Carmen Jenson is the kind of girl who loves to read books in bed, watch movies at home, and play board games on the weekends. Her girlfriend Patty, however, claims she's not exciting enough, and dumps her. Carmen decides she’s had enough of failed relationships and decides to stay single for a while, though in her heart she wants something more.<br><br>Nel Patrick is the bus driver on Carmen's daily route to work. She always teases Carmen about chasing down the bus because she’s late. Carmen thinks nothing of the friendly banter between them until a chance meeting on the bus. While talking about Carmen's desire for a meaningful relationship, Nel reacts in a way that’s totally unexpected, leaving Carmen at a loss to understand her strange behavior.<br><br>A few days later, Nel shows up at Carmen’s workplace. When Nel's attraction to Carmen comes out into the open, they go out on a date. A hot night of loving leads Carmen to wonder if she’s finally found the game girl she's always wanted.

A Bored Game Girl

“Can you blame me?” Nel asked, eyes straight ahead as she navigated the bus through traffic. Her confidence behind the wheel always impressed me. 


“I dunno. Maybe I should. You always give me such hard time when I’m late.” I scratched the skin under the nose bridge of my glasses.


“That’s because I know you secretly like it.” Nel stopped the bus near Jersey and Lake to pick up a male passenger. Once he paid, the man moved behind me and grabbed hold of the same rail I was latched onto as the bus began to move again. He looked familiar.


Before I finished my thought, the man next to me cut in and said, “Carmen Jenson? Is that you, girl?” I glanced at him, trying to place the face. Suddenly it dawned on me.


“Oh my God. John! Where’ve you been, hon?” I gave him a one-armed hug. “You just up and quit at the bookstore and didn’t say why. What happened?” I hadn’t seen him in six months. No wonder I didn’t recognize him at first.


Chapter 3