Silence. “Who’s Matt?” Luke’s eyebrows went up.

Stunned. Jorden couldn’t believe her ears. “Oh, I meant Alex.” Embarrassed, she didn’t know what to say. “You know, there are so many different men at our place every night, I get confused.”

Luke looked skeptical but let it go. Jorden couldn’t believe her blunder. If Luke hadn’t caught it, she never would have known she had switched names. What was wrong with her? Unable to concentrate, Jorden fabricated an excuse to leave.

“It’s still early. Don’t go,” Madison pressed her.

“Remember it’s still a school night; we haven’t been set free yet.” Jorden waved on her way to the door. “Thank you for the great meal.”

“Don’t stay away so long next time. Call me this week. Hold on, I’ll walk you out.” Madison held the door open. Jorden knew Madison couldn’t resist questioning her on the way to her car. “Is this the Matt you played tennis with? I haven’t met him, have I?”

“No, and yes. He’s the one who helped me with my tennis game, and no, you haven’t met him. It was a senseless slip. I’m tired and not getting enough sleep,” Jorden mumbled.

“I hope it’s not more.” Madison looked doubtful. Jorden knew she hadn’t convinced her friend. If anyone could size up her situation accurately, it was Madison. But, she had made a harmless mistake Jorden rationalized.

After Jorden returned to her apartment, she called Matt. The cloth calendar caught her attention as she dialed his number. There were five days left in May—she still hadn’t heard from Alex. Any day he could be on his way back from Vietnam.

“Hello . . . anybody there?” Matt’s voice rang out.

Startled, Jorden almost dropped the phone. “It’s me. Sorry. I got distracted.” Her eyes still lingered on the calendar.

“How was your dinner? I feel like I know Madison and Luke. What’s up? Keeping me at arm’s length from them?”

Jorden ignored his comments and didn’t answer.

“How about a Coke? I can pick you up in fifteen minutes.”

“I’m on.” Jorden continued to stare at the calendar. She wished Alex would let her know when he was coming.

Most nights Jorden got home before midnight. Tonight, though, she and Matt were tired and accidently fell asleep at his place. It was close to two thirty when Jorden crept into her apartment. Rarely had she been this late. The apartment was silent. A good sign. Darby and Emma Lynn wouldn’t have anything to tease her about.

The alarm rang at six fifteen. Jorden struggled to open her eyes. The clock slipped out of her hand and continued to ring. She finally smashed the alarm button with her fingers. By then Jorden could hear Darby running water in the kitchen. Emma Lynn’s alarm wouldn’t go off until six forty-five.