The Theory of Happily Ever After by Kristin Billerbeck

Author:Kristin Billerbeck [Billerbeck, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance;Love stories;Christian fiction;FIC042040;FIC027020
ISBN: 9781493414031
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-03-04T16:00:00+00:00

14

Savor the good times in life. Studies tell us people who savor happy experiences in life are more likely to be optimistic about their past outcomes and their future.

The Science of Bliss by Dr. Margaret K. Maguire

TRY AS I MIGHT, I can’t release Sam’s kiss from my memory. It wasn’t anything like Jake’s kisses, which were perfunctory and chaste. Usually on the cheek like the way you might be introduced to a French stranger. Obviously I hadn’t known Jake’s kisses were passionless at the time. I thought he simply respected me when he kissed me on the forehead like his aunt Charlotte. I thought he was waiting for marriage to bring out the good stuff. More of my fantasy world at work.

Now that I’ve felt a man kiss me as if he meant it, I understand that Jake’s passions were engaged elsewhere. He didn’t want to kiss me. I’m enlightened—it’s that feeling I get when all the data comes together and melds into an obvious algorithm and a conclusion is born. Romance wasn’t made for people like me. Maybe that’s why escaping to movie romance is such a vice for me. It takes me away from who I’m truly meant to be on this earth. A researcher. A scientist who helps other people find happiness in their life. It’s such an irony knowing that people with a distinct purpose are the happiest on earth, yet I fought my own purpose so violently and escaped to a dream world.

God, I know I haven’t spoken to you much lately, but tell me where I belong. Tell me why I’m here.

As I analyze the last two months, it’s simple, really. Jake fulfilled my escape fantasies, and I placed him in the role of Prince Charming—a man without a job until my office hired him. Unemployment is fine for a prince, not so much for a guy in modern times. I could blame Jake for everything, but my role as puppet master has to be addressed. Maybe Jake had been trying to escape my plans for his life all along and I was in too deep to notice.

As I follow Brent down the long corridor toward the ice rink in my Belle costume, I’m suddenly awash with shame, understanding how desperately I’ve been trying to be someone I’m not, how unnatural it feels to be in satin versus a cashmere cardigan. “I’ll have to catch up with you, Brent. I’m really not feeling well. I need to get some work done.”

“What do you mean? It’s time to play. Besides, didn’t you lose your computer in that crazy fire? Remind me never to have you hold any electronics. You’re like a bull in a china shop.”

“That crazy fire could have taken my life!”

He gives me a side eye to let me know I’m being a drama queen.

“That crazy fire did take my computer and my PowerPoint presentation, so I want to get that back up and running before I speak again. I’ve already had one princess adventure too many for today.

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