“Wait,” she said. “Let me—” She reached for the door just as he opened it. She managed to get out without falling on her face.

“You’re looking a little green around the gills,” said Win Walker. “Can I get you some water?”

He had other things to offer, too: aspirin, his grandfather Winfield’s recipe for hangover, and a ride home.

“You should be in a dark room,” he said. “An air-conditioned, very dark room.”

“For a Baptist you know a lot about hangovers,” Angie said.

He ducked his head again, which may have been calculated to make him seem boyish and sincere, in which case it was a complete success. “I sowed my oats, and just about every other grain known to mankind, while I was at it.” Then he studied his shoes before he looked at her again. The beginnings of a blush were creeping over perfect cheekbones.

“Look,” he said, “you must know my aunt Patty-Cake has been after me to call on you.”

“Yes,” Angie said. “That’s been brought to my attention.”

“I’m sure you’re a good person and all—”

“I’m agnostic,” Angie said. “And you’re not.”

He had a great smile and perfect teeth. “I’m not one to be scared off so easy,” he said. “But truth be told, I’d just as soon not get wound up in whatever Patty-Cake is scheming.”

“Me either,” Angie said. “But I’m finding her hard to avoid. She’s been sending my mail back as undeliverable.”

“Well, damn.” He looked off into the distance, his jaw muscles working. “Leave it to Aunt Patty to mess with the mail.” He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We could call in the feds. Or would a stern talking-to satisfy you?”

“Please, no,” Angie said. “I’ll handle the mail thing on my own. You just tell your aunt that we gave it a try and didn’t suit, and that will be the end of it.” And: “It’s not very nice of you to look so relieved. You could at least pretend to be disappointed.”

“Oh, it’s too early to be disappointed,” said Win Walker. “I’m still planning on asking you out. Just so you understand it’s got nothing to do with Patty-Cake.”

His attention shifted, and Angie turned to see that Kai and Rivera were walking toward them pushing a cart filled to overflowing with cartons and bottles.

Kai called, “Win! I am so glad to see you. Will you come to our opened house?”