Page 62 of My Book Boyfriend
“He takes it so personally when she can’t make his performances because of work. He doesn’t seem to understand it’s work. She doesn’t have a choice.”
“My last girlfriend hated that I worked all the time,” I say.
“Who doesn’t work all the time in New York?”
I feel for Iris, but I’m relieved that Lily is so understanding about being a workaholic.
I look away, to the band posters that line the walls. “My last girlfriend, Anastasia, didn’t work all the time. She was getting a cooking degree at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, but she wanted to be an actress.”
“She must have been a good cook.”
“She was,” I say.
“I’m not a particularly good cook,” Lily says. “Tessa, my friend who is the lawyer, is ironically the best cook out of all of us. But she says it helps her to de-stress.”
“My dad bakes bread to de-stress,” I say.
“Is his bread good?”
“Delicious. We can have some tonight with Nutella.”
I pay the check, and we get up.
The emcee announces the first band, and they enter.
“The lead singer is Patrick, Iris’s boyfriend,” Lily says.
A woman next to us says, “Isn’t he magnetic? Those eyes. And that body.”
Her friend says, “And that British accent.”
Lily glances at them and then murmurs, “I want to tell them he’s taken.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t need to worry.” I lean close to her ear so she can hear me.
Lily nods as she sways to the music. She whispers in my ear, “He did pursue Iris. She actually resisted him, saying he seemed to be a player.”
They sing a ballad, and I pull Lily into my arms. She rests her head against my chest. She feels so good.More ballads, please.Can she hear my heartbeat?
As the opening chorus of the next number fills the space, the crowd roars. The place is packed. I release Lily. This is a fast-paced rock song with lots of fans jumping up and down. Mostly women crowd the front near the stage.
I hold Lily’s glance as we dance, our moves mirroring each other’s. She puts her hand on my chest as she sways back and forth. I clasp her hand and then take it and twirl her around.
The music pauses as the lead singer introduces the band members. Lily checks her phone and types something.
“My friend Maddie is coming.”
The set is over, and the conversation swells again as we go grab a drink. Iris’s boyfriend comes down from the stage, and a cluster of women surround him.
He breaks free and comes over to Lily and hugs her. Very tightly. He’s my height. I cough.
“Lily, so good to see you. Who’s this?”
“Patrick, meet Rupert, my date.”
“About time someone snatched you up.” Patrick tousles her hair.
I put my arm around Lily. Yes, I’m acting like a possessive caveman. And yes, I’m a bit embarrassed I’m staking my claim. But not enough to stop.
