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I resume pacing in the living room—it helps me think. Then I pull out my phone because one thing is for sure: I won’t survive this date without Zevulun.

Me: I planned something kind of stupid.

Zev: Did you want to share? I’m all ears.

Me: And I need your help.

Zev: To do this stupid thing?

Me: Yes.

Me: Are you in?

Zev: Do I get to know what it is first?

Me: No. Are you in?

Zev: You’ll be there?

My cheeks flush with warmth. We may only be friends, but Zev knows how to make a girl feel seen.

Me: I’ll be there.

Zev: Then I’m in.

If I weren’t struggling with feelings for someone else right now—someone I absolutely cannot have—I would have to take more than a minute to admire how absolutely adorable Zevulun Hayes is.

Only—one problem at a time.

Zev: Do I get to know now?

Me: Robert texted me.

Me: He invited us out on a double date.

Zev: You’re kidding.

Zev: You cannot be serious.

Me: I am dead serious. More dead than the hamster I had back in third grade, who I insisted was sleeping soundly rather than what she was, a furry little corpse.

Might as well rip off the band-aid.

Me: And I accepted.

Silence. Thought bubbles. The man has nothing left to say. He is about to unfriend me. Any second now…

Me: Zev?

Zev: I’m here.

Me: You think I’m foolish.

Zev: I think the situation is bizarre. I don’t understand why your married ex would invite you to do anything.

Me: Maybe he wants to be friends. Robert was important to me once. I would much rather be friends with him than harbor ill feelings.

Me: Will you come with me?