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town on Tuesday,” Maddie said. “Would you like to get together for lunch tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, sounds great. How about I come down there this time?”
    Ethan started to wave his arms frantically in the air and mouthed, “No.”
    I hushed him. I didn’t think Maddie even noticed the commotion.
    She continued, “I have a better idea. Why don’t we meet in Boulder? Peter tells me that they have good shopping along Pearl Street.”
    “Sounds good. I know some superb restaurants there.”
    We quickly arranged where to meet, and I hung up.
    Ethan shook his head in bewilderment, “Are you going to tell Sarah?”
    “Tell Sarah what, Ethan?” I looked him right in the eye.
    He laughed. “You’re playing with fire, Lizzie. Be careful. Is Peter going to be there?”
    “I didn’t ask, but I have a feeling we’ll be alone.”
    “So, what’s it like going on a date with your future sister-in-law?” He furrowed his brows.
    “I’ll let you know.”
    “Well, it’s a good thing you turned your phone on today.” He reached for his coffee and started to sip it, but then paused. Holding the cup close to his mouth, he added in a sinister voice, “Or is it?”
    I smiled.
    “Don’t try that with me. I don’t think your smile is all that cute.”
    I pretended to be hurt. Ethan laughed and I turned my attention to the window and watched the cars drive by.
    After a minute or two, I said, “Sarah mentioned to Maddie that she was in love with me. What does that mean really?”
    Ethan stared at me like I was a dingbat.
    “I mean, I know we say I love you, but is ‘in love’”‌—‌I waved my hand‌—‌“oh, I don’t know, even stronger?”
    “Well, it isn’t as deep as saying ‘I heart you.’”
    “Come on, I’m being serious.”
    “So am I, Lizzie. Sometimes you sound like a relationship idiot. You analyze everything. People who think there’s a difference between love and ‘in love’ are only fooling themselves. What are you so scared of?”
    I stared back at him and watched him tug at the corner of his moustache. I didn’t have an answer for him.
    Did love scare me? Could I spend my life with just one person? Or would I end up like my parents, hating my partner? I pictured them at the club when I had met Maddie. My father hadn’t spoken to any of us. My mother never said a word to my father, but I had felt her hatred seething inside. The thought terrified me. Would I be like my father and Sarah like my mother? I shivered.
    * * *
    That night, I took Sarah out to dinner. Afterwards, I planned on taking her to a movie she had wanted to see. For the first half of the meal I kept trying to come up with ways to tell her that I was meeting Maddie in Boulder but that I wanted to go alone. Usually, we kept Sundays just to ourselves. I was obviously struggling to find the right words.
    Instead, I chattered on and on about my students and the papers I had just graded. She talked about her students. Sarah taught English at one of the local high schools. For the most part, it was a pleasant evening, which made me feel even more like scum. There we were, having a pleasant meal discussing our work, and all I could really think about was how to ditch her on Sunday, our day together, and spend it with Maddie.
    “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Matt called and he’s coming to town tomorrow. I hope you don’t mind, but we are going to have lunch with his parents.” Matt had been her boyfriend in high school. They had remained close friends throughout college. He was a cool guy, but he always felt slightly uncomfortable around me.
    I nearly dropped my fork. Doing my best to regain my composure, I said, “Really … it’s supposed to be nice out tomorrow.” Slicing off a piece of steak, I continued. “Maybe I’ll hook up my bike and go for a ride in the mountains.” I placed the chunk of steak in my mouth.
    She smiled. “Geez, it will be such a lovely day for a bike ride. I wish I could go.”
    I didn’t