“Ask her again,” said Bob. “If she says no again, you’ll know, and you can start getting over it.” I’m familiar with the process, he thought to himself, and you might as well begin immediately.

“Plus, she might say yes this time,” said Laura.

Maggie cleared her throat. “Yes, it’s a good idea to tell someone when you’re interested in them, rather than pretending you’re only friends.”

“Or roommates,” added Anna.

“Especially,” added Libby, “when everyone else can see how you feel and it’s driving them all a little crazy that you’re not acting on it.”

Then all of them looked at Bob and Laura, who were completely oblivious and still nodding at Asher.

Even he raised his eyebrows at them, but then he smacked the table and got to his feet.

“I’ll do it,” he said, and left the room.

Laura was excited and looked around the table. Everyone was staring at her.

“What?” she said.

•   •   •

Polly was halfway down the driveway when Asher caught up with her.

“Wait,” he said. “I need to talk to you.”

Polly turned and smiled at him. She loved his face, the way it moved all the time, changing constantly in reaction to the things she said and did. It made saying and doing things so much more amusing.

“Polly,” he said, in a rush, worried he wouldn’t get it out otherwise, “are you seeing someone?”

She frowned, and shook her head. “No, I’m hanging out with friends.” She looked at her phone. “I have to go . . .”

But Asher had a head of steam up.

“Because here’s the thing, Polly. I had that whole thing with whatsername . . .”

“Madeleine?” said Polly, raising her eyebrow. “The one who broke your heart and destroyed your confidence? The one you hid from for several years in another country? The one your mother would like to run out of town?”

“Yes, that one,” said Asher impatiently, “but this isn’t about her, it’s about you.”

“You were the one who brought her up.”

Asher felt himself losing the thread. “I know, but you don’t make me feel like she did.”

Polly frowned. “I don’t make you feel like hiding in a foreign country? Uh . . . thanks?”

“No,” he said. “Why do you always do this?”

“Do what?”

“Confuse me.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, I seem to do it a lot, though.”

Asher reached out and took her hands in his. “Polly, you’re incredibly attractive.”

“True,” said Polly.

“But that’s not what I love about you. I love that when I’m with you—assuming you’re not driving me insane with confusion—I feel happy.”

Polly stared at him.