Dump the friend ! Definatly fobbing you off....I suggest you confront your friend...
Only kidding, ditto all the above answers. Although preview screens can be awkward to read I find. I always end up opening the whole email anyway. Mainly because once the PC sees the email as 'read' the preview screen disappears.
Although If I set this up to only show emails as read after say '10 minutes' then I would not have that problem. So It depends on the settings.
So yes It is possible, but the the news you dont want to hear is also possible.
Just to get those devils on your shoulders working overtime.
I am sure its fine