Jorden didn’t know what to say. Saved by the music “Gentle On My Mind” began to play.

“Want to dance? I like this one.” Smoothly, Alex led her around the floor for three more songs.

Dancing to a slow one, Jorden glided past a wall clock and noticed it was after eleven. “I didn’t know it was so late. I need to go.”

“I’ll walk you back.” It took only a couple of minutes to reach Jorden’s second floor apartment.

“I had fun. Can I call you?”

“Please do.” Jorden gave him her phone number—then she thought of her boyfriend, Justin. She hadn’t dated anyone except Justin since her senior year in college. She still saw him on weekends at the university, but they were having problems. They had opposite beliefs. Jorden was pro-civil rights; Justin was anti-civil rights. Their differences were driving a wedge between them.

***

The following Friday evening, Justin drove over to Columbus from the university. He and Jorden were sitting on the couch, talking and listening to music when the doorbell rang around seven. Tentatively, Jorden rose and opened the door. To her surprise, there stood Alex. She hadn’t heard from him since the party.

“Hi.” Jorden’s fingers drummed against the doorknob. She tried to sound pleasant, but she was annoyed Alex hadn’t called first. He seemed to hesitate as he peered around the door and saw Justin sitting on the couch.

“I’m sorry, I . . . should have . . . called.” He left abruptly. Jorden closed the door and tried to erase the image of his face. She went back to the couch with a nervous smile. Of course, this didn’t sit well with Justin.

Life carried on. The next week, while Jorden and Madison were grading papers at the dining room table, the phone rang.

“Hi. This is Alex. I want to apologize. I was a fool . . . I should have called first.”

“It’s okay,” Jorden responded, not meaning it. She and Justin had fought over Alex’s visit.

“I hope you’ll accept my apology. I’d like to see you again. How about this Thursday night for dinner?”

Jorden hesitated but eventually accepted. Why not? She and Justin were always arguing. After she hung up, she turned to Madison. “What do you think about me going out with Alex?”

Madison shrugged her shoulders. “I guess you know what you’re doing. Dating two men could be tricky.”

Before Jorden knew it, Thursday night arrived. A ball knotted up in her stomach. Madison had the stereo playing in the front room. As Jorden changed, she could hear “Up Up and Away.” The music had a calming effect. Fifteen minutes later, Jorden stepped into the front room. “How do I look?”

“Terrific, but you can’t wear those shoes. Wear your light blue heels; they’re sharper.”

Jorden made a face. Those shoes were too tight, but she put them on anyway.