Should I get on the bus and return to New York alone? But what will I do there? I have no place to live; I have no job. No, it’ll be Hartford and staying with my mom for a while.

It’s five-forty-five. What should I do? What am I doing?

Minutes pass, and the more I think about it, the more I panic.

I try to picture his face, waiting for me on the bench. I try to imagine his reaction when he sees me. I look down at my clothes and almost gag.

What if I’m going to regret this? What if this man is the one I was meant to meet? What if what I felt yesterday is the beginning of a love story unlike any other? The kind I write about. What if it could happen to me? I smile, thinking how I’m going to tell Alisa how he and I met.

With a swift move, I grab my backpack and run across the street to the Starbucks. Thank God for Starbucks. Nothing else seems open. I run into the bathroom, wash my face, clean up as best as I can, brush my teeth and change. Seven minutes all in all.

I run back out, ignoring the curious looks the barista is giving me.

I have to do this. It’s five-fifty-five. I should go; just risk it.

What’s the worst that can happen? When something feels so right, it can’t be wrong.

I put on my backpack and start walking back to the rocks he told me about; to the bench.

The streets are empty; it’s still so early.

My hands are shaking, I’m so nervous, but I can do this. I can.

Thirteen

I see the bench in the distance and then hear the car stopping next to me.

It’s too late.

David’s coming toward me. The moment he’s at an arm’s length, he lunges at me and grabs me in a tight hug. And then his lips are on mine. I don’t even have time to react.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask and push him away.

“Kissing you—what does it look like? Happy birthday, Maya. Sorry I missed it.”

“I’m sorry for a lot of things too.”

“You’re acting weird, first on the phone and now.”

“You shouldn’t have come,” I say.

“Why? I apologized already for not answering your calls and ruining your birthday.”

“I actually had the best birthday of my life. Without you.”

“You’re particularly nasty this morning.”

“And you’re acting particularly innocent,” I snap back.

“Am I missing something?”

“From what I heard, you’re missing a blonde hanging on to you.”

He frowns.

“Out of words? Can’t think of a quick lie?” I say.

“I can’t think of anything because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s fine. I honestly didn’t expect you to admit it.”

“Admit what? What’s this blonde thing?”

“Someone saw you with a woman yesterday.”

He shrugs. “So what?”

“So what? Now that’s new.”