The lighting remained dim; candles still flickered, giving it a romantic atmosphere. Jake, his dark, tousled hair hiding his face, was bent over, looking at his phone. She shivered. She couldn’t quite believe that it might happen, that it might work out with this funny, warm, up-for-anything guy.

The floor creaked as she approached the couch, and Jake looked up. It was as if a shadow had passed over him. His eyes looked dark, and his face had paled so much that she could see his midnight shadow beard.

“Is everything all right?” she asked, shocked at the change.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked down at his phone.

“Sometimes I don’t know how she knows,” he said. “My ex-girlfriend texted me—she’s got some crisis …”

“At one in the morning?”

“That’s when her emergencies happen,” he said sadly. “I probably should head over there and just make sure it’s nothing serious. It’s not that we’re together anymore, but I still feel responsible. I’m her closest friend here. We started dating shortly after she moved to the States, so she hasn’t made many other friends.” His eyes were looking intently into hers, as if to will her to understand. “And she’s a model, so it seems that the other women … are super-competitive. She can’t let them see her weak or distraught.”

It was a lot to take in.

“When did you break up?”

“A few months before I moved here.” His phone beeped again. He read the text.

“What’s the emergency? Is she okay?” she asked.

He looked up and shook his head, “She’s just young and she gets anxious, and she doesn’t take criticism or pressure well. And she needs a lot of attention. I’m being too harsh here . . . because of the circumstances.” He hesitated. “She seems happy when you first meet her. But there is a darker side underneath the gaiety.”

He typed a message. “I have to go.” He stood. She walked him to the door. He looked torn. He moved to kiss her cheek and she tilted her head so he ended up kissing near her ear. She didn’t want to be kissed if he was leaving to see his ex-girlfriend.

“Did you have a jacket?” she asked.

He said no and pulled her into a tight hug. It felt like he was drawing support from her. They parted, and he disappeared down the stairs.