Truth or Date by Susan Hatler

you’ll keep seeing the same results.”
    Ew! Was this what therapy was like? All in my face like that? No wonder I’d never gone. “Let’s say you’re right, Dr. Kristen. Can you translate all that human psyche jargon into what I’m supposed to do?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t call me Dr. Kristen. It makes me sound like a radio talk show host with a degree from Lala Land University.” She shuddered. “What I’m suggesting, basically, is to ignore the tinglies you feel around Chris. They’re leading you astray.”
    Easier said than done depending on the quantity of Midori Sours consumed. I lowered my lashes. “Even on our best day, George and I’d never had a tenth of the chemistry Chris and I do. It’s all so fun and easy with him.”
    Raising her brows at me, she said, “Except it won’t be fun when he moves on to another girl next month. You said that’s what he does, right?”
    “Yes.” My body felt numb, knowing I had to be strong. “I caved once, but I won’t let it happen again.”
    “Good.” She gave a terse nod. “Call Ethan up, first thing in the morning, and ask him to be your date at Ellen’s wedding. He’s a phenomenal guy, definitely wants to be married, have a family, the whole shebang—everything you want. You do like him, right?”
    Tears burned my eyes. Why did finding love have to mean fighting against what you feel? “Sure, I like him. He’s really nice.”
    “Then make the healthy choice and pick Ethan. Break your pattern. Unless you want a broken heart or to spend the next ten years trying, in vain, to get your playboy to commit.”
    “I’d rather eat granola. Or your smoothies.” My mouth twitched until I spotted an empty carton of ice cream on the coffee table. “Kristen, what’s with—”
    “All righty then. Good night and see you in the morning.” She swept off the couch and trotted to her room, shutting the door behind her.
    Hmm. Whatever was wrong, I hoped Kristen knew she could talk to me about it. Maybe she’d already gone over whatever it was with Ellen so she didn’t need to rehash it again. With my heart heavy, I dragged my feet to the front door and double-checked that I’d locked it. Then I switched off the living room lights and padded toward my room.
    Chirp! Chirp!
    A flick of the screen exposed a text from Chris: You must be home by now, which means you’re avoiding me. What I can’t figure out is why. Whatever the reason you never pick Truth, you answered my question anyway. If you really liked this Ethan guy, you wouldn’t have let me kiss you. Gina, let’s go out for real. You and me. What do you say?  
    I sat down on my bed, an ache in my chest as I stared at the screen, then tapped my response: I can’t.  
    Chirp! Chirp!
    Closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, I opened it: Why???  
    Suddenly, my eyes burned and the ache in my chest grew because I knew why. And it had nothing to do with Ethan. Or George. Chris wasn’t the only one who’d had his heart broken. Freshman year in college, I had a whirlwind romance with Derek. He was the first guy I’d ever fallen for and I jumped in with both feet. Two months later, he’d moved on to another girl in my dorm, leaving me in excruciating agony as if someone had sliced my heart open with a dull blade.
    I’d been naive enough to think first love would last forever.
    George came along a few months later and he’d been my safety guy. Instead of the roller coaster romance, George had been slow and steady. I’d loved George and completely thought we’d get married one day, but I hadn’t been in love with George . . . not the way I was starting to feel about Chris. My emotions soared high with Chris, which meant the anguish would be a hundred fold when it fell apart. Which it would, of course. Especially with his penchant for playing the field.
     I turned off the light and crawled into bed, still wearing my pretty dress. Pulling the covers up around me, my cell screen lit up and I