Page 35 of Reno

He poked the potato in his mouth and shrugged. “It doesn’t mean we couldn’t have sex.”

“Have you ever been friends with a girl and not had sex?”

After swallowing his mouthful of food, he scooped up a healthy forkful of eggs. Halfway to his mouth with the fork, he paused. “I don’t think so.”

“You’ve had sex with all of the women you’ve been friends with?”

“What’s with all the questions?” His eyes narrowed a little. “Did you meet someone?”

“We’re talking about your inability to be friends with a woman without having sex,” I said. “Not about me.”

He set his fork down and laced his fingers together. “You didn’t wake up this morning and think, I wonder if Sam had sex with any of his female friends. I think I’ll ask him and add his responses to a recent poll I’ve been taking. You’re asking me because you’re wondering about someone else’s ability to be friends with a female without having sex. Do you have someone that you hope can be a friend without benefits?”

I took a bite of my bagel and considered what I was willing to tell him. After I made him wait impatiently through two more bites, I told a modified version of the truth.

“I met a guy at the restaurant. He’s nice, but not really my type. He wants to hang out. You know, just be friends. I was wondering if that would be possible—on his end. I know I can do it, but I have my doubts about him.”

“He’ll fold like a deck of cards,” he said.

“Really?” I asked excitedly. “When?”

He laughed.

“What?”

He blinked a few times and then shook his head. “You’re so transparent.”

“What?”

“He wants to be friends, and you want to have sex.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

I cupped what was left of my bagel between my hands. “He’s so intriguing. And sexy. His voice is like that guy that says, beef, it’s what’s for dinner. When he talks, I melt into a little puddle. And, the way he looks at me? You have no idea.”

He chuckled. “And he wants to be your friend?”

“Uh huh.”

“He’s married.”

“No, he’s not.”

“He’s in a relationship.”

“Nope.”

His eyebrows raised. “He’s gay.”

“He’s so not gay.”

“There’s something wrong,” he insisted.

“He’s a war veteran. He said ten years at war made him insensitive. That lack of emotion prevents him from falling in love. Personally, I think it’s admirable that he admitted his problems. He doesn’t want to hurt me.”

“You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth,” he said.