DAY 31: Tales Of Tinder Inspections And Harsh Decisions
Day 31 Of How To Move On From A Man — 1LD
Boats.
James stared at my phone.
He kept studying Malcolm’s Tinder profile like he was an investigator. He even turned the phone upside down at one point.
“Do you think this photo originally had Sophia in it?”
I hadn’t studied the profile that closely but James had a point. I think this was her profile photo for some time on Facebook. I recognised the tiny little boats on his collar.
I hated it when I saw him in it. And I hated seeing him in it now, on Tinder, when he was meant to be Sophia’s doting boyfriend.
“We could tell her I found him,” James suggested.
I examined him much like how he examined the phone. “Then you wouldn’t have to lay down the boom, so to speak.”
I felt my face screw up. “Help me out here. What would be so bad if I lowered the boom? I’ve known her longer than you. I’ve been through some stuff lately, too.”
And I couldn’t quite finish the thought, but I thought about myself. Why would I be so wrong if I said it? Why was I the wrong choice?
Foolish me for asking it, because James would surely explain to me why.
Explain.
“I know you’re not a drama starter,” he said, putting his hand on mine.
This was weird. He never extended this physical affection during the workday. James was a pretty serious guy when he needed to be. When it came to the working hours, you couldn’t get him to do anything else but work.
“I know you mean well. But lately, it’s kind of all been about you. And whilst that’s not your fault, you can’t blame anyone for thinking that you might be making this situation about you.”
James squeezed my hand as he finished his little speech.
“Look, I get what you’re saying,” I replied. I knew what he was trying to say, albeit harsh given the crisis the situation was spinning me into.
“But do my best friends think I would make this up? That I would purposefully try to hunt down Malcolm on Tinder in the hope to catch him out? Do you think my life has become that sad, tormented, pained that I need to do this to get your attention?”
Complain.
James grabbed my hand tighter. “No one thinks that. But they might think it. It might seem like it. I don’t know, it just doesn’t sit well if it comes from you.”
He didn’t need to say anymore. I knew I was being problematic.
No one likes when a friend goes through something painful. It means you feel challenged as a friend, and that you can’t go through life with the status quo intact.
There was one thing wrong with James’ plan, though.
“You know you can’t tell her, right? You wouldn’t match on Tinder. So I guess we need a new plan.”
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | 1LD on Medium | Support 1 Lovelock Drive On Substack