“I’m so jealous that you have Joy and Matty. Those two are the best. I almost considered moving up with that class, just so I could have them another year.”

Via’s ears perked up. “Matty Dorner?”

“Yup,” Cat answered. “And Joy Choi is his best friend. They’re the cutest. Utterly inseparable and so sweet with each other.” She placed a hand over her heart and rolled her eyes backward. “I love them.”

“I had Matty in pre-K. He’s such a great kid. So creative and smart. Always making little presents for everybody.”

Suddenly, Via was very aware of Sadie’s and Cat’s eyes on her like laser beams. She tried not to shift uncomfortably.

“So then,” Sadie replied, “you’re familiar with the fabulous Mr. Dorner.”

“Oh sure. I had Matty for a year, so we knew each other a bit.” A very little bit. Via had watched him go from disheveled, barely aware, grief-stricken dad to vaguely aware, semi-put-together, grief-stricken dad. She couldn’t exactly wax poetic on the man. Via studied the giddy energy coming off the two women.

“So, what’s his deal?” Cat asked, leaning closer, her elbow on the table and her temple leaning on one fist.

Oh. The pieces clicked into place. They were interested in Mr. Dorner gossip. She looked back and forth between Cat and Sadie. The flush in both of their cheeks and their wide eyes. Yet another piece clicked into place. They were attracted to him.

Huh.

He wasn’t Via’s type at all, so she hadn’t particularly noticed. She liked tall and lean. Dark hair and dark eyes. Like Evan. She was attracted to pretty men. And Sebastian was definitely...not pretty. His features were blunt and wide, almost plain, except for those light gray eyes. Even with his short, trimmed hair, he looked vaguely mountain mannish.

She looked back at the flushed faces of her colleagues. Well. To each their own.

“I don’t know much about him, really. Just that he’s a good dad.” She’d seen plenty of proof of that, especially toward the end of the year when he’d started to get his act together. She couldn’t imagine how hard that must have been after losing his wife. She’d gotten the impression that he’d been learning fatherhood from scratch. And he’d done well, in her opinion. Better than a lot of dads she’d had in the class. Of course, Via didn’t say a word of that out loud to Sadie and Cat.

“Does he date?” Cat asked, leaning forward a little more.

“Cat!” Sadie laughed. “What do you care? You’ve been married for a decade.”

“Morbid curiosity. And no curiosity-killed-the-cat jokes.” She pointed between them. “Just because I can’t buy doesn’t mean I can’t window-shop.”

“I honestly have no idea if he dates or not. I didn’t know him very well back then, and I’ve only run into him a time or two since.”

“Damn.” Sadie leaned back. “I really want some deets on that guy. I could never crack the egg when Matty was in my class.”