John could only shake his head at his mother’s audacity, wondering if she was somehow going to track down his old classmate and talk him into showing up for the date. As they rode and talked, John became uncomfortably aware of a glowing warmth in his chest. Like an ember he wasn’t sure how to put out. There was a panicky kind of momentum attached to it. Like if he paid too much attention to the feeling, he’d end up blowing on the ember and making it burst into flames. He really, really didn’t want it to burst into flames.

When their train was only a few stops away from Penn Station, John started to sweat in his dress shirt. When he’d agreed to ride with her, he hadn’t thought about Mary leaving the train. How did they usually part ways? A handshake? No. Should he stand? No. That was weird and formal for a train ride. He inwardly shuddered as he imagined publicly going in for a hug.

He’d settled on a wave and a tight-lipped smile as his safest bet when the train rolled into Penn Station.

“All right!” she said brightly. “See you on Friday. Don’t be late!” And just like that, like it was the easiest thing in the world, she placed one hand on John’s forearm, leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.

Before he could even stiffen in response, she was bouncing up with a final wave and striding off the train. John blinked after her. He ducked down to watch her weave through the crowd on the platform. If he hadn’t known it was crazy, he would have sworn there was some sort of traveling spotlight over top of her head, constantly setting that sunny hair of hers aflame.

She disappeared from view and the train pulled out of the station. John adjusted his messenger bag at his feet and pulled out the ream of paperwork he probably should have been doing while he’d been chatting with Mary instead.

Still, he couldn’t get the glowing warmth in his chest to just cool down already. It was distracting in its heat.