I held up my glass to Brie. She did the same. We did an air toast. Jorge and I wended through the throng until he deposited me at a table. He said, “I’ll be right behind you if you need anything, Doctor.”

“I’m fine.” Jorge was pale. I said, “Are you all right?”

“I just thought I lost you. The boss would kill me.”

“I would never let that happen,” I told him.

Jorge smiled at me. First time ever. I sat with my bubbly and watched Chris do his thing, reliving high school all over again. When I first broke up with him, before the first time I really broke up with him … I was still a teenager in love with him, and every time I tried to approach him to make amends for our rift, he used the opportunity to make out with his girlfriend.

Just to spite me.

Which in retrospect was weird, because Chris wasn’t into kissing. As we went further in our relationship, I came to realize that whenever he kissed me repeatedly, whenever he was romantic, he was feeling insecure.

I felt a presence, looked up, and saw Mike Badger standing in front of my table. I said, “Have a seat.”

He sat. “You’re not joining the festivities?” A smirk. “Or is he calling the shots?”

I turned my head and looked into his eyes. “Are you going for round two, Badger, or are you going to be nice to me?”

He looked down. “Yeah, I’m kind of an asswipe.”

I smiled.

“But I can get away with it because I’m so good-looking and I have such a sparkling personality.”

I laughed. “I’m curious, Mike. Why’d you give up medicine?”

“Way more money in real estate.” A pause. “And women like money.”

“Do you miss it? I mean, all that talent and training. I’m sure it was hard to make the change.”

“It was. Sometimes I do miss it.”

“Nice to do something for humanity, huh?”

He stared at me. “You are very easy to talk to.”

“Thank you.” I looked at Jorge. “Could you get Mr. Badger a glass of champagne?”

“I’m not supposed to leave you, Doctor.”

Badger stood. “I’ll get it. Would you like anything … what should I call you?”

“Terry is fine, and I wouldn’t mind a club soda.”

“Sure.”

I turned back to Jorge. I had to shout to be heard. “Would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fine, ma’am.”

Badger regarded my face. “You’re a beautiful woman. Not being flirtatious. Just a statement of fact.”

“Thank you.” My eyes returned to the dance floor. Suddenly Chris’s eyes were steely. They shot me a glance. I looked away and thought, Really? Mike Badger? Seriously?

Badger said, “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” I told him. “I’m not going anywhere.”