Page 62 of The Boyfriend List
I put down my laptop on the coffee table and reach for her hand across the couch. “And you don’t?”
Gloria squeezes my hand. I close the remaining distance between us and our lips meet.
This kiss is nothing like the eager first kiss we shared. It’s still passionate, but it’s easy. Gentle. Soft. Like a habit, to be repeated for the rest of our lives. We pull apart, and I rest my forehead against hers, shutting my eyes.
Couldwe do this for the rest of our lives? I can’t picture myself with anyone but Gloria. I can’t picture myself marrying anyone but her. But could I imagine myself having children with her?
I’ve always imagined having kids would be painful. Something that would take me away from the familial responsibilities I already have—the constant obligation to make tenuous peace between my parents and my siblings.
I’ve always thought that even if Icouldbe a father without feeling like I was failing as a son and a brother, I’d hurt my children. I might do to them what my parents did to us. Giving us distorted perceptions of love and conflict resolution. Arguing and raising my voice, and making slammed doors and curse words the norm. Never giving them the peace I longed for.
But what if it could be different? With Gloria? Somehow, I think that if we had a family… it might be different. It might be better than the childhood I knew. We could build something greater and brighter, more tender and loving, than the pain and brokenness of my family.
“Hey,” Gloria says. “What’s going on? You seem… quiet.”
“Just thinking.” I stroke her cheek.
“About what?”
“That I love you.” I kiss her forehead.
Her phone rings before she has a chance to respond. She jumps off my lap. “Raina! It’s so good to hear from you… I’m with London right now… Karaoke double date with you and Kostas? Oh, Sasha too? And Giorgio?”
I’m half-grateful for the interruption and half-curious as to what Gloria was going to say.
“Let me ask London,” she says. “But will there be dinner involved?”
“I’d love to go to karaoke with you and your friends,” I say.
“Perfect,” Gloria says into the phone. “We’ll meet you at Turn it up Tunez in half an hour.”
Despite being a royal who I once heard Gloria refer to as ‘Prince Grumpy’, Kostas is pretty laidback. Maybe marriage has changed him.
“So, have you ever been to this karaoke bar before?” I ask him.
Unlike Giorgio, who’s waiting in line to sing a Taylor Swift song, Kostas doesn’t seem like the karaoke type. He also doesn’t seem like the partying type, which is ironic considering his winery business. The waiter brings Kostas’ ice water, Raina’s Shirley Temple, Giorgio’s beer, Sasha’s iced tea, Gloria’s mojito, and my gin and tonic. The two of us take our drinks, being the only ones at the table.
Kostas chuckles at my question. “Once, five years ago.”
He glances at Raina, who’s up on stage with Gloria, performing a duet. They sing and laugh, their arms wrapped around each other.
“How was it?”
“Oh, I wasn’t singing. I was here to pick up Raina, but she was so drunk she threw up on my shoes.” Kostas smiles as if remembering how his now-wife vomited on his clothing is enjoyable.
“Well, that’s definitely memorable.” I chuckle, popping a fry into my mouth.
I’ve only heard bits and pieces of how Raina met her husband, Prince Kostas of Dorapolis. While Raina was living in Dorapolis, I would come over to help Gloria take care of Raina’s guinea pig, Biscuit. I also bought her pets of her own, a tank of tropical fish she still has.
Next up, Sasha and Giorgio are in line to sing a duet of a song by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Though, it doesn’t look like it’ll be very successful, since she’s glaring daggers at him while he just smirks down at her.
“What about you, London? Have you ever been to this bar?” Kostas asks.
“Once or twice, but I’ve never gotten on stage. Gloria wants to change that, though.”
“Oh?” Kostas arches a brow. “What song are you singing?”
I sigh. “She’s picking. With my luck, I’ll wind up singing Justin Bieber.”
