Page 27 of The Boyfriend List
Gloria
Not unless boredom is a terminal illness.
“He?” Lindon repeats, arching an eyebrow.
“Men and women can be friends,” I say defensively. I hope he’s not one of those guys who insists that in all male-female friendships, one party has romantic interest in the other. Because London and I are just friends.
“I didn’t say otherwise. I was just… surprised.”
“Why would you be surprised that I have male friends?”
“I just thought you’d be more, I don’t know, traditional than that. Not all… modern and progressive.”
I frown. “What’s so ‘modern’ and ‘progressive’ about being friends with men?” And what does he mean bytraditional?
“You just seemed like the kind of girl who wants to get married and have kids, not screw around with a bunch of random guys.”
“He’s just my friend. We’re not screwing around or anything like that.” I’m keenly aware of how my skin heats, my voice rising despite my attempts to keep it at a normal volume. Going from never been kissed to being accused of hooking up with a bunch of men is insane.
“Oh, come on.” He spreads his hands out in a gesture of placating me. “You really mean you don’t have a bunch of male friends who are waiting in the wings to ask you out if this date goes wrong?”
“London isn’t ‘waiting in the wings to ask me out.’ He’s like a … like a brother to me.” The lie sits uncomfortably in my stomach. London is nothing like a brother to me, even if he did act protective when I told him about this date.
“And there’s no rule that says men and women can’t be friends.” My cheeks flush, and I feel strangely defensive of my relationship with London. As if Lindon’s words have pierced through me and seen the thoughts I used to harbour about London, the crush I had on him in college. “Are you telling me that you don’t have female friends?”
“No.” His answer is immediate, his tone brooking no argument. “I don’t.”
I blink. “I’m sorry that you have such a low opinion of women that you can only see them as potential hookups.”
I push my chair back from the table, grab my purse, and march toward the door. Lindon couldn’t be further from the truth. As if London would ever want to date me.
“Gloria!” He stands up, but doesn’t run after me. “You’re really going to leave, just like that?”
“Yes,” I snap. “And for the record, I hate French food.”
Stomping toward the door, I pull out my phone and text London back.
Gloria
Date just ended. Meet me at Scoops?
His reply comes only a few seconds later.
London
I’ll be there in twenty.
Chapter Ten: London
Iwon’t lie and say that part of me isn’t relieved to hear that Gloria’s date is over as I drive to Scoop, Scoop, and Scoop Some More. It’s a local ice cream parlour that’s been frequented by celebrities from Naoya Sugawa to Prince Kostas of Dorapolis.
As I step into the brightly coloured business, I spy Gloria standing by the counter, in line behind a bunch of families with kids. I make a beeline for her. “Hey, Ria. Your date ended early. What happened?”
She sighs. “I don’t even know. I had to catch an Uber here just to get away from him.”
My jaw tightens at her words. “Are you okay?”
Did this Lindon guy hurt her? Did he insult her?
