Millie Bee’s mistake was asking the question. She was excited to meet her new boyfriend James’ friends—they were driving to brunch, and it sounded like a pleasant experience. Yet, as Millie Bee drove them to brunch, she asked James where he knew these friends from.
“Oh man,” James said, his tone changing and becoming more like a bro, “These are my boys from college.”
Millie Bee took in a deep breath. Oh no, not those friends. Maybe it’s not as bad as that. “Were you in a frat or something?”
“Naw, girl, intramural basketball team, though. We won a championship T-shirt after the other team forfeited for getting caught smoking weed in the locker room. Been bonded for life.”
Millie Bee could see the problem arriving so quickly. James was about to revert to JDawg, His college persona. She would be dating a teenager.
“Do you have any friends you’ve made since college?” she asked.
“My sister’s husband,” James said. “But who needs more friends when I have my college peeps… And, of course, my high school buds.”
He has no adult friends, a horrified Millie Bee thought. The problem with guys is that they always revert to the age they were when they became friends with someone. Women might do that, too, but they make friends with people after college.
“Where are we going to brunch?” she asked.
“A Buffalo Wild Wings. We have to watch the game.”
“Are they bringing their girlfriends too?”
“Wives mostly. They’re all other friends from college. Funny story about Petey’s wife though… She and I…”
“We’re at Buffalo Wild Wings,” Millie Bee interrupted. “I’ll drop you off and then go find parking.”
James eagerly jumped out of the car. Millie Bee waited until he was inside and hit the accelerator. She wasn’t interested in meeting college James. She’d go to brunch with her book club.