Rule Bender by BJ HARVEY

Author:BJ HARVEY
Language: eng
Format: epub

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 a stir? 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 little too quickly. “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.

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