She tried to recall. He dated so many men, it was hard to keep up. Still, she had a vague memory of this one. Jai worked for the city Stuart lived in now, if she remembered correctly, which was unlike Stuart’s usual beaus. He normally refused to date anyone who wasn’t an artist, like him, or something similar. There’d been actors, musicians, professions of that nature, but nothing so workaday as a city employee. He had been upset about Jai last summer—she remembered that much, anyway, and she recalled him making fun of his job, but he hadn’t really wanted to talk about him much after that first day together.

“You two were on the outs last time we discussed him,” she said.

“Well, yes, but not exactly. I was scared, I guess, and causing drama, like I do, pushing him away.”

“Oh?”

“Well, anyway, after I saw you last summer, I spent another couple of months being a dickhead, trying to convince myself I was over him, or that he wasn’t what I really wanted—all the crap I usually tell myself when I meet someone I like. But it was just that—crap. I realized I was in love with him and knew I was jeopardizing the best thing that ever happened to me. But I was still too scared to do anything about it. I didn’t call him. I avoided him—the whole nine yards. I was making myself sick with it.

“Then, one night, right before Halloween, after stewing in stupidity for all that time, I basically forced him to meet up with me, and I apologized. I begged him to take me back, Ryann.”

“You did what?”

He chuckled. “I know. It was totally out of character for me. Anyway, I apologized, we made up, and we’ve spent practically every second together for the last three months. Now we’re getting married.”

She was still dazed. “Wow. WOW. I’m so, so happy for you, Stuart. I hope this guy is good enough for you.”

“It’s the other way around, honey. He’s the best man—no, best person I’ve ever known. He’s my person. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.”

She was still too surprised to reply. People changed, everyone changed, but Stuart had always been a playboy, a browser. She couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had a boyfriend for more than a couple of months. College maybe? The idea of him settling down was almost too much to take in.

“He must be great if a wedding is on the way. Congratulations. Really. I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Thanks, hon.”