Merry took a long breath and sagged. “For the love of everything that is good in this world, Jordan, he’s not in the witness protection program. He’s not an undercover cop. He’s just a guy. A normal guy with an unusual name, who happens to catch the same bus you do. Who happened to be at the same local support group meeting as you. You’re overthinking this, and you’re going to give yourself an ulcer. For all you know, the grand and mysterious question he’s going to ask you is where you bought your shoes from. Or which restaurant you’d recommend for a date night with his husband. Or—”

“His husband? Why is he married? And why am I going out on a date night with his husband?”

Merry closed her eyes slowly and bowed her head, taking in a deep breath before she looked up at me. “You’re not going on the date night with his husband.”

“How do you know he’s married?”

“I don’t,” she replied. “But you don’t either. That’s my point. Stop overthinking this. For all you know, he won’t even be on the bus this afternoon and you’ll never see him again and this burning question will remain a mystery forever and you’ll die of old age still wondering what he was going to ask you.”

My mouth fell open and it took me a good ten seconds before I could speak. “Why would you say that?! Was it your mission today to come to work and inflict physical pain on me like that?”

She deflated. “Yes. It was my sole mission. It’s my life mission, actually. My cover’s blown. I’ve been recruited to infiltrate your social circle, just like Hennessy the Headphone Guy, to ensure harm is inflicted upon you daily.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “I knew it.”

She dumped her pile of returns onto my trolley. “You can put these away. I’m exhausted from this conversation.”

Then I felt bad. “I was just joking. I really do like your cardigan.”

She sighed the mother of all sighs. “Jordan, no matter what he asks you and no matter what comes from it, I can tell you’re already hopeful and invested, and I don’t want to see you get hurt, but even if he’s not interested in you like that, I think you could have a real good friend in him. Someone who understands you, who understands your relationship problems because chances are, he’s been through the same.”

“What are you saying?”

“If he plays the ‘just-friends’ card, that is still a good thing.”

“Well, yeah…” I made a face. “Of course. I can see that.”

She pursed her lips. “Jordan.”