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patient.”
    “That’s impossible. I don’t have favorites.” Her words were playful.
    “Does that mean you give out your number a lot?”
    “No—not too often.” She laughed. “How’re you doing, Jake?”
    A thrill ran through me when she said my name. I assumed she remembered me, but it was nice to hear it. “I’m doing all right.”
    “Feeling better?”
    “Much. I get tired a lot though.”
    “That’s pretty normal.” Her voice was soft, just like I imagined her skin feeling.
    “How’re you doing?”
    “All right. I’ve just been working.”
    “Any chance you want to do something else? Maybe get dinner sometime?” I was ready to break my cardinal rule. You always do coffee on the first date in case it’s a disaster. But this wouldn’t be a disaster, and coffee wouldn’t be long enough.
    “I’m working most of this week. This is my only night off.”
    “Then how about tonight?” I knew it was a long shot, but she’d just admitted she didn’t have much going on.
    “Won’t I seem desperate if I say yes?”
    “I already sound desperate. Why not join the club?”
    “Do you want me to come to you? If you can’t drive or anything…”
    She was fishing for information.
    “Unfortunately, you’re right. I can try to get a ride.” I cringed at the thought of asking. Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered calling her.
    “That’s okay. I’ve heard a lot about Clayton Falls.”
    “Yeah? So you want to meet here?”
    “Sure. But how about we make it early, so I get home at a decent time?”
    I wouldn’t have argued about anything. “It’s only eleven…want to make it lunch?”
    “Oh. That would be great.” She sounded relieved.
    “Okay, cool. Is noon too soon?”
    “No. Not at all. Do you want me to pick you up?” There were muffled sounds like she was moving around. Maybe she was getting ready.
    “If you don’t mind…” Man, it felt weird for a girl to be asking that.
    “It’s fine. I just need your address.”
    I gave it to her. “Call if you get lost or anything, but it’s really just a straight shot.”
    “It’ll be fine. See you soon.”
    “Great. See ya.”

Chapter Seven
Emily

    “You’ll never guess where I’m going right now.” I had Mel on speakerphone as I drove.
    “Where?”
    “You’re not even going to try?”
    “You told me I wouldn’t guess, so why bother?”
    You had to love Mel’s attitude. “Clayton Falls.”
    “Are you seeing Jake?”
    “It’s good we never actually made a bet. He called me.” I’d been smiling so much since he called that my face was starting to hurt.
    “When? You’ve been holding out on me.”
    “Forty-five minutes ago. And don’t start. This is my only day off this week.” I checked my blind spot before changing lanes. You knew someone was driving slow when I had to pass them.
    “I wasn’t going to say anything. Any date is a good thing for you. But he’s making you go to him?”
    “He lost his license. He got a DUI, remember?”
    “Yeah, that makes sense.” I heard a ding. She must have been in the elevator.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m just grabbing lunch. I was going to bring you over a sandwich, but obviously you don’t need one.”
    “This isn’t crazy, is it?” I gripped the wheel tighter.
    “Maybe a little, but who cares?”
    “It’s not like it’s ever going to become anything. It’s just one lunch.”
    “Tell yourself whatever it takes.” She made that clicking sound with her tongue she always makes when she doesn’t believe someone.
    “Come on, he’ll be gone the second he hears about Noah.”
    “You don’t know that.” A horn wailed.
    “Messing with traffic again?”
    “Don’t change the subject. You can’t spend your whole life on the sidelines because of Noah—he doesn’t want you to.”
    “He doesn’t know what he wants.”
    “Still, you can’t.”
    “I don’t need this speech again. I’m on my way to a date, remember?” I saw the first sign for the exit to