“Kevin was a jerk,” Eve said. “And he was the worst kind of jerk because he seemed like a good guy. Even I was taken in. But you can’t let him define you.”’

“I’m not. I still think I can be promoted to partner.” She shifted in her seat. Or so she had thought—before Winnie’s news.

“Given how much you work, it makes sense you’d meet someone in the office.” Eve ate her last bite.

“Someone online asked me for a date this Saturday.”

“And you said yes, right?”

“No,” Audrey said. She kept forgetting to take down her online dating profile. She really had to add it to her to-do list. No time for dating now. “I haven’t replied.”

“Say yes, now.”

She should tell Eve about Winnie’s news, but Eve always argued that she should be able to date while being a lawyer. “Does that mean I can get my phone?”

“Okay. You can have five minutes on your phone to say yes and check your work email. I’ll get dessert.”

Audrey carried their dishes into her apartment and deposited them in her sink. She’d do clean-up. She picked up her phone and typed yes to the date. He had seemed funny—he’d made a joke about being a workaholic, and she was taking Saturday off to re-charge.

Eve brought out a strawberry-rhubarb pie for dessert, and they sat back outside in the balmy evening air. Audrey took a bite, the tart flavors of the berries and rhubarb exploding on her tongue. As they threw around ideas to kickstart Eve’s catering business, Audrey suggested she throw a party to show off Eve’s appetizers and desserts. It would have the added benefit of being one last chance to see all her friends before she buckled down into a black hole to make partner. Eve agreed. The garden next door was now packed with people. “The Man” by Taylor Swift was playing, and some guests were swaying to the music. Glass clinked in a toast between several beer bottles. Audrey helped herself to a second sliver of pie. The rest was for Pete.

“Okay, I see him. He’s in the light gray shirt by the bar talking to the girl in red.” Audrey looked away so he wouldn’t see both of them checking him out.

“Mmm, yes, he’s hot.” Eve nodded and smiled mischievously at Audrey. “And they say fairy godmothers don’t exist. Definitely what I was wishing for you. He has the same type of looks as that guy you had a crush on in college but never asked out.”

Suddenly a male voice broke through their conversation. “Juliet, Juliet, wherefore art thou? Fair maidens, come down and join the party.” A guy beckoned to them from the party in the garden below.