Ben shook off Summer's hand, quickening his steps.

"Ben, if you keep rejecting me so firmly, your mom's just going to line up more dates for you, and others might not be as easygoing as I am. You'll end up even more frustrated!" Summer called after him, hurrying to keep up. "Just go along with me for one act. It won't hurt you and might actually save you some trouble. Why not give it a try?"

Ben paused, his mind turning. With Jamie, he had felt like he had the world at his fingertips. No one else ever caught his eye.

When she left, he had become obsessed with finding someone like her, and now that she was back, all he wanted was to channel his anger, to confront and torment her. He had no time, let alone interest, for any other woman, even as a pretense.

"Just think of it as doing me a favor," Summer continued, sensing his hesitation. "I really don't want to be set up with some older, middle-aged guy. Do this for me, and I'll owe you. Name it, and I'll make it up to you." She played her hand carefully, knowing that while this might start as a charade, the outcome could be unpredictable. She had enough confidence to believe things might turn out in her favor.

voice less rigid. "Alright, let's

me," Summer replied, leaving out the part where she had overheard her mother and Mrs. Lucas talking about setting a wedding

Ben nodded. "Deal."

worry, I'm not that kind of person." Summer took out her phone and said, "Add

with Summer chatting with her friends while Ben, meanwhile, kept sending a string of demands to Jamie,

her shame, reluctantly complied, deleting each message and photo she sent, her hands

she had worked at a bar, selling drinks for commission when she first found out about Charlie's illness. Her boss had asked her more than once

Now, though, what was she? Dancing for one person

the photos, he slipped on his headphones and texted her, "Send me a couple of

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