Just Say Yes Read Online Free Page A

why you asked it.” Tim couldn’t believe Quinn would want to be different. As far as he was concerned, she was perfect.
    She sighed. “I don’t know. I just . . . Sometimes I feel like this isn’t how my life is supposed to shake out. That there’s so much more out there waiting for me if I’d just grow a pair and go look for it.”
    Tim couldn’t help but smile at Quinn’s choice of words. She wasn’t a saint by any means, but she didn’t typically speak so candidly either. “What’s stopping you?”
    She looked confused.
    â€œFrom looking for it,” he clarified. “If you think life has more to offer, then why aren’t you doing something about it?”
    â€œI already told you. Because I’m safe, and traditional, and—”
    â€œDon’t give me that shit again,” Tim interrupted. “Give me the truth.”
    â€œThat is the truth. I’m cocooned so deeply into my own comfort zone, I can barely breathe, let alone get out.”
    â€œJust take it one step at a time.”
    â€œI kind of already did that, actually,” she explained. Tim gave her a look that told her to keep going, so she did. “I pitched an idea for an article. A kind of exposé into the life of a sheltered woman looking to spread her wings, if you will.”
    â€œThat sounds great.”
    â€œYeah, except now I have to actually go through with it. I was only pitching the idea, but now my editor wants
me
to write the article. And I have no idea how I’m going to do that. I don’t even know the kinds of things I should write about.” Quinn sighed deeply. “How am I supposed to know what type of person I want to be? I can’t even pick the right type of guy to date.”
    Tim felt his jaw tighten at the mention of Quinn and guys, but he ignored it because there wasn’t anything that could be done about it. “What type
do
you date?”
    â€œIn a nutshell, mama’s boys,” she said with a hollow laugh. “It’s fine. I just couldn’t understand why I always date these guys who still live at home and think playing video games is a stimulating activity. Then I started reflecting on it and realized that it’s because I play it safe and look for guys who will be the least likely to hurt me. I don’t take risks, and I don’t like leaving things to chance. It’s just how I’m wired.”
    He wanted to tell her that was a good thing. There was a reason she was attracted to guys who were essentially the opposite of him: they were better. They hadn’t spent years on the streets doing whatever it took to get their next fix. They didn’t hurt the people who loved them. They didn’t fuck up everything they had to chase a high that was never as good as promised. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Quinn. Trust me. I’ve taken enough risks in my lifetime to satisfy the quota for a football team. And it hasn’t made me a better person, or more fulfilled, or happier. It made me stupid and thoughtless.”
    â€œYou don’t think you’re those things now? Happy and fulfilled?”
    â€œI am them now, for the most part. But that’s because I’ve stopped being a reckless jackass.”
    â€œDon’t you think those experiences enabled you to be them though? That by making mistakes and seeing how bad things could get, you actually found out how you
did
want to live?”
    She had him there. Tim was one hundred percent formed by the lessons he’d learned. He was a better person at thirty-five because he’d been such a bad person from ages fifteen to twenty-seven. Tim had hit rock bottom about four times, and each time that rock bottom had gotten deeper. It made him appreciate being firmly aboveground. “I’m kind of an extreme case though. I don’t recommend my type of living to find out who you are.”
    Quinn