Although Meg texted him regularly, Tyler remained silent. In the back of her mind, she held onto the fact that they had made up before. After weeks of radio silence, Lucy and Emily dragged her out for drinks one Friday after work. Meg hoped it was a setup or intervention, but neither Tyler nor Mick appeared. Mick hadn't reached out to her and wouldn't. She broke her promise to him. Even though she knew it was a lie, she had wanted it to be true.

The girls stood around a table with flavored martinis in front of them. Meg had watermelon because it was her summer favorite. It was warm and Meg longed to walk through the park. She looked around, willing Tyler to walk through the door. All she saw were happy couples with women dressed in tight short skirts. Meg felt dowdy in her print dress and cardigan sweater. If she put on stockings and let them bunch up at the ankle someone would send her to a nursing home. Sighing, she considered the risk and reward of dressing differently. The risk was another pervert not hearing no. Dressed like her mother she avoided unwanted attention. Unwanted being the key word because her rogue mind wondered what Cade would think if he walked in. For the billionth time, she hoped he was happy as a free man.

Emily cleared her throat bringing Meg's focus on her friends. "You really messed up this time. What are we gonna do about it?"

She shook her head. "Hopefully, he'll forgive me before I die."

Lucy sighed exasperatedly. "So dramatic. He loves you too much to hate you."

Meg looked at her. "I thought..."

"What did you think?" Emily asked.

"Lucy and Ty because they were always whispering."

Lucy shook her head. "No. He planned to kiss you on your birthday, but then you were kissing the guy with the great ass."

"And eyes. He has amazing eyes."

Emily slapped the table. "What the! Have you seen him again?"

"No. I would never. Not while I was with Ty."

Lucy surprised her. "You aren't now."

She bit her lip. "I know, but..." There was so much more to the story than they would ever know.

Emily said, "Ty will come around. He has to. We feel like kids of divorce."

"Mick won't. I promised him."

"Mick keeps telling Tyler to call you." Lucy frowned.

Emily put her hand on Meg's wrist. "Honey, it will be okay. How did you get serious so fast?"

"I didn't, Ty did thanks to a big shove from our mothers. Did you know Shannon picked a date and the venue?"

"No way!" Emily scowled.

"You must have been so stressed."

More than you'll ever know.

"But you and Ty? You slept with him?"

Meg looked at Emily and nodded. Lucy giggled. "Tell me it was good?"

Meg rolled her eyes. "He's very sweet and attentive, but I couldn't."

"Never?" Lucy gasped.

Meg whispered. "Not never, but it took a lot of fantasizing."

"Oh, girl. I've been with men like that. I usually think about being with a woman. Let's just say women know how to pleasure."

"No, thanks." Meg definitely preferred men.

Lucy turned to Emily. "Are you sure you are really bi?"

Emily sighed. "When I think about a committed relationship, I see myself with a woman."

Meg squeezed her wrist. "We'll support you no matter who you love."

Lucy nodded. "We'll support you, Meggy, no matter who you love."

"I don't want you to be torn between me and Tyler. You can mention him."

Lucy looked around the room. "Maybe you can find a distraction." She smiled and waved at a guy in a suit.

He walked over with a smile. "Hello ladies."

Lucy winked. "Hi there. Nice suit."

"Thanks. I work in finance."

Meg bit her tongue because Tyler worked in finance too. Lucy flipped her hair. "Do you have any friends?"

He looked from Meg to Emily. "Nah. They're all jerks."

Meg saw the way he looked at her. They weren't interested in a girl with a headband. Emily was just as glad because she wasn't interested in his friends either. She wondered why her headband hadn't put Cade off. The moment they touched in the lobby she felt a zap, even before she looked into his gem blue eyes. Maybe he felt it too, and it blinded him from seeing her dressed like her mother. Tyler loved all of her, why couldn't he have been her zap?

Emily joked, "We're not fans of jerks."

Lucy smiled. "Nice to meet you, but we're having an important discussion."

"Sounds ominous."

Emily said, "Maybe he can help. Our friend, a guy, had his heart broken. How do we help him move on?"

The guy chuckled. "Seriously? Sex. Men are simple. He needs to hook up. He'll forget all about her."

"We want him to forgive her for only wanting to be friends."

"The old kiss of death. It's like a kick in the balls. Six months of sex might help him move on."

Lucy giggled. "Thanks for answering with your dick."

Meg frowned. "You could ask Mick. He knows Tyler."

Emily laughed. "He'll answer the same."

Meg wondered how Cade was getting past the ordeal he lived with. She still had his message. Every word illuminated his desperation.

"Meg. Meg. Honey, it will be okay. We'll change his mind. You looked like a lost pup."

Pup. "I miss Blue too."

"You should go for a run in the park on Sunday." Emily grinned.

"Maybe."

"Enough depressing talk. Another round." Lucy stood up. Meg followed her.

After two potent drinks, Meg felt brave. When she climbed in the car, she debated giving the driver Tyler's address. She pictured herself pleading with him to forgive her. Instead, she gave her own address.

Alone in her room with liquid courage flowing through her veins, she picked up her phone and stared at the contact. Although she entered it into her phone, she never called it. Holding her breath, she tapped and listened to rings. The sound of his voice on his message made her lightheaded. The memory of his lips came back to her. Vividly she stepped into the past and knew sex with Tyler had never matched her experience with Cade.

Instead of spewing out an emotional message fueled by vodka, she drafted a text message.

Hi. It's Meg. I'm really glad everything worked out. Sorry I didn't come forward sooner. I was hoping we could talk. Before she second guessed it she pressed send.

Meg waited for a response, but it didn't come. Feeling dejected, she sought to change one part of her life. On Sunday, she went for a run in the park. It could be a waste of time. Maybe Tyler walked Blue on Saturdays or at another park. She circled three times and was feeling tired. It was a warm day with very little breeze. As she was ready to quit she saw them up ahead. Unfortunately, Mick was with him.

Meg faced the dilemma of facing Mick or heading home without them seeing her. She slowed to a jog as she closed the distance. Feeling defiant she picked up speed and ran right past them. Unfortunately, she forgot about Blue. The dog instantly sped up and ran with her. Poor Tyler wasn't a runner, so after a few minutes he dropped the leash. Blue didn't run off, she kept pace beside Meg like she had on countless runs.

Eventually she slowed and picked up the leash. The dog accosted her with kisses and nuzzles, and Meg hugged her. Her sweaty body stuck to her fur, but she didn't care. Strangers walked by as she held on and sobbed. Tears fell for her best friend. Faced with an impossible decision she told the truth instead of faking a marriage. Maybe she was wrong and Tyler was the only man who would ever love her.

"You stole my dog."

"Jesus Ty, don't be a jerk. Look at them." Mick sneered.

Meg looked up and wiped her red eyes and sucked in through her nose to keep it from running. She looked at Tyler. "How are you?"

"Been better."

She nodded. "I know. Me too."

Mick reached out a hand. She expected anger in his eyes, but his brown gaze was soft. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. "I'm sorry Mick. I tried to want it. Really, I did."

"I know. You can't force it. I shouldn't have pressured you."

"Why is no one on my side?" Tyler complained.

"Man, I just want you to be happy, but I warned you. Meg isn't your one. She's out there somewhere, and she's not a bitch who treats Meg like dirt."

Meg mumbled, "I forgave you after that."

"I know. Can't a guy have some time?"

Meg nodded. "Yeah, but I miss you. Not as my pretend date or boyfriend, but as my best friend."

She handed Mick the leash and walked in the direction she had just run. Then she took out her phone and ordered a car. When she looked back the two men with the dog were out of sight around a bend.

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