I can’t wait to dig into this advice column, but David looks sick. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting this. I mean, an advice column is kind of cheesy. But its purpose is to spice up the paper. We’re solid on news, features, opinions, sports—you name it. This column will get people’s attention. At least the way I intend to write it. But I have to get David on board with this first. The problem is he’s already doing me a huge favor. I know he’s not thrilled at the idea of us having to work so closely together after everything we’ve been through. Yet he’s bailing me out for the second time this week because he’s a great guy. A great guy who also happened to kiss me last night. A great guy who clearly wants to be with me despite having let me go.

I wipe the tears from my eyes, which I’m not convinced are from the shear hilarity of that topic Aria and Mr. M. concocted. Now they’re tears for hurting David this way. I never meant for this to happen. “Excuse me. I think I have an eyelash in my eye or something.” I stand up and rush for the bathroom, needing to put some distance between David and me. I splash cold water onto my face and stare at my reflection. My hair is still damp from my shower, I have no makeup on, and my eyes are bloodshot. Very attractive. Though maybe that’s good. Maybe if I continue to walk around the apartment looking like hell, David will get over me and move on to someone else. The thought makes my chest ache, but I don’t allow myself to focus on that. I can’t have it both ways. I can’t have him and push him away at the same time. It’s not fair to either of us.

I take a deep breath, knowing what I need to do. I dab my face with a hand towel, refold it, and place it back on the towel bar. Then I head back to the living room. “Hey, do you mind if we work on the column tomorrow? I sort of have a date this evening, and Tara and I are supposed to go shopping before it.” All lies, but if things go as planned, I’ll make both things into reality. Sebastian gave me his number last night and told me to call him if I was up for dinner tonight. As sweet as he is, no part of me intended to call him. Until now.

David stands up and starts for his room. “No problem. I actually have plans for today, too, so that works out well.” He avoids my eyes as he walks into his room and shuts the door.

I can’t help wondering if he’s lying to try to save face, but I also know that allowing him to do so is the kindest thing I can do for him right now. I go to my room and put on my makeup while I call Tara.

“Hey,” she says. “How much did you let me drink last night? I just woke up ten minutes ago.”

“I didn’t let you do anything. You could have paced yourself like I did.” I sit down at my vanity and start fixing my hair.

“Paced yourself? You had two beers all night and then switched to water. It was like being out with a nun.”

I laugh. “Do nuns frequent bars?” I finish brushing my hair, pulling half of it up, and start on my makeup. Not that I wear much. A little blush, a little eye shadow, and some eyeliner, and I’m good to go.

“You know what I mean.”

“Are you too hungover to go shopping with me?” I ask in a way that makes it seem like we discussed a shopping trip last night while she was drinking.

“Oh, um, I should be fine. I just took aspirin, and I’m drinking water as we speak. Can you drive, though?”

I feel a little guilty for tricking her, but I need her opinion on this whole David situation. “Sure. Pick you up in an hour?” I figure with how slow she’s probably moving, that’s the soonest I can hope for. Still, it keeps me in this apartment for a lot longer than I’d like.

“Yeah, see you then.” She hangs up.

Now the hard part. I have to text Sebastian. What do I say to the guy who seems so nice and looks like one of my biggest celebrity crushes? And is it wrong for me to agree to go out with him just because I’m trying to avoid David’s feelings for me?

I know the answer to that. Yes. I don’t want to use Sebastian. I put my phone down. Maybe I’ll tell David I’m seeing someone and leave Sebastian out of it. That’s a harmless enough lie, and everyone’s feelings should be spared in the end. I hope.

An hour later, I’m pulling up to Tara’s apartment. She lives in a cute Victorian house that was sectioned into four apartments. I’m a little envious of the fact that she has an actual yard. Sure, she shares it with four other residents, but at least she has a space where she can lay out in the sun, read a book, and enjoy the fresh air. Most of the housing options for single people in Priority are apartment complexes like David’s—mine now. It’s the price you pay for living in a city.

I beep my horn, hoping to avoid Tara’s neighbor, Mr. Rumson, who is always sitting on the front porch. He’s in his late seventies and has grabby hands. He’s one of those old people who thinks he can do whatever he wants and get away with it because of his age. Tara’s gotten used to me beeping and not getting out of the car anymore after Mr. Rumson used his cane to lift my sundress about three weeks ago.

“Hey,” Tara says, getting into the passenger seat. She looks much better than I thought she would.

“How do you recover so quickly?” I ask her.

“I had a beer,” she says, putting on her seat belt. “It’s like an instant cure for a hangover.” She pulls a pack of gum from her purse and holds it out to me. “Want a piece?”

“I’m not the one drinking in the middle of the day.” I smile at her as I back out of the parking spot.

