Page 54 of Loyalty, Lust, Love

“Since now. Stop being so nosy.”

Fateema threw her cloth napkin at him. “I’m not nosy.”

“I’m not about to argue about something I know to be true. Did I ever thank you for coming to see me?”

“You’ve thanked me in a few ways, but not with the actual words.”

“Well, thank you, Bunny. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to spend some time with me.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for being such a great host and working me in around your other commitments.”

The server brought the second course of the meal, lobster bisque soup, to their table. After eating a few spoonfuls, they fell into a deeper conversation.

“What are we doing?” Fateema asked.

“Umm, eating dinner.”

“No, I mean, what arewedoing? What are we?” She pointed back and forth between the two of them.

“I’m not sure,” Lynx answered honestly.

“Am I your girlfriend? Are you my boyfriend?”

“Is that what you want?”

“Sometimes, yes, but other times, I question if I want a long-distance relationship. This would be easier and so much better if we were in the same city, or at least closer. Plus, I don’t want to lose you as my best friend.”

“It’s good to know you’ve thought about this because it’s been on my mind too. I understand and feel the same way. Do you think we can be best friends and long-distance lovers?”

“Isn’t that what we are now?”

Lynx nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“But you aren’t my boyfriend.”

“Right, and you aren’t my girlfriend.”

“Right, but…”

“But, what?”

“Do we date other people?” she asked cautiously.

“You want to date someone else?”

“No, but what if we do one day? Is that allowed if we’re lovers but not boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“I don’t know, but we can make our own rules.”

“Can we start with, no matter what, we’ll always be best friends?”

“Always and forever.”

Chapter 18

Flashback – Winter Break – Sophomore Year

Ayear and a half had passed since all the friends had been together. Between summer jobs, internships, and Fateema’s track and field training, they couldn’t sync their schedules and get back to Chicago as often or at the same time.