?’
    ‘It’s just that you’re making it too easy for him. If you wait around for him to show up, and then drop everything at his beck and call, you’re not doing yourself any favors. You should play hardball a little more, don’t be so available.’
    What’s the point of pretending not to like him when I really like him?
    ‘That’s how the game is played,’ she continues. ‘Believe me. He’ll want to see you all the time then.’
    ‘But he’s only in town for a few days. He wants to see me all the time now. And I don’t want to play a game!’
    ‘Come on, we all play games.’
    ‘Stace, you know how crap I am at that. You remember school, right?’ My game-playing ability is on par with my checkbook-balancing ability. I haven’t got the stomach for either one. ‘Why can’t I just be myself and do what comes naturally?’
    ‘Well… don’t take this the wrong way,’ she says, guaranteeing that I’m going to take what’s coming the wrong way. ‘But you become a little, pathetic, when you’re hung up on a guy. And you know I say that with the utmost love for you.’
    Well, at least that didn’t hurt. ‘Thanks very much.’
    ‘I just mean that you change when you have a boyfriend.’ She tips her head. ‘That’s not always a bad thing, sometimes you change for the good.’
    Again, thanks very much. ‘I don’t think I change.’
    ‘Oh, come on! You take on the personality of the guy you’re seeing. You always have… I see you’ve bought Tevas .’ She stares pointedly at my footwear collection.
    ‘You know what, Stacy? Why don’t you give me some credit for having my own personality? That’s really insulting. And I bought them because they’re practical.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘I don’t mean to insult you. I just wanted to point out that the reason Sam likes you is because you’re you . And you’re wonderful the way you are. If you then become him, you’ll lose what made him like you in the first place. Sorry, I really didn’t mean to offend you. Although,’ she pauses before delivering her coup de grace. ‘You’ve never been practical when it comes to shoes.’
    ‘I’m not going to play games with Sam.’
    ‘Well, you know him best, so that’s up to you to decide.’
    ‘Stace, it sounds like you don’t think this was a good idea.’
    ‘Well…’ She sighs. ‘I’m just glad that I’m here. Don’t worry, Han, whatever happens we’ll have a great time together.’
    So it’s official. Everybody I love, except Sam, has judged this