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man. I figured we’d hit a few strip clubs on Bourbon Street.”
    Stefan shook his head as he slid off the stool. “My nephew’s kindergarten class had a field trip to the petting zoo, and I was given strict instructions to be at the school to pick him up at 6:00 p.m. sharp.”
    He left Dustin with the promise of at least considering his offer, but Stefan wasn’t ready to start thinking about contingencies just yet. He’d wait until he got his results from the doctor before he started thinking about what he would do if he could no longer fly.
    Finding a radio station that wasn’t playing continuous Christmas carols proved nearly impossible, and Stefan eventually had to settle on talk radio to get him through the hour-long drive from New Orleans. By the time he made it to Maplesville, the sun had begun to set, painting the horizon in brilliant orange, purple and blue hues. He took the exit off of the main highway, driving past the string of fast food restaurants and strip malls that his sister had told him had not been there when they moved to Maplesville just two years ago.
    He pulled up to the traffic light next to an eight-story luxury condominium complex and nearly stomped on his breaks when he spotted Dr. Calista Webber emerging from a red SUV in the parking lot. She carried a grocery bag and a dome-shaped container, like the ones the grocery store bakery used for their cakes.
    Stefan considered pulling into the complex’s parking lot, but realized that was too aggressive, even for him. He was pretty sure he’d made his interest known during their encounter in the grocery store this past Sunday. Showing up unannounced at her home would move him into creepy stalker territory.
    Besides, he had to pick up his nephew in—he looked at the time on the dash. Shit, less than ten minutes.
    The light turned green and Stefan reluctantly pulled away, but he checked his rearview mirror at least a half-dozen times before losing sight of the condominium.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Callie took the elevator to the seventh floor of the condo where her best friend since elementary school, Kiera Coleman, lived. Kiera was standing in the hallway outside her door when Callie walked off the elevator. She followed Kiera into the apartment, holding the wine bottle aloft in one hand, and the caramel and dark chocolate torte she’d picked up from Mable’s Bakery in the other.
    “The liquor and chocolate are here. Let the party begin.”
    She greeted Jada Dangerfield, the other member of their trio, who was currently piling cheese onto a platter, with a kiss on the cheek. Jada had moved to Maplesville during their sophomore year of high school. A perky, effervescent cheerleader whom Kiera had hated on sight. Callie had discovered Jada’s mean streak when she’d caught her vandalizing the locker of the cheerleader captain, Regina Parker. Their mutual hatred of Regina had bonded them, and the three had become fast friends.
    Now, it was their astounding bad luck in the romance department that connected them. The trio got together at least once a month to commiserate. Although, over the past year, they had moved past the man-bashing and now just used the time for catching up on gossip and guilt-free dessert and wine consumption.
    Jada, who’d been ditched by her husband and lost her job this past year, regaled them with horror-filled tales of job hunting.
    “You would think an MBA could land you something better than cashier at the new Forever 21, huh?” Jada said as she tipped back her glass of the chocolate-infused wine that had become their drink of choice.
    “Have you thought about moving closer to New Orleans?” Kiera asked. “I’d hate to see you leave Maplesville, but it may be better all-around for you.”
    “No way,” Callie said. “She can’t leave.”
    “I don’t want her to leave either,” Kiera said, “But it would be better than running into Eric every other day.”
    Jada shook her head. “To hell with that. I’m