“Yes, safer.” I’d never really thought of it before, but it didn’t sit well with me Lily meeting some stranger off a dating app. I’d never used the apps myself, but it suddenly occurred to me how much less safe it was for women than men. I wondered if Juno used dating apps and what precautions she took when meeting strangers. I’d ask her later.
“Okay.” She shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
“So …” Lily took a sip of her latte while searching my face. She wiped a smear of coffee off her lips, almost distracting me from her next question. “You mentioned you have a sister. What’s she like?”
“Juno is two years older than me, but you’d think she was ten years older. We grew up close, she grew up protective.” I chuckled. “She’s one of my closest friends, really. Not sure that’s very cool to admit, but it’s true.”
“I don’t care about cool. I love that you’re so close to her.”
“She’s mad as a hatter. Ballsy, take no prisoners. Says the most preposterous things and mocks me relentlessly. But I love her.”
Lily’s expression softened. “She sounds wonderful. She sounds like she’d get on really well with January.”
“Your little sister?”
Lily nodded. “She’s a fresher this year. And my complete opposite.”
“Plain, stupid, and unkind?” I teased.
She grimaced. “No, I meant she’s loud and überconfident, assertive, blunt. She’s also hilarious. But from the outside in, I think people find her intimidating. I’m as intimidating as the saber-toothed tiger inTheCroods.”
Chuckling, I pulled out my phone to google the movie. “I’ve never seen it.” An adorable animation of a saber-toothed tiger appeared on my screen, and I burst out laughing. “Yes, you are definitely as intimidating as that.”
“He’s so cute, isn’t he?” Lily peered over the table at my phone, her dimples melting me.
“Not as adorable as you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That’s me. Adorable.”
“It’s not a bad thing, you know.”
“Hmm, if you say so.”
“I do say so. Have you seenRise of the Guardians?”
“Uh, aye. Queen of animations over here.”
Grinning, I nodded. “It’s one of my favorite movies, but that’s just between you and me. If anyone else asks, my favorite movie isThe Godfather.”
“Have you even seenThe Godfather?”
“Of course. Once.”
Lily burst out laughing and I found myself grinning like the Cheshire fucking Cat. And that’s how our morning went. Easy, natural conversation over three coffees. She told me more about her love for romance novels and I insisted on a list of recommendations. She sent me a few links, looking very muchlike she thought I never intended to click on them. She was wrong.
I could’ve sat there for hours talking nonsense with Lily.
When she announced she had to leave to get ready for an afternoon class, I wanted to plead with her to stay a little longer. Instead, I walked her out of the coffee shop and down the street to her flat.
“So, this is where you live?” I stared up at the building as noisy traffic passed behind us.
“This is it.” She glanced over her shoulder at me, her key dangling in the main entrance door. “So … I’ll see you.”
“I’ll text you,” I promised her firmly. “If you’ve got time, I’d love to see you before Friday.”
“I might come on Friday. Might.”
