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here.”
    “Excellent.” I laughed. “I really appreciate this, Ethan.”
    “Glad to help.” His tone sounded like he meant it. “So, what time is your birthday bash on Saturday?”
    “We’re meeting at noon. On Folsom Lake.” Since Dana wasn’t his girlfriend, I needed to make it clear this was a friendly invite so he didn’t think (er, find out) I had a crush on him. “Some people are coming with their significant others, so bring a date if you’d like.”
    “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
    “Bye.” My stomach clenched as I turned my phone off.
    Surely, Ethan wouldn’t have thanked me for the date suggestion unless he planned to bring someone to my birthday party. But, who? He hadn’t mentioned he was seeing anyone.
    Suddenly feeling nauseated, I frowned. If the mere thought of Ethan with another woman bothered me this much, I didn’t want to know how it’d feel to see them together. I trudged down the hall, wishing I’d kept my big mouth shut on the whole date thing.
    ****
    The door chimed as I walked into Totally Fit that evening. Since I’d joined this gym during my sabbatical, I used to attend morning classes. Luckily, my favorite Zumba instructor also taught Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
    After the cool down and stretching, class ended but I remained sprawled out on the floor like limp spaghetti. “That was just what I needed, Mel.”
    “Glad to hear it.” The perky instructor turned off the music, tightened her ponytail, then her long blonde mane bounced onto one shoulder. “Are you staying for the Pilates class? I’m covering it for Erica tonight since she’s out on a hot date.”
    I rolled over onto my belly, and looked up at her. “I’m beat. But I think I’ll cool down on the treadmill for a few more minutes.”
    “Good idea.” She dropped down next to me with the bottoms of her feet together in butterfly position, then bobbed her knees up and down.
    Remembering how she’d opened up to me about her problems last time, I blurted, “How are things going? Any better?”
    “Ugh. It’s been one of those days.” Her legs froze, and she leaned forward, placing her elbows on the mat. “My step-sister got laid off. She’s put in applications everywhere, but nobody’s hiring. If she doesn’t get a job by the end of the month, she’s going to have to move in with our parents. Not a fun prospect at twenty-eight.”
    “No.” Moving in with my parents would’ve driven me nuts at any age. They bickered constantly, and evening dinners were always a battle of who had wronged who the most. Not times I treasured or cared to repeat on a nightly basis. Holidays were bad enough. “You still bummed it didn’t work out between you and Marcus?”
    Her mouth spread into a huge grin. “Nope. This guy who’s been flirting with me here at the gym asked me out. We’re gonna see a River Cats game tomorrow night at Raley Field.”
    “Good for you.” Actually, baseball bored me. I’d gone to a few games with Jake, but by the third inning, I’d pulled out my phone to read a romance novel. But, I was glad to see Mel in good spirits again. “I hope you have fun.”
    “Oh, I plan to.” She winked at me, then glanced up as the new class started trickling in.
    Marveling that she’d date so soon after her broken heart, I somehow gathered enough energy to pull myself off the floor. “See you Thursday.”
    Melanie waved, then started greeting the women who’d filed in.
    On noodle legs, I hobbled over to the treadmills, and popped on the only empty one. I set the speed for 2.5 miles per hour, hit the start button, then walked at a gingerly pace.
    “Kristen?” a deep male voice beside me said.
    Startled to hear my name, my head pivoted slowly until I was looking up into the smooth, mocha-brown eyes of the man in a slow jog next to me.
    I tripped, then grabbed the side rails to steady myself. “Ethan.”
    “Hey.” Keeping up his brisk pace, he smiled. “I didn’t know you worked out