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14
London
After a week of getting used to my new normal—living alone in my own space, unpacking my things, and setting up the place exactly how I want it—I’m picked up by Val on the way to Firehouse 51’s monthly barbecue.This time, it’s being held at Rhodes’s house.
“You look good.Is that a new shirt?”she asks as she drives.
“Nah, it was just packed away.Now that I’ve gone through all the boxes I’ve had in storage, I’m finding some of my old favorites.”
She smiles, nodding in approval.“It’s hot.That low neckline is bound to cause a stir,”
Looking down at myself to check I’m not showing anything I shouldn’t be, I slowly turn and eye her curiously.“What I’m wearing is going to cause astir?It’s a shirt, Val.The girls are covered; the material isn’t see-through, so there’s no accidental nip-slip action going on.What gives?”
“Nothing.I’m just saying it’s nice.”
“Oookaaay ...”I’m not buying her weird comment, but it’s easier to let it go than delve any deeper when it comes to my boss and friend.
“And that skirt.It’s pretty.Goes well with those knee-high boots.”
“Val, since when are you concerned about what I’m wearing?”
“Hey,” she says, going on the defensive a littletooquickly.“Can’t a woman compliment another woman when she looks good?You know what?I think that’s what’s wrong with the world today.Too many women feel threatened by one another so they can’t just share the love.I, for one, think that if more people—more women—were to lift a sister up instead of dragging her down, the world would be a much better place.”
“With a throng of empowered women ready to tackle the patriarchy?”
“Exactly!”she says, pounding her palm against the steering wheel.“See?That’s what this world needs.”
I snicker and shake my head.“You sound like you’ve been on a Taylor Swift listening binge again.”
“Hey, don’t you sass me, London Kelly.You love T-Swift as much as I do.But don’t get me started.I could ride this women’s empowerment train all the way to the moon.”
“Don’t I know it,” I mutter under my breath, earning a laugh and a soft elbow jab from the driver’s seat.
“So ...new apartment, the chance at running your own clinic for me in the future.What’s next for my little Lonnie?”
I open my mouth to say ‘nothing’ but then I stop myself, because right now, the world is my oyster.Although the whole ‘I’m in love with my best friend and he doesn’t feel the same way’ situation with Luc is still sitting there, right on the surface.It’s like an itch I can’t fully scratch—or a rash I can’t find any cream to treat.But I’m still more than open to the idea of pushing through that, putting my big girl panties on, and putting myself out there.
“You could try online dating.I have a few friends who’ve had a lot of fun on some of those apps,” Val adds.
“You thinkIshould try online dating?Like those hook-up apps where you mention in your profile you’re a woman and suddenly you’re inundated with foot fetishists and dick pics and sugar daddy requests?No, I don’t think so.”
“Oh c’mon, babe.I think that might beexactlywhat you need.Just to dip your toe in the water.See who wants to nibble on your line, so to speak.”
“I don’t think it’s mylinethey’ll want to nibble on.”I giggle and Val soon joins me.
“Okay, then.Riddle me this.Let’s say you get asked out on a date, and it’s going to be the most romantic date you could ever dream of.What would you want to do?”
I turn my torso so I’m leaning against the door.“If I was on the most romantic date I could ever dream of, and a man could pull that off?I’d be wanting todohim,” I say with a smirk.
Her lips still twitch.“Humor me for a moment, will you?I know.Close your eyes and imagine what you’d want to do if you met your theoretical dream guy and he wanted to give you the most memorable date ever.What would it look like?”
I give her an exasperated sigh before she spears me with a pointed stare that only Val and my mother would ever get away with giving me and I do as asked.
“I don’t know, Val.My last date involved a perfect-on-paper man who I should’ve been all over, but instead, I was too busy talking about yourbrotherto give Brock a chance.”
“OK.So in a world where youdidn’tlet my idiot brother, who wouldn’t know what was good for him if it jumped up and bit him on the ass stop you from dating ...what would you like?A picnic by the lake?”
I screw my nose up and shake my head.
