My date is standing on the front sidewalk when I go looking for her. She taps the toe of her shoe against the pavement as she waits at the taxi stand. I wrap my hands around my mouth and call out, “Claire!”

She turns to face me, and then she rolls her eyes and turns away.

“Claire,” I say again as I walk closer. She doesn’t turn to face me. The tapping toe grows fierce. I touch her shoulder to turn her to face me, but she resists. “Are you leaving?”

She finally turns to face me. “Am I leaving?” she asks. “Am I leaving? Seriously?” She huffs out a breath and turns away again, crossing her arms in front of her.

What did I do wrong? “Are you angry at me?”

She turns back to me. “Why did you bring me here tonight?”

“Because there was a party and I thought it might be fun…” I say slowly. I watch her face for clues.

“Fun? You think watching you get stinking drunk while you stare at another woman is fun? Then you left with her, leaving me sitting there all by myself—”

“I had to see them out the back door. I came back,” I rush to say.

“How was I supposed to know that you were coming back?” she demands.

“Because I brought you here.” It seems very clear to me.

“How long have you been in love with her?”

“Who?” I ask, but I know exactly who she’s talking about.

“The brunette. The one you stared at all night long.”

I sputter out a nonsensical noise. “I’m not in love with her.”

“You know, when you asked me out at the last minute, I was really excited. I thought maybe this would be fun, and we could see where it goes. But this isn’t fun and I have no desire to see where it goes.” She turns away from me again.

“Claire,” I say softly.

She turns back to face me. “Why don’t you go after her?” she asks. I open my mouth to ask her who, but she stops me with a shushing motion. “Don’t ask me who! The brunette. Tell me her name so I can stop calling her the brunette.”

“Her name is Wren,” I mutter.

“Why don’t you go after Wren?”

“That…didn’t work out.”

Her face softens. “Why not?”

“She was at a bad place in her life and…” I shrug my shoulders.

“Sometimes people need someone else to walk into their bad place with them,” she says. “Go to her. Lead her out of it. Do whatever it takes, because you’re obviously in love with her.”

“It wouldn’t work.” She wouldn’t even take my calls.

“You should try.”

“I don’t think it would matter.”

She stares at me. “If you want her, you need to let her know.”

The cab pulls up to the corner and she steps up onto her toes to kiss me on the cheek. “If you ever want to take me out on a real date, try to get over her first, okay? It’s not fair otherwise.”

I nod and help her into the backseat. Then I give the driver some cash and tap the top of the vehicle. He pulls away.

What if she’s right?

I pull my phone out of my back pocket.

Ryan has changed the names in it again, but I find her.

Me: It was really nice to see you again.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: It was nice to see you too.

I squeeze my eyes tightly together. Because shit’s about to get real.

Me: I didn’t sleep with her.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Why not?

Me: I kind of have the hots for this one chick…

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: What’s she like?

Me: She’s smart and funny and kind. Sexy as hell. And she’s been a little sad.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Why is she sad?

Me: She lost something that was important to her. She’s been a little lost since then, I think.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: She sounds lonely.

Me: I think she needs a friend, and I’m applying for the job.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: She could use a friend…

Me: Do you want to go with me tomorrow night to a party? It’s a work thing. Kind of fancy.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Just as friends?

Me: BFFs

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Okay.

Me: I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 7. Wear something fancy.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: You could have slept with her if you wanted to.

Me: There’s only one woman I want to sleep with right now.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: I thought we were going to be BFFs.

Me: I’ll take what I can get.

GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: See you tomorrow at 7

Me: See you then.

I jam my phone back into my pocket and suddenly realize…shit did indeed get real.