If his change in subject was a distraction, it worked. Because yes, one of the biggest contracts we had right now was with my ex-live-in boyfriend, Rob. He’d wanted a new website for his fire-safety company, which was growing exponentially. Sure, he was successful, but he was also a jerk. And he wanted the best corporate website engineer company, which was us. “Ugh. Getting there. The port parameters need work but, it’s just time consuming.”

“We have a month till the relaunch,” Michael said.

“Easy.” And so began a more in-depth conversation about the job, and I didn’t give Michael’s question about loving two people any more thought.

Later that afternoon, I snagged an empty double seat and sat in the aisle, giving my messenger bag the window. I felt bad for hogging a seat, and truthfully if someone needed it, I would have gladly given it to them. Or mine, if needed. But thankfully the bus wasn’t completely full, and when Jordan stepped on and swiped his Opal card, he looked up and saw me. I lifted my bag and slid over and he grinned, then totally tried to rein it in, but failed.

He sat beside me, his messenger bag on his lap. “Uh, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied. “I thought you might need a seat.”

“Oh yeah, I really did. The other day, I sat next to a lady who was like, I don’t know, eighty something, and of course I said motherfucker—” He froze. “I didn’t call her that. I just said it in general, but she heard it and I’m convinced she thinks I’m possessed by Satan. Pretty sure there was a string of Hail Marys mumbled under her breath. You know, to save my soul. Or whatever people pray for. I wouldn’t know. I’m not inclined to pray. Unless it’s to the bean god, Java.”

“Java?”

“Yeah, you know coffee,” he said without missing a beat. “But thank you for the seat. Were you waiting for me? I mean, it’s totally cool if it was just a coincidence and all, I appreciate it at any rate.”

“I uh, I did save it for you,” I said. “If that’s okay…”

“Oh sure. But if someone else needed it, you should have absolutely given it to them.” He looked around behind us and made a face. “Except for the lady three rows back. She’s the one who prayed for me.”

That made me laugh.

“Was there any reason?” he asked. “That is, for saving me a seat. I’m glad you did, don’t get me wrong.”

“Actually, I wanted to ask you about your book.”

“My book?”

“The one you were reading, with the red cover.”

“Oh.” He opened his bag and took out the book in question. “This?”