Tori had knocked on Jon's door to remind him he owed her ice cream. She liked ice cream but enjoyed collecting what was owed her more.

She wanted life to go back to normal now the visitors from Georgia had left. Tori doubted it was possible, because too much had changed. Not to mention, everyone seemed certain Tom would accept Sloane's offer. The consensus was he'd be crazy not to. Vanessa was leading the push. Everyone realized she wanted the baby near her.

How could a few weeks rock the equilibrium of her life? Perhaps it was longer, because things started changing when Jon returned. A wounded heart was her new normal, along with a lover who was more serious than she wanted.

Ted didn't hide his dislike for Spencer, but it seemed easier to keep him around. The sex kept her from focusing on the end of her dreams. They got along pretty well in bed, but Spencer shocked her when he told her he loved her. They had been dating about six weeks.

"What did you say?" Tori confided in Sage.

"Nothing I pretended I was asleep."

Sage laughed. "Aidan feels bad. He thought he was a nice guy."

"He's just intense. I like fun."

"You and Jon have been having fun."

It was true. Because neither were working all summer, they were spending time together. It was silly, because she felt like she had to hide her friendship from her boyfriend.

She and Jon had been friends a long time. The summer Tommy left early for West Point, she and Jonathan worked together at the day camp the school ran. He had kept her busy, so she wouldn't miss Tommy. History was repeating itself, except now she knew he was never coming back for her.

It was too easy to think of him with his happy little family, touching his wife's waist, whispering in her ear, holding his son, discussing their day. Those were the things she was surrounded by with Sage and Mia and even Sloane, an intimacy that went well beyond her current fling. She wanted it so much her heart ached.

She had been holding onto a dream for years that didn't belong to her. Could she find a new one?

The one she didn't want was proving more difficult. The second time, Spencer announced he loved her. She couldn't ignore it. Not when she was sitting across the table from him. She had been tuning him out, because he was talking about his work. Investing didn't interest her. She always made a joke about only knowing first grade math and relied on others for their expertise.

She smiled. "Isn't it too soon to know?"

"We've been together two months. I knew our first date. Take your time, I'll wait forever. I was thinking since I'm here all the time and my lease is coming up..."

Panic coursed through her. She stammered. "It's too soon for that. Actually, I need a few nights a week to myself. Everything's happened too fast too soon."

"Who is he? The guy next door?"

"Who is who?" She was following him, but wished she wasn't.

"There has to be someone else." He looked angry.

"There is no one else. Jonathan is a friend and has been for as long as I can remember."

She wasn't afraid of him, but she was angry. Spencer had seen her and Jonathan come home together that afternoon, because he had left work early. It was a rainy day, so she started setting up her classroom. She had a few weeks to do it, but she hated to waste beautiful days working. Jonathan volunteered to help her rearrange the furniture. He also checked out his own room.

"I feel like a fish out of water. Bulletin boards. I haven't seen one in years. Now I have to figure out what to put on it."

She laughed. She spent ten months a year fighting with the stapler as she changed up her boards.

Jonathan easily pushed tables around the room and her desk twice as she decided where she wanted it. He had started running and working with a tennis pro because he never wanted to be embarrassed by Sloane again. He was definitely not as soft as when he arrived looking like a homeless man.

She wasn't in the mood to defend herself or her friends to Spencer. "Tomorrow night I'm going out with the girls. I'll be out late so you can stay at home."

He didn't look happy but didn't argue. He was losing his appeal, although she wasn't sure she wanted to be alone. Alone was what she had been for years while she waited for Tommy to come back to her. Being alone without the waiting scared her.

She had fun with Jonathan, but he wouldn't want to keep her company at night. He made his feelings clear when she foolishly tried to kiss him twice. It was too bad, because he was hot - not like his brother. Her track record with Hayes boys was embarrassing, but at least Trey had never rejected her. Not that he ever had a chance to.

She chose a new dress to wear for her evening out. It was sophisticated and not like the dresses she wore clubbing with her friends. They were going to a gallery event and dinner. The previous year, Ben had upset Sloane at the same event. This year Sloane was attending with his sister, Kenzie because the team was playing out of town. Kenzie had been a first grade teacher, and she and her husband Jett supported literacy. Jett played on the same team as Ben.

