Can I Steal You For A Second? (Jensoo)

1

"All right, Jen," Murray said. "This is going to be pretty standard stuff, okay? Nothing that wasn't on your application, nothing groundbreaking, no gotchas. All good?"

"Yes," I replied, crossing my legs. I really wasn't used to wearing dresses, and the thought that I might accidentally flash the camera had given me nightmares on no less than three of the nights we spent in hotel lockdown.

"Look at me, not at the camera," Murray said. "Remember to answer in full sentences. The audience isn't going to hear my question, only your answer."

"Full sentences. Yes. Got it."

Someone re-angled a light and it shone right in my eyes. For a second, it felt like someone had sent a laser beam right through my brain.

"Sorry, sorry," the tech guy said, moving the light again. "There was a weird shadow on your face."

"It's okay," I said, dabbing at my watering eyes. "Don't worry about it."

"Make-up, can we get a touch-up, please?" Murray said.

A make-up woman scurried over to me.

"Unless you want to keep the tears, Amanda?" Murray said. "You just broke up with your ex, right? If you're going to cry anyway—"

"No," I said firmly. "I'm not going to cry. No more tears."

"All right, then."

The make-up woman dabbed at my face with a small brush, touching up the contouring around my eyes. She was wearing a bright purple mask with little white polka dots. It was much cuter than the ones I had. I made a mental note to ask her where she got it, sometime later, when I wasn't devoting all my energy to looking like a proper holding-it-together adult.

"Okay, Jennie," Murray said, when she was finished. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," I said. 'I'm ready."

"Why did you come on Marry Me, Juliet, Jennie?"

"I came on Marry Me, Juliet because I believe in love," I said, willing myself with all my being not to cry. "I'm here because I've had my heart broken, but I don't want it to be broken forever. I'm here to try and put it back together."

It was about two pm on a Tuesday afternoon when I decided to apply for Marry Me, Juliet. It was two months, three weeks, five days, and twenty-ish hours after Jac broke up with me. I was at work, writing up some maintenance instructions for a client. He leaned over the desk, looked at what I was writing, and said, "Nice handwriting."

"Thanks," I said, genuinely a bit flattered. "I don't think anyone's ever complimented my handwriting before."

"Most mechanics write like doctors," he said. '
"Totally unreadable."

"I do my best," I said, finishing the instructions, folding them neatly in half and handing them to him. "You look after that beautiful car now, all right? I don't want her back here in car hospital again."

"I don't know," he said, winking at me. "If she has to come back, then I get to see you again. If I weren't already married..."

I made myself keep smiling as I rang up the cost of his repairs on the till.

"You single?"

"Yes!" Dave, one of the other mechanics, called over his shoulder. "She got dumped!"

I shot him an Oh, come on look. He gave me a What? You did! look back.

"Trust me," the customer said, leaning a little too far over the counter, "the guy's an idiot."

I gave Dave a pre-emptive look before he could shout, She got dumped by a chick, mate! I was already being propositioned by a married man. I knew from far too much experience that the grossness factor would go up at least ten times if said married man knew I was into women.