Page 29 of The Boyfriend List
“Mincing garlic with a blender is just more efficient. It’s not about my knife skills. And I’mthrowingan axe, not chopping logs with it.”
I chuckle. “Did any of these guys let you give your input into the date before they decided what you were going to do?”
She shrugs. “Well, not really, but…”
“But what?” I prod, irritated by my own desire to know more about these guys who are taking her out.
“But, I don’t want to be some high-maintenance girl who is controlling or dissatisfied with everything a guy does for her.” She takes a spoonful of her ice cream.
“You think telling a guy that you don’t like French restaurants or axe-throwing means you’re high maintenance?” I ask as peanut butter ice cream drips down my fingers.
Instead of replying, Gloria wipes the ice cream off my knuckles with a napkin. It should feel maternal. Or overbearing. Instead, every nerve ending in my body lights on fire at the caress of her hand against mine.
“I thought men liked women who are easygoing and chill.”
“You’re allowed to have an opinion. In fact, I like it when you speak your mind,” I say without thinking. Oh, crap. Is she going to think that I’m saying that because I like her? “I mean, not that my preferences count. But, still. If a guy doesn’t value your opinion and thinks you’re annoying when you voice it, he doesn’t deserve you.”
Gloria blinks at me. “Thanks, London.”
Then she picks up the extra spoon she snagged and digs it into her bowl before extending it to me. “Now, are you going to try my ice cream or not?”
Grabbing the spoon, I swallow the mint ice cream. It’s cold and leaves my tongue tingling, but not in an unpleasant way, and tinged with sweetness from the chocolate. Then, of course, I choke on one of the chocolate chips and almost hack up a lung.
When I finish coughing, Gloria gives me a concerned look and smacks me on the back. “Are you… okay?”
I give her a thumbs-up.A thumbs-up. Because apparently I’ve been losing my mind lately. Did I fall off a horse and get a concussion without realizing it? Because that’s the only explanation I can think of for what I just did.
“All good,” I say weakly. “Sorry about that.”
She giggles. “Can I have a bite of yours?”
I offer her the ice cream and she takes a spoonful.
“Gloria, I didn’t expect to see you here! It’s been ages.” An Asian girl, who looks vaguely familiar, appears at our table.
“Sasha! It has been forever, hasn’t it?” Gloria gets up from the table and hugs her. “I’m sorry I haven’t really kept in touch since I quit knitting club. I just never could get the hang of casting off.”
Sasha laughs. “It’s okay, knitting definitely isn’t for everyone. I didn’t mean to interrupt your date, I just saw you here and wanted to say hi!”
“It’s not a date,” I say at the same time that Gloria says, “You’re not interrupting.”
They technically mean the same thing, right? Sasha isn’t interrupting, because this isn’t a date?
“This is my friend and coworker, London.” Gloria says, gesturing to me.
“It’s nice to meet a friend of Gloria’s,” I say. “I was starting to think she had no life outside of the office.”
“Right, because you guys are lawyers.” Sasha nods. “What law firm do you guys work at again?”
“McMann and Ma,” Gloria says.
Sasha’s dark eyes widen. “I just went on the worst date of my life last weekend with a guy who works there. Please don’t tell me you’re coworkers with Giorgio.”
Gloria and I glance at each other and I bite down on my lip to keep from bursting out laughing.
“You’rethe mini golf date?” Gloria says through giggles.
“He told you about that?” Sasha groans. “That’s what I get for going on a dating app.”