Her father and brother both had an account with a car service. She preferred Ubers when she didn't want to drive, but their night out was different. Ted had rubbed off on Mia, who hired a car big enough for all of them. Sloane and Kenzie were meeting them at the gallery. Sage had invited Jonathan, so he was the only man with six women.

In addition, Mia's sister Brenna joined them as she had the year before. Jonathan stepped onto their front steps when the car pulled up. He looked nice in his suit. She smiled, because he was looking at her dress much the same way she had assessed him

"Do I pass this time? It's not too short."

He nodded and shook his head without speaking. She smiled but wondered what was wrong. When they climbed into the back seat, sitting across from each other. Sage took over introducing him to Brenna.

Jonathan said, "It's amazing you're all family."

Sage said, "You've got the bitch."

Mia added, "And Katie. I liked her."

Sage drew in a breath. Tori knew she was concerned for her, but Tori was determined not to ruin the evening. "It's alright, Mia. I liked her more than I thought I would."

Jonathan smiled, and she felt a nervousness in her belly and anger he was insensitive at the same time. They had spent time together every day for weeks, but they never discussed his brother and the wife. The subject was taboo just like before her heart was torn in half.

As they walked into the gallery, Jonathan was behind her and touched her back as he held the door for her. For an instant, she wondered what it would be like to date him. He was handsome, but he also walked straight to Sloane. Tori felt like the little kid who was left out again. She toured the exhibit. Up and coming artists donated the art. Some pieces were rather amazing, including some digital work that fascinated her, but weren't her taste.

A voice behind her said, "Maybe I should buy something for my empty walls."

She turned and was closer to Jonathan than she realized. "It's a good cause. Do you see anything you like?"

He started to speak but shook his head and frowned. "I'll have to look around. Did you?"

"Nothing yet."

They walked side by side and occasionally commented on a piece.

"Those are nice." Jon pointed at some watercolors.

"They're adorable." One was of a child's hand on an adult's. Tori thought of Tom, but it wasn't her place to buy it for him.

There was a photograph of yellow and pink roses up close. It had even captured the early morning dew.

"This reminds me of Bea's garden. I really like it."

"Beautiful." He agreed.

"I'm going to buy it." She felt determined.

She went to make her purchase before someone else did. Something about Jon was different. Was it because they were dressed up and not as relaxed? He seemed intense, yet when she returned from the cashiers table he was relaxed and joking with Sloane.

"I'll beat you next time. Tell me when. I'm ready now."

Tori went to stand by Brenna. She watched as Sage joined in with Jon and her sister. She once again felt left out. He was enjoying their company and not hers.

Brenna said, "He's handsome, and he was hiding in Africa for how long?"

She shrugged. "Six or Seven years."

"Is he single?"

"Yeah, but neither of them are." It was pathetic the way they were touching him. A hand on his arm then his back.

"You sound jealous."

"Of Sloane? It's that youngest thing. I'm always left out."

"You sound like Mia, but he keeps looking your way."

"He's just making sure I'm not off crying. I'm sure you heard about my unlucky love life."

"Aidan said he fixed you up with a guy from his firm."

She shrugged. "I've been seeing him. He's a little intense."

"What do you want? The friends with benefits thing? I tried that, but it didn't work for me."

"Why?" Tori asked curiously. Her problem with Spencer was she was more interested in the benefits than the friends part.

"Because my heart got in the way. Luckily, his did too, and now we're in love and have two kids."

"Seriously, you and Doctor Noah started out that way?"

"We definitely started with sex. The rest came later."

"Yeah, I don't see it happening."

"What about?" She tilted her head towards Jonathan.

Tori shook her head. "He already told me he didn't want me."

"Strange. He's looking this way again."

"Nah, we're just friends. Besides, he likes that woman he's talking to."

Brenna laughed. "That's just Liz."

"Who's Liz?" Tori felt jealous.

"His brother's assistant. I think he's everyone's lawyer."

Tori thought to herself, she's pretty. Trey could do worse. He deserve some happiness with a wife like the bitch.