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smiled shyly, picking at an imaginary spot on the counter.
    When I didn’t respond, he continued, “Listen, I really am sorry. I don’t normally turn into Dr. Phil when talking to a pretty girl. I guess I was just trying to find something to talk about so that you wouldn’t turn around and go back down that hall to bed. Let’s talk about something else.” He looked around the room, scrambling for something new to talk about. “So, how about this weather?”
    I looked back up at him and my stone heart cracked just a little bit at his adorable awkwardness as he tried to backpedal. I felt bad for being so standoffish and wondered if maybe talking to someone who I didn’t have to see again would make me feel better. I took a deep breath and decided to go for it, hoping talking about my past, just a little, would feel therapeutic, not painful.
    “No, he doesn’t see them. He left right before their first birthday. I haven’t seen him since. I don’t even know where he is,” I blurted out, one sentence right after the other.
    “Wow, he left you ?” He looked at me incredulously, shaking his head. “What an idiot.”
    His comment embarrassed me slightly, but also made my heart soar. It had been a long time since a man had complimented me, and never someone as good-looking as Brody. I didn’t have time to respond before he continued his inquiry into my past.
    “So, that was like four years ago, right? Have you dated since?”
    I quickly thought about yawning or faking a sudden headache and going off to bed, but what I did next surprised even me. For once, I didn’t feel like running. Talking to Brody and looking into his sincere, green eyes was comfortable, like I had been friends with him for years.
    “I’ve dated a little here and there, nothing serious. I’m pretty picky about who I go out with.”
    “Picky? How come?”
    “My life isn’t just about me anymore. I’m dragging two innocent little girls along on this ride, so I definitely have a pretty solid idea of what I want in a partner.”
    “Partner. Hmm, that sounds so … official. We’ll get back to that—right now, though, I’m dying to know these qualities you’re looking for.”
    He pulled the stool out, sat down and leaned in closer, anxious to hear what I was going to say next.
    I pulled out the other stool and followed suit.
    “Well … he has to be responsible, stable, grounded…”
    Brody’s face was unreadable, as though he couldn’t compute what I had just said.
    “What?” I asked him defensively.
    He didn’t answer, he just dropped his head into his arms and pretended to snore, loudly.
    I reached over and smacked his arm. “Knock it off!”
    His head snapped back up, and he looked bewildered. “Why the hell would you want that guy? He sounds like a total buzzkill.”
    “He’s not a buzzkill, he’s responsible. A good role model for the girls.”
    “No way! The girls are five. They have you to be their good role model. They want someone who will stomp around in the mud with them and let them stay up late and eat junk food when you’re not home. They need someone fun. Sounds like you do too.”
    “I have fun!” I blurted out.
    “Calm down, Killer, I wasn’t being mean. I think all the qualities you want in a guy are … nice. I just think you also need someone who will show you how fun life can be. Ya know, make it exciting too. Don’t you want that?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s not really a priority to me. I just need someone who is willing to take on the dad role and not bail when it gets tough.”
    Saying that sentence out loud made a huge lump form in my throat.
    “Your own happiness isn’t a priority?” Brody looked at me with wide, shocked eyes. “Wow. That’s incredible. How will your girls ever be happy if you aren’t?”
    “I don’t know. I never really thought about that,” I said quietly.
    “Well, how about this … how about you let me come back up here in a week and show you a