Read Room for Love for Free Online Page B

floors and buying curtains and hiring someone to build shelves.” I pause to figure out if I’ve forgotten anything. “And I’m getting rid of Alicia.” Courtney laughs. “Seriously, I’m transforming this apartment into my vision of the beautiful, peaceful home I know it can become, one that can be my sanctuary in the big, noisy city and where maybe I can even settle down and build a life with someone.”
    â€œOne more.”
    I blush, struggling to find the right words. “I am marrying and having babies with a man who is totally gorgeous, with beautiful lips and eyes and broad shoulders and a thin waist, who’s really smart, brilliantly witty, who appreciates Godard, but maybe secretly likes Truffaut better, oh and who worships Wong Kar-Wai and Bergman and Fellini as much as I do, but I guess it would be okay if he had different taste, like he’s a big Bresson or Kubrick or Tarkovsky freak, I mean it would give us something to talk about, but he has to like Almodóvar films and David Lynch films and he absolutely has to like Moulin Rouge! And, oh, I’d love it if he’s lived abroad—no, wait, he’s from another country! Italy or France or Brazil or Australia, maybe, so he’s got family there and a house in, like, Positano or the Cap d’Antibes, where we can spend summers, and who loves dogs, God, who has a dog. I guess he should have money; hell, I am describing my perfect guy, after all!”
    â€œOkay, slow down, love. That’s great, good details. But is it really necessary to be with someone with a passion for French movies? Think hard and list the qualities that are actually most important in your perfect divine romantic partner. That’s who you’re looking for, after all. For example, I think it’s time you found someone attentive. I think that’s an important one for you, and openhearted. I’ve seen you with too many self-involved men whose hearts are closed.”
    â€œRight.” I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and start again. “Okay, I’m meeting and falling in love with a man who is attentive and openhearted.” I think about Jake and all that’s been missing in our relationship. “A man who is giving and sweet—sweet is so underrated—intelligent, financially stable, confident, firmly established in an interesting, creative career, who has, um, good taste in movies and books. God, I know it’s superficial, but I need to be really attracted to a guy. Without chemistry, it’ll never work.”
    â€œThat’s all right, you can say that if it’s something that matters to you. Don’t be embarrassed, just verbalize the qualities that you really need in the man you love.”
    â€œOkay, who’s handsome, sexy, honest, loving, considerate, and who loves me as much as I love him.” I pause to think. “God, at this point, he has to be able to build bookshelves and lug shit, so handy, and thoughtful, I guess, and who loves dogs and makes me laugh and who’s a hot, smokin’ babe that I want to eat every time I see him.”
    â€œDon’t forget ready for a relationship,” she says, nodding.
    â€œYeah, the most important thing: ready for a relationship, excited about a relationship—with me, of course.”
    â€œNow write that down,” she says. I do my best.
    â€œOkay,” Courtney says. “I’m going to burn your wishes, to put them out into the universe.” I love Courtney.
    We stare into the middle candle for several minutes, until I feel entranced by the flame. Then she breaks the spell by pulling the piece of paper with my wishes inscribed on it out of my hands and letting the flame gobble it up.
    Thanks to all that positive thinking, Courtney and I are running forty minutes late to my own party. I take a last look in the mirror, pile all thirteen tons of my mop on top of my head, stick it up there with a