Kelly took a breath. “You did nothing wrong. You were perfect. You are kind and you listen and you’re generous. There is nothing wrong with you.”

He was looking at her as though he was in pain. “Then why have you avoided me?”

“What you and I were doing was dating.” Her voice was rising. “Movies, TV nights, shopping. We even spent the night together!”

They were interrupted by a cough. “Uh, I hate to bother you, Adam. I can see you’re, uh, busy, but I’d like to talk to you. Monday, maybe?”

“Sure.” Adam’s eyes never left Kelly.

“Here’s my card,” the man said. When he didn’t take it, the man slipped it into Adam’s shirt pocket. He looked from one to the other. “I’ll let you two get back to it.”

“Who was that?” Kelly asked.

“A coach I know,” Adam said. “You and I weren’t dating. We are friends, that’s all.”

She tightened her lips. “Okay, so let’s go back in there and tell everyone what we did together. Let’s get it all out in the open and see what people say.”

When he didn’t reply, she lowered her voice. “Adam, you’re taken. You’re temporary.”

“And Miguel is permanent?”

She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Before tonight, I spent an hour with him, that’s all. But everyone is marrying me off to him. It’s bizarre.”

Three men came out of the restroom, laughing, and one bumped into Adam. He was shoved against Kelly.

“Sorry, man,” the guy said.

“It’s fine.” Adam didn’t move away from Kelly.

“I can see that it is,” the man said, and his friends laughed with him.

“Watch yourselves.” Adam sounded threatening.

“Adam!” Kelly snapped.

He looked at her and she glared back. He was still up against her. “Oh. Right. Sorry.” He stepped away. “Xander misses you.”

“I miss him, too.” She was softening toward him. Maybe she’d been too harsh. “We better go back.”

“The apartment is the same as when you were there,” he said.

All Kelly’s good thoughts left her. “You and Vera didn’t mess it up on your wild weekends?”

He looked astonished. “What are you talking about? We—”

Turning, she walked away. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

As soon as Kelly left the table, with Adam just steps behind her, Vera turned to Miguel. Her eyes were furious. “You asked her out just to get back at me, didn’t you?”

Miguel smiled. “I have no idea what you mean. Kelly’s single and so am I. We’re a perfect match. We would unite our families.”