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Charming, I woulda had my lips all over that boy.”
    “Zack!”
    “What?”
    “My fiancé isn’t supposed to encourage me to kiss other men.”
    “Why? I’m not giving you any advice I wouldn’t follow myself. I mean, it woulda just been a hit-it-and-quit-it, ‘cause the last thing you need is to end up with that Romeo, but still. The way I see it, ain’t nothin’ wrong with samplin’ the frosting, as long as you don’t eat the whole damn cake.”
    “Frosting?” I laughed and rolled my eyes. “I don’t even wanna know what that means.”
    “Just an analogy, girl,” Zack said, grinning from ear to ear.
    “Speaking of Prince Charmings,” Kate said to him, “yours keeps calling.”
    “I’d better go get me some cake then!” Zack said. “I just wanted to see how your date went.”
    I smiled. “ Not a date.”
    “Right.” He chuckled. “Anyway, I’m glad you had a chance to say your goodbyes. But damn, girl, he’s hot. You’re stronger than I am, ‘cause I’da jumped on that.”
    “Saved by the bell,” I said when the phone rang. “I’d better get that.”
    He laughed and kissed my cheek. “Bye, girl.”
    “Bye.”
    “Hello?” I said when I picked up the phone.
    “Hi, honey. How was your date with Luke?” my dad asked.
    “Dad! Why does everyone think it was a date? Luke and I just… We just had some loose ends to tie up, and we parted on a good note.”
    “He’s a good guy, honey.”
    “I know how much you love him, and for that reason, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us to be together. I wanted them to, but he left me, remember?”
    “But you guys loved each other so deeply. You’re both single now, a little older and wiser maybe. Why not give it one more try?”
    “Not this time. Also, please don’t tell him about Zack. Luke doesn’t know I’m really single, and I’d like to keep it that way. It will be easier for him to move on that way.”
    “I won’t say a word, sweetheart. It’s not my place, and I’m not getting in the middle.”
    “Good. I’m hoping he’ll let go.”
    “I can set you up with Ron if you’d like,” my dad said.
    “I have his number.”
    “Well, give him a call. This fake groom of yours isn’t going to wine and dine you, honey. You’re not…his type, right?”
    “Dad! Zack’s one of my best friends.”
    “I know. I’m just saying that I’m so tired of seeing my little girl alone. All work and no play makes Julia a dull girl. You need to have some fun and go on a real date.”
    “Hmm. Maybe you’ve got a point. Maybe I’ll give him a call.”
    “That’s all I’m asking, that you think about it. You deserve to make some new happy memories, honey. Remember that life isn’t really life if you don’t get out there and live it.”
    “Well, coming from you, Dad, the almighty adventurer, I’ll take that as gospel!”
     
    Chapter 6
     
    “Tell me you’re not planning to wear that ,” Kate said, appalled by my ensemble for my Friday night date with Ron.
    “Why? What’s wrong with it?”
    “Oh, nothing…if you want to look like a virgin librarian.”
    “Huh?”
    “You should wear something a little less, uh…church lady and something a little sexier,” she said. “I have a little black dress you can borrow.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, I know the one. You’ve probably got matching eff-me heels too.”
    “Of course! Every girl needs a pair or two of those.”
    “Look, I’m not tryin’ to screw the guy on the first date. Besides, we’re only going to Red Lobster in Times Square. I want to keep it simple, and Ron said he’s been dying for lobster.”
    “Mmm. Those Cheddar Bay biscuits are always a big favorite of mine.”
    “Mine too. Trouble is, they tend to travel straight from my lips to my hips.”
    She laughed. “Well, you’ve always got Ron to help you burn off a few calories and carbs after, right?”
    I said nothing and offered her only an eye-roll, an entirely appropriate response.
    “I know it’s