“You might be right about that. Especially in your generation.”

“And Darren has a unique excuse for not knowing. His meals are made for him by his chef.”

“Goodness. Are you saying he’s rich?”

“He’s not like anyone I would ever think to find myself dating. He’s a businessman, he is rich. Born that way, I’m assuming, because he grew up in Atherton. We are so unalike, really. And not just because we’re on different ends of the socioeconomic scale.”

“There’s truth to ‘opposites attract.’”

“I guess. It feels strange and right at the same time. But I really don’t know him well enough. And then he invites me to Phuket, Thailand—”

“To where now?”

“Thailand.”

“Your guy invited you to Thailand. The country Thailand?”

I laugh. “When he first said Phuket, I thought he was referring to a restaurant.”

Coretta is quiet. “That’s a far place to go.”

“I know. My roommate, Amy, is dating his cousin, and she was invited, too. I mean, maybe flying off to Thailand is no big deal for them, but it is to me.”

“Your mother would be jealous.”

“And I am not my mother.”

“Going to Thailand doesn’t make you your mother.”

“I know. And unlike my mom, I have responsibilities that I take seriously. Class and work. Darren insisted I could work it out, and he’s right that I probably could. But should I even try?”

“Hmmm. How badly do you want to go to Thailand? And can you trust this guy?”

That’s the key question. And what does it say about me if I go?

“I think so,” I answer. “But how well can you know a guy after just a few weeks?”

“He must be head over heels for you to be asking you to Thailand.”

“You’d think, but that’s not the sense I get from him.”

“Then why’d he invite you to Thailand?”

“Because he wants company, and he’s interested in me at the moment.”

“What does your gut say?”

“That I can trust him, but it doesn’t seem reasonable to fly halfway ’round the world with someone I barely know. What do you think Grandma would say?”

“Well, she might feel like I do, which is a little nervous since I don’t know the guy, but she’d also be happy that you have the opportunity to experience a trip to Thailand. He’s paying, right?”

“Yeah. No way I can afford to go otherwise.”

“Your gut ever steer you wrong?”

I ponder the question. “Not really.”

“And you said your roommate’s going, too?”

“She’s very excited.”

“And her family’s letting her go?”

“I think she’s going regardless. Would you go?”

“Well, the farthest I’ve ever traveled is Florida. Still, my life is complete, with or without a trip to Thailand. But it is exciting. Like winning a big prize on a game show.”

“I’m not going to mourn the opportunity if I don’t go,” I consider aloud. “Who knows, this may not be my only opportunity to go.”