Page 64 of Keeping London (Flawed Heart)

“Yeah, very,” she says, pouring two generous glasses of wine.

She hands me a glass, and I take a sip before setting it down.

“So, why won’t you go out with him again?”

“You know what they say.Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” I argue.

“It makes total sense.”

“No, it doesn’t. That means, like, don’t say bad things about your boss, not don’t date a coworker.”

“Well, you know what they say.The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” She takes a big gulp of wine. “This is so good. What brand is it?”

“It’s that one we got from the wine tasting at that cute little winery in Tecumseh.”

“Oh, right. Well, we need to go back there.”

“Sure,” I agree. “But, anyway, that saying makes no sense either. So, stop talking in ill-guided proverbs and just tell me why you won’t give a hot, successful guy a chance.” I take a bite of a spaghetti noodle that I just scooped up from a pot of boiling water.Seems done to me.

“Because, London, I really like this job. I don’t want to screw it up by dating a coworker, only to have things go south and work be awkward. You know?”

I pour the pot of noodles and steaming water into a strainer in the sink. “You’re not getting any younger, Paige. If a guy like Tom comes along and wants to take you out, you should let him.”

“OMG, you’re a weirdo. I’m twenty-three, not forty-three. I think I’ve got time.” Paige huffs. “Look at you, Mrs. Love Expert. Just because you’re in your first real relationship—”

“I’m bored! I miss Loïc! I need a project. Look at me. I’m learning how to cook, for God’s sake. I need help!” I gesture toward the stove, which is completely covered in red splatters.

Paige looks between me and the stove and starts laughing loudly. I can’t help but join in. I barely recognize myself at the moment. I hate cooking.

“Why are you cooking?” she asks once her laughter subsides.

“I’ve already written all my articles for the week. I’ve cleaned. I even worked out.”

“Wow,” Paige says in an exaggerated tone.

“Exactly, so I figured I’d start teaching myself how to cook. It’s kind of an important skill to have. Someday, I’ll have a family, and I should know how to feed them.” I shrug.

“We had all this stuff?” Paige gestures from the pots to the strainer in the sink.

I shake my head. “No, I had to go buy all of it.”

“You are bored.” She chuckles.

“I know.”

“Well, your birthday’s in less than two weeks. What do you want to do for it? The big two three.” She holds up two fingers on one hand and three on the other, smiling like a goofball.

“I guess we can just do the normal dinner and then a club. We should invite Maggie.”

“Sure, I’ll text her and the rest of the girls. You know Dana was telling me about that totally nude male strip club in Canada. She went there for a bachelorette party and said it was so fun. We could get a hotel and party over the border? Something different.”

“Eh, I think I’ll pass. A club without floppy penises is preferred.” I scrunch up my nose.

Paige shakes her head. “You are the lamest twenty-two-year-old I know.”

“Hey! I resent that! I’m almost twenty-three.” I stick out my tongue.

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