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me, Jake,” Alyssa said. “You won’t be having coffee with a married woman, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    “No, I wasn’t worried. I just—I thought—”
    “It’d be nice to get you up-to-date on my life. I keep reading about yours in the alumni news.”
    “I can’t help any of that.”
    “Let’s talk at Starbucks. You remember where the old Bakers Square used to be? Still is? It’s across the street.”
    “Is there anything closer to you?”
    “I’m calling on a cell,” she said. “I’m actually already here.”
    It’s seldom that I’m so utterly and completely surprised.
    “See you soon,” I said.

    The years had been kind to Alyssa Roberts. Extremely kind.
    I opened the door to Starbucks and immediately spotted her at a small table, a tall cup in her hand, her friendly eyes finding mine and lighting up. A controlled smile curled at her lips as she stood. She seemed taller than in college, but that was probably just my imagination. Her hair was shorter but still fell to her shoulders. It was pulled half-back and held with a barrette. She put down her coffee cup and stood there, waiting for me.
    I had imagined this scene many times before. The dramatic meeting again. I had seen it in my mind, but seeing her in person, all intentions and plans suddenly seemed inept. I walked toward her with a smile and eyes that didn’t blink and knew the one and only thing I could do was hug her.
    For a brief second or two, I amazingly found myself back in the arms of Alyssa Roberts. Her hair was soft against my cheek, her body slight. A slight scent of citrus covered her. I moved away and saw her staring at me, studying me without realizing she was doing it.
    “Good to see you,” I said.
    “Thanks for coming.”
    “I had a lot of other plans, I hope you know.”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Would you like anything else?”
    She shook her head and sat back down as I got myself coffee. I sat down across from her, studying the young girl who had grown into the woman across from me. She wore jeans and a white button-down shirt, untucked. She still could pose as a college student, even though she was probably thirty-two.
    “It’s good to see you,” I said.
    “You already said that.” She grinned.
    “I’m still in shock. I don’t know what to say.”
    “We never did have a proper farewell,” Alyssa said.
    “I’m used to doing improper things.”
    “You look well.”
    “Is that ‘well’ as in healthy, or is that a pause, as in, ‘well …’?”
    “I see your sarcasm is still alive and kicking.”
    I chuckled. “I do that when I get nervous.”
    “Jake Rivers, nervous?”
    “I can jump out of a plane, no problem. But this—well …”
    “Well,” Alyssa repeated with a smile.
    There was a decent crowd in the Starbucks at this time of night, but we ignored them. It felt surprisingly natural, sitting across from Alyssa and sipping on my latte.
    “So you own your own company?” she asked.
    “That makes it sound glamorous. The overhead is mine too.”
    “Do you enjoy it?”
    “Yeah, very much. It’s great to see something you’ve wanted to do slowly build into something halfway decent.”
    “Are you growing?”
    “Trying to.”
    “That’s good to hear.”
    The confidence in Alyssa was still there, along with her gentle nature. She had always carried a great mystery about her—this disciplined and controlled young woman who seemed like she had a huge heart. I had always wanted to see more of that heart. I was just too stupid and immature to get the chance.
    “Are you still teaching?” I asked.
    She nodded. “Just finished my ninth year.”
    “Must be going well.”
    “I never thought I’d be teaching for this long—but life can sometimes throw you a curveball.”
    I didn’t want to ask, because really, it was none of my business. But her unexpected call, her dramatic declaration that “it’s just me,” the lack of a wedding ring—they all said the same thing.
    And the