Mr. Rumson raises his cane to get my attention, so I lower the window. “How come you never come see me anymore?” he yells.

“Sorry, Mr. Rumson, but my heart belongs to another,” I call before pulling onto the road and driving away.

“And would you be talking about David or Sebastian?” Tara asks.

“Neither. I only said that to get Mr. Rumson off my case.” I turn onto the highway and head for the mall. I haven’t been there in a while, and they recently renovated to include a huge movie theater and several new stores, so I figured I’d check it out.

She gives me the side eye before saying, “So are you going to call Sebastian?”

I shrug. “I thought about it, but do I really want another repeat of me and David?”

“What do you mean? Do you plan on moving in with Sebastian, too?” She laughs and then places her hand on my shoulder. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

“You’re so funny.” I roll my eyes as I turn off at the mall exit. “You know what I mean. I’m not looking for a relationship. I just got offered this great column at For the Record—well, David and I were offered it—”

“Wait,” Tara practically yells. “You and David are going to be writing a column together? So you’ll be living together, working together, and writing a column together? For someone who claims she’s not ready to commit to anyone, you certainly set yourself up to spend every waking moment with that man.”

I pull into the parking garage and find a spot near the stairs. I park and cut the engine. “It’s not like I planned it this way. We were offered the column today. That’s sort of why I’m here with you and not at the apartment.”

She unclicks her seat belt and turns to face me. “What do you mean?”

“I needed to get out of there. He told our boss that he couldn’t do the column. He only agreed to it because I practically begged him.”

“Begged him how? What exactly did you do that made you run out of the apartment and drag me to the mall of all places?” Her head is cocked, waiting for some torrid tale of hot sex.

“I asked him. You know David. He’s a sweetheart.”

“So you batted your eyelashes and he gave in.” She nods. “Makes sense. I mean, you did the same thing when you broke it off with him, and he reacted the same way. The man is a saint or something. That or he enjoys torturing himself.”

“You’re making me seem like a manipulative...” I’m afraid to finish my own thought.

Tara places her hand on my knee. “No, no. Emily, don’t get me wrong. I know you’re not doing any of this intentionally. David just seems to cave when it comes to you. Like he’d rather you be happy than be happy himself, if that makes sense.”

“That’s awful. I don’t want him to sacrifice his happiness for me.” But how do I make him stop? I don’t want to lose him as my friend either, but am I asking too much of him? “What do I do, Tara?” I’m on the verge of tears, and my voice is shaking uncontrollably.

“Did you like Sebastian at all?” she asks.

I hitch a shoulder at the question. “I guess so. I mean, he’s sweet and I enjoyed talking to him.”

“And he looks like Dean Winchester. Let’s not forget about that.”

I smile. “He does.”

“So, do you think there’s any chance you’d be willing to date him, given he’s not looking for anything serious?”

“But how will I know? We aren’t in high school or even college anymore, Tara. It’s not like I can have you call him and find out if he’s willing to date me and keep things casual.”

“No, I can’t. But you can.” She takes my phone from the cup holder in the center console, where I always keep it when I’m driving. “Call him and be upfront. Say you’re not looking for anything serious, and if that’s okay with him, you’d love to grab dinner sometime.”

I guess I could do that. It’s what I probably should have done with David, though I’m not sure it would have made a difference with him. He’s too caring. I think he would have developed feelings for me either way.

“Do you want me to dial for you?” Tara asks.

“No.” I take my phone from her and pull up his number in my contacts. Then I take a deep breath before connecting the call. It rings twice before Sebastian answers.

“Hello?” His tone is full of question, probably because I never gave him my number and he has no idea who he’s talking to yet.

“Sebastian, it’s Emily. From Last Call,” I add.

“Emily, hi. I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from you.”

I can practically hear the smile in his voice. “Well, here’s the thing.” Best to just get it out there. “I’m not looking for anything serious right now, but I had a good time talking to you last night. So, if you’re okay with keeping things casual, I’d really like to have dinner with you.”

“Great. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Are you free tonight?”

That was almost too easy. Tara’s eyes widen, and she mouths, “Well?”

“Tonight would be great. Where did you have in mind? I can meet you there.” Best to meet him instead of having him show up at the apartment. I want David to know I’m dating, but I don’t want to make him watch me do it. That would be cruel.

“How about Bella Noche?”

“I love that place. Eight o’clock work for you?”

“I’ll make the reservation,” he says. “See you then.”

“See you then,” I repeat before hanging up.

“See. That was easy. Now David will see you’re moving on, and he’ll do the same.” Tara opens her car door and steps out.

Boy, do I hope she’s right because I can’t take the idea of hurting David anymore.