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I can’t help but imagine what it would be like if I were the one bringing him here as my partner. What would they say then? They certainly wouldn’t be as politely indifferent as they are now. That’s all I want. No fuss, just the acknowledgment that there’s someone who . . . Except that person will never be Parker.

A weight settles on my shoulders.

Parker glances around, and his gaze lingers on me. “I didn’t even know you guys were out today.” Does he sound accusatory? Aren’t we allowed to meet outside of the appointments his agency has arranged for us?

Valentina knows what she’s doing. I peer at her, but she pulls Parker closer. “That’s right, we didn’t tell you. Sorry. But Sid’s birthday is only once a year.”

Our rookie beams at my date as if she were the sun and the moon in one.

“That’s right.”

“Ah.” Parker’s astonishment is obvious. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I was just surprised.”

Blake steps up beside me. “Is that your mutual friend?”

I nod silently.

“Hmm,” he says. “Why don’t you come along next time, Parker? Valentina’s friends are our friends, too.”

Parker turns pale as a sheet. “Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly accept that. Never mind. I don’t want to impose. I’m . . . ”

“Yeah, what are you even doing here? In the middle of the night, all by yourself.” Valentina sounds almost accusatory.

But a completely different concern wells up inside me. Is Parker on his way to a date? Is that why he’s out?

He points to the shop next to the restaurant we’d just been in. “I’m here to pick up my food. I only got out of the office now, and the Indian street food here is simply the best in town.”

I take a closer look at the place. It is a small Indian restaurant.

“Did you walk all the way here from the office?” Valentina seems genuinely shocked. The walk from his office to downtown is far.

Smiling, he waves her off. “Of course not. I stopped by my apartment first. But I didn’t have anything left in the fridge.”

Does he live around here? I check the area, as if an arrow labeled “This is Parker’s apartment” were about to pop up somewhere.

“All right. So, you don’t have far to go.” Valentina is well informed. Unlike me.

No matter how much I enjoy her company, the realization sits heavy in my stomach.

Katleen gives me a big hug. “Our car’s here.”

I look around. Blake pulls Katleen into the car with him. The others have already slipped away. Only Sid, Valentina, Parker, and I are still standing on the sidewalk.

A car pulls up. I point to it. “That’s us, Valentina.”

Parker takes a step back and smiles.

As I walk toward the car, Sid steps between us. “You know, you have to go in the completely opposite direction of your apartment. If you want, I can ride with Valentina. No problem. We both live in the Village.”

That’s true, and it would be more practical, but Sid can’t even look at me. His gaze darts around nervously.

“No, that’s not necessary,” I reply. “And what about your car, Sid?”

“I didn’t order one yet. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone first,” he says so calmly that I can hardly believe him.

To my utter surprise, Valentina grabs my arm. “It really isn’t a big deal. You don’t have to drive all the way across town twice for me. You have to head out tomorrow, and it’s not practical from my apartment.” She plants a kiss on the corner of my mouth and leans close to my ear. “Make sure Parker gets home safely. I really don’t like that he’s out there all by himself.”

I look up and meet his gaze. He quickly lowers his head.