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“Wrong. You’re adorable, dashing, and smart. Now, use words inorder.” I offered him the phone, prepared to handle the call if he truly didn’t want to speak.

Jonathan stared at me and then seemed to make a decision.

“You got this,” I whispered and whacked him on the shoulder, imagining that’s what guys did for each other, with no idea why I thought he needed that. But it worked! He took both the phone and a deep breath.

“Hi, it’s me,” he said. A grin took over his face until it reached his eyes, making them crinkle slightly on the sides. Perfect.

My heart went pitter-patter at the way he seemed to melt.

“Well, it’s nice to hear your voice, too.”

Then I watched him conduct the cutest, most thoughtful six-minute conversation while I stirred his veggies and mentally cheered him on. Jonathan’s cheeks were pink as he walked in lazy circles around the kitchen, his forearm crutches abandoned because his pain was well managed today. I hoped to lose mine soon, as well.

When he clicked off the call, I whirled around. “That went well, I think.”

His eyes were wide. “It did, right? Not just me.”

“No. Not just you. You wereon. Charming, even. What’s the plan?”

“We’re going to get together on Thursday. He lives about fifteen miles away in Miller’s Point.”

“That’s close!” I was excited. Even in the midst of my own disdain for romance, Jonathan’s news silenced every bitter thought I might have had. He was my best friend, and nothing would stop me cheerleading till the cows came home. “You have a red hot date.”

He laughed. “I guess I do.”

“An illicit meet-up.”

“We’ll see.”

“A date-a-rooney.”

He winced. “Really?”

I straightened. “No. Who says that?” I asked with an amused smile. “No one with an engagement to get to next week.”

He sauced the meal and looked over at me, a gleam in his eye. “We’re really out there doing it. Living our lives. Me, having a shot with Christian, and a gorgeous doctor sweeping into town to find you.”

Fear flared as it always did at post-bridge Kyle mentions, but I smothered it. “And MJ. She wants a second date.”

He turned to me with a frown. “Are you legit interested? I thought maybe Kyle would dim the shine on all others.”

“Kyle made quite the impression. It’s true. But don’t laugh when I say it’s got to be water under the bridge.”

He leaned back against the counter and pointed at me with the spatula. “You said that she explained why she wasn’t there, and that her reasoning resonated.”

I nodded, found a large spoon in my drawer, and gestured back. “True. And I can forgive her for standing me up. But that doesn’t mean I want to risk feeling that way all over again if things don’t work out.”

“That’s a risk with any relationship.”

“Which is maybe why I’m seeking out companionship that comes with lower stakes.”

“This is pitiful, Savvy. You’re choosing the MJ route because she doesn’t make you feel anything. I know you’ve been dealt some hard knocks in your life, but I don’t think I grasped the extent of their effects.”

I handed him two plates for the food. “Yeah, well, tada.” I offered one halfhearted jazz hand, probably as pitiful as my tale.

He plated the stir-fry in generous heaps and silently carried our meals to the couch, where we always ate. The table felt too regular. I regarded him over my dinner.

“What’s on your mind?”