Page 23 of My Book Boyfriend
“We read all the books recommended by Vivian Swift on a list she compiled forThe Guardian. Just search books about gardens, Vivian Swift, andThe Guardian,” Lily says.
“I’m sorry I missed that book club,” I say.
“So are we,” Lily says wryly.
“We would have had a lot more time to sway you,” Maddie says, popping up next to me. “Isn’t there a way to save the garden?”
I falter. Maddie is very direct.
And normally, I like direct people.
But now I feel like I’m just giving them hope. When there isn’t any.
Or not much.
If it were my company, yes. I’d save the garden.
But it’s not going to be my company if I save the garden.
And my first priority is to save Rowena and me.
“I’m sorry,” I say again. “I should go home. It seems like you’re quite able to defend yourselves.”
And I turn around and swiftly walk in the other direction toward my apartment.
I’m a fool. First, I’m afraid a woman is going to date me just because I’m the grandson of the founder of Strive Developers. And now I’ve gone in the total opposite direction and am attracted to some woman who won’t date me precisely because of my role in Strive Developers. Good going.Congratulations on perfecting the art of bad dating choices.
But I like that she isn’t falling over herself trying to pick me up. When she threatened to poison me … I snort-laugh.
A delivery guy on an e-bike whizzes by me.
And she’d highlighted the same section in the book as me—about families and friends.
That passage about friends was key. Because it’s hard to make new friends nowadays, now that I’m the presumed heir to Strive Developers. Most of my friends are from high school and college. I could never make friends at Strive Developers as the boss’s nephew. That’s also why Rowena and I are so close.
For that reason alone, sometimes I think I should’ve worked somewhere else first. My college friends made close friends in their law firms or in their residencies. But I never wanted to work anywhere else.
All I ever wanted was to build on the Strive legacy established by Grandpa—to be the co-CEO with Rowena, to build affordable housing, and to establish our name and our company as synonymous with good development. As Mom always says, “With power comes responsibility.”
TheseTalkTackvideos are smearing the Strive Developers’ name. For that reason alone, I should hate her. And if Grandpa knew I had asked her out on a date, “softie” would look like a compliment.
I text Sebastian.
Me:Free for a squash game?
Sebastian:Sure. Half hour. Just finishing up at the office.
Chapter seven
Lily
“Youscaredhimoff.”Jing pulls her hat down to cover her ears. The bright flags of the various small restaurants that line Amsterdam Avenue wave in the wind. Nobody is eating in the outdoor sheds tonight.
“Let’s not pretend we’re all friends,” Maddie says.
“He is really attractive, though,” Bella says. “He’s got such long legs, and the way he walks …”
“Bella,” I say.
