I snort. “Oh really? Let’s look at the evidence.” I scroll through the photos on my phone. I’m sure I have pictures of Rory with his last few girlfriends at various events. All of whom will be gorgeous and tall. Rory and Marie, five-foot-eleven-inches and blonde. She was so sweet and together. Here’s a picture of Ayanna, his college girlfriend, from Rory’s Halloween party last year. She’s five-foot-eight, stunning, funny, smart, always up for midnight snacks after dancing. She was my favorite, but now she’s engaged. We still chat sometimes on Instagram.

“Okay, okay.” He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “No pictures of Callie, huh? Didn’t you like Callie?”

“I didn’t like Callie.”

“Hmm.” He looks down at the table.

“Are you sure you don’t have commitment issues? These women seemed pretty magical to me.” Sometimes I can’t decide if Rory has commitment issues or he’s such a romantic, that if the relationship is not absolutely perfect, he moves on.

He winces. “I don’t think so. But it’s important that the relationship feels right.” He runs his hand through his hair, which makes his brown wavy hair look even more tousled. “I feel like I’m parroting my dad.” His dad is a psychologist who does couples counseling. He faces me. “So, you’re saying no one will believe I’m dating you because you’re five-foot-five?” He pulls one of my curls and it snaps back. He loves to do this.

I roll my eyes at him. “Whatever. I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend if it will help. It will be great research for my next book.”

He smiles, and that dimple in his right cheek appears. “Great, then we’re on for Thursday. We’re having an event with the client that night.” A roguish glint comes into his eyes.

I look over at the hostess stand, where Jamie now stands with his new girlfriend. He’s wearing this blue shirt that’s my favorite on him. I can’t see his girlfriend Marla’s face, but Jamie is helping her take off her coat to give it to the hostess. An empty pit forms in my stomach. He wasn’t even willing to meet me alone. And I had to be the one to suggest we meet. And then I got the lunch slot.

I ask, “Should we start now and see if we can fool Jamie? That will certainly persuade Jamie I’m over him.”

“It may even make him jealous.”

I laugh. “I don’t think so. And anyway, I’m over him.” If I repeat it enough, it will come true.

Rory nods, but it’s that “you’re a poor deluded soul” nod. “He may see you in a new light. As opposed to a completely self-sufficient sister type.”