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thinking about what my dad had gone through brought tears to my eyes.
    His expression softened. “Mel, what’s wrong?” He reached for my hands. “Do you want to go somewhere and talk?”
    His hands were especially warm in the cool evening air and chills radiated up my arms from his touch. No. I would not fall for him. I couldn’t. It wouldn’t last and I’d be the one left hurting in the end.
    I jerked my hands out of his, suddenly angry. “You know, it’s hard not to take you seriously when you act like this.”
    He frowned and took a step back. “Act? You think this is an act?”
    “Of course it’s an act. Last week it’s the brunette at the dance club, at lunch today it’s the girl in the sexy business suit, and tonight…who knows with you? You’re just a—” My cheeks puffed out and all the frustration of the past two days burst from inside me, “You’re such a player!”
    His brows flew up. “You think that of me?”
    His gaze had always been warm in the past, but the look he gave me left me chilled to my core. My eyes burned and I immediately wanted to take my words back.
    His jaw set and he stared at me a moment longer, cold and empty. “Eileen, who you met at The Oasis, is someone I dated twice. I’m single and there’s no law against that. The girl at lunch today was my sister. She’s up from L.A. this week and I wanted to introduce you, but you and your friend busted out of the restaurant so fast I didn’t get the chance.”
    His sister? I bit my lip, feeling like a fool. “I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “At least now I know what you think of me.” He laughed bitterly. “I thought we were friends but….”
    He shook his head. “What have I ever done to give you that impression of me? Just because I’m getting my PhD, do you think I’m in that college dating mode or something?”
    “No, I—”
    “No. You just think that little of me, of my integrity.” With his jaw tight, he slid his hands in his pockets, and took a step backward. “Have a nice dinner with your parents.”
    “Matt….” My lower lip trembled as he hurried down the sidewalk and disappeared around the corner. I leaned against the brick wall for support. He was gone. My eyes were hot and my throat went tight. It felt like my heart had been ripped out.
    I’d been wrong about him being a player. My mistake may have cost me his friendship. A mistake I’d made with Erica’s help. As I marched to Betty, I pulled out my cell phone. Erica had some serious explaining to do.
    ****
    At eight o’clock, I screeched Betty into my parents’ driveway and slammed her into park in front of their three-car garage. I hit redial and it went straight to Erica’s voicemail again.
    “Me again.” I tried not to sound as angry as I felt. “I don’t care how late it is, just call me.”
    I’d thought about canceling on dinner, but with Kaitlin’s “big news,” my parents would freak if I didn’t show. I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror, wiped under my eyes, then combed my hands through my hair, which was still damp.
    I hopped out of the car, wanting to get dinner over with as quickly as possible. I didn’t know if I could put on a happy face even though it was expected of me.
    When I turned the knob on my parents’ front door, nothing happened. Locked. The muscles in my arms went tight and it was all I could do not to scream. Why-oh-why did they lock the front door when they knew I was coming over?
    I rang the bell, vowing that the second Kaitlin spilled her news I’d be out of there. Checking my cell—no return call or text from Erica—I rang again, then finally heard the deadbolt unclick.
    As the front door opened, I tried my hardest to paste a perky smile on my face.
    Then the door opened and my smile dropped. Standing in my parents’ foyer was Paul DeWitt—the investment counselor who’d broken my heart a month and a half ago.
    “Paul,” I said, unable to conceal my shock. I’d