“I think you might be getting ahead of yourself a bit there,” Lou said, even though the same thought had crossed her mind. She couldn’t help it. “Yes, it’s a date, but at the same time it’s just a date. What about you guys’ first date? Surely you didn’t turn up with the intention of having Yasmine and Toby one day.”

“That was a long time ago,” Phil said.

“Yes, we were still young and beautiful then,” Jared said. “These days we have our lesbian friend over for dinner and we have to live vicariously through your thrilling adventures in love.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, babe. There’s a time for everything in life. This is our time to be parents. I wouldn’t want to go back to being twenty-five and single. This,” he held up the spoon, “is so much better. By the way, dinner is ready.”

They sat to eat and, aside from a few stories of what the twins had been up to, and the unwittingly funny things they’d said since Lou had last seen Phil and Jared, the conversation kept gravitating back to Mia, and Lou’s upcoming date with her former nemesis.

“The hot ones are usually the ones with the most difficult character,” Jared said, “that’s why I had to settle for Phil.” He blew his husband a kiss.

“And I for you, my dear.”

“But maybe it’s different for women. I mean, you’re pretty hot, Lou, and you’re the kindest, sweetest person I know. Maybe women can have it all.”

“Come off it. Looks don’t have that much to do with it in the end. Yes, I think Mia is hot. But that didn’t mean a thing to me when I first saw her.”

“You come off it,” Jared said. “Looks do matter.”

“Well, yes, but not as much as you would think. Plus, it’s not because I find Mia good-looking that anyone else would.”

“We both think she’s very pretty,” Phil said.

“Okay, fine, she’s pretty. All I was trying to say is that I’ve seen beyond her pretty face now, and that’s what matters to me. I would never have been attracted to her if I hadn’t.”

“She’s a totally different type than Angie, though,” Jared said.

“That’s exactly my point,” Lou said. “I don’t believe much in types and instant attraction and all of that, and I wouldn’t want you to think that I’ve decided to go on a date with Mia just because she’s my type or because I find her physically attractive. I asked her out because, despite our past, I really like her. She moves something in me. And I need to find out what it is.”

“Dear Lou, I would never suspect you of such shallowness,” Phil said. “And you’d better have room for dessert.”

Chapter Twenty-Two