Read Single Wide Female: The Bucket List Mega Bundle - 24 Books (Books #1-24) for Free Online

they used to be.” She laughed a little. “But I did marry the love of my life, a man I never would have met if I hadn’t let my heart get broken first.”
    “Thank you for sharing your story with me.”
    “Thank you for the frog,” she said with a smile, and then continued down the block.
    As I began to go through the motions of closing the shop up for the night, I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.
    Was Max my frog? Had I already wasted all of my summers?

Chapter 10

    By the time I got back to my apartment, my mind was made up. I would always have my memories of Max—and I hoped that I’d always have his friendship—but I wasn’t going to waste any more summers on him.
    “That’s it,” I said with conviction. “Time to think about the next thing on my list.”
    I went to my bedroom and pulled the list back out. I put a big checkmark right next to pole dancing. I thought that it had been very successful, despite the ripped leotard.
    There was something very liberating about becoming more comfortable with my body. It wasn’t about attracting a man, not even Max. It was about who I was and who I wanted to be. I still had some pounds to lose, but what was more important to me was gaining confidence, and I could feel mine growing stronger every day.
    I had an entire list to get through, and I was ready to really set off on this journey with a new determination to change my life. I had started out my day feeling nervous and uncertain, but now I was getting to the point of wanting even more than what was already written on the list.
    I added a few notes to the bottom, then hesitated as my hand hovered over Max’s name. For fourteen years I’d been waiting for his romantic attention, and there was no way he didn’t know it. He had to see the blush in my cheeks, the shine in my eyes, when I looked at him. I decided it was time to cross his name off the list. As I did, I felt my heart break a little, but maybe it was just making room for someone new. It was time to open my mind, and my heart.
    As I set the pencil down, my cell phone beeped. I picked it up and scanned the text I’d received from Max.

    I still want to see the list. It’s going to drive me crazy with curiosity.

    I stared at the text for a moment. I didn’t want to show him the list, that was for sure. I could erase him from my fantasies, but I could never erase him from my heart. We shared too much history, and there was too much support there. I still needed Max. I texted him back quickly before I could dwell on my words.

    Be a little crazy, see how it feels.

    I smiled as I set the phone down on the bed beside me. I knew he probably wouldn’t understand what I meant, but he had been driving me crazy for too many years. Letting him be the one yearning could be very therapeutic.
    As I looked back down at my list, I shifted my attention to the next item. In order to accomplish it, I was going to have to recruit some assistance. I folded up the list carefully and tucked it inside a small box that had once held a bracelet. Then I placed the box inside the drawer of my bedside table.
    I changed into a loose T-shirt and sweats and stepped out of my apartment. I took a deep breath and walked four steps to the right. I paused in front of my next-door neighbor’s door. It was lined with all kinds of band stickers. I didn’t know who any of them were. After a few firm knocks, the door swung open. A woman, barely edging over five feet and wearing a long black dress, opened the door. She rested her porcelain cheek against the frame and stared at me from beneath tons of eye make-up.
    “What do you want?” she asked and lifted one pencil-thin, pitch-black eyebrow.
    “I need your help,” I said quickly.
    “My help?” She eyed me and I could feel her suspicion. “Do you finally want that makeover I’ve been offering?”
    “No—well, not right now,” I added when she gave me a reproachful look. “What I need your help with is a little