“Why don’t we get out of here?” Josh suggested. He paid the bill in cash, leaving a hefty tip for Duffy’s grieving owner, who was being lectured by the manager.

They went outside. The sky was still light, and it was a perfect summer evening. “Let’s go down to the river,” Sarah suggested, and they did. She took his arm. It didn’t feel bad.

There were plenty of people outside, enjoying the weather. A hint of red sunset lingered in the west. Josh and Sarah walked along Canal, into the greenway that ran along the river.

“Um, Josh,” she said, “I’ve always thought you were really, um, good-looking. And of course, the world’s best husband.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She waited, tilting her head expectantly.

“And you’re, uh, pretty. Very pretty.” She looked at him. He looked back. “I guess I’ll kiss you?” he asked.

“Go for it.”

He leaned in. Her lips were soft and firm. She tasted like steak. Otherwise . . . nothing.

Then she pulled back. “I’m sorry, that was like kissing my brother.”

Oh, thank God. “Yeah,” he admitted. “Definitely . . .”

“No sparks.”

“Exactly.”

“Shit,” she said. “They don’t make men like you anymore, Josh. It would’ve been wicked convenient if this worked out.”

“I thought you were rude to the waitress.”

“I thought your conversation was flat and boring.”

They looked at each other, then started laughing. “Failed experiment,” she said, and gave him a hug. “I wonder if Lauren is disappointed. I think she kind of hoped we’d connect.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know,” Sarah said. “I can’t say I’d want to be compared to her for the rest of my life, to be honest with you.”

“No, I understand.”

They sighed at the same time, then laughed.

“Sarah?” came a woman’s voice. Two women dressed in athletic gear had stopped.

“Hey, Helen!” she answered. “Hi, Kelly!”

“I haven’t seen you in ages,” the first one said. “We’re getting ice cream. You want to join us?”

“Um . . . this is my friend, Joshua Park. Josh, my coworkers, Helen and Kelly.” Josh nodded at them. “Helen had a baby a couple months ago and I haven’t seen her since. How is the little prince?”

“Really, really good,” Helen said. “Did you hear I had an emergency C-section?”

“No! Are you okay?”

“It was very dramatic! I was . . .” She glanced at Josh. “You know, it’ll keep. You’re with someone.”

Sarah glanced at Josh, and he got it. Their date was over, and he was fine with that. “If you want to hang out with them . . .” he suggested.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She smiled, her first real smile of the night, maybe. “Still friends?” she asked.

“Absolutely.” He hugged her, waved to the ladies, then turned and walked up the hill.

His wife had been wrong.

Interesting. A first. He hoped she was watching and got a kick out of that lackluster meat kiss.

Well, it was a beautiful night, and the city seemed happy. It didn’t seem right to go home just yet. He walked up Elizabeth, turned on North Main, and there was the restaurant he’d just left.

The chirpy server was sitting at the bar, blotting her eyes on her napkin.

He went back in and slid onto the stool next to her. She glanced at him and did a double take.

“I am so, so sorry, sir,” she said. “I ruined your date.”

“Your dog, huh?”

“I know. It was the stupidest thing to say, and there’s no comparison.”

“It’s okay,” Josh said. “I’d be wrecked without my dog.”

“Pebbles?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a really cute name.” She smiled at him and wiped her eyes again.

“Did you get fired?” he asked.

“No. They’re really nice here. Which is great, because I’ve been fired from three restaurants this year alone. They just took me off the floor for the rest of the night. Suggested I have a drink to buck up a little.” She toasted him with her glass. “It’s ginger ale with a teeny bit of rum, because I don’t really drink.” She looked around. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Oh, she’s not . . . that didn’t work. She’s a friend. My wife’s best friend from childhood. We were trying to click, and we just . . . didn’t.”

“That sucks.”

“It’s a relief, actually.”

“Again, I’m so sorry about your wife. I bet she was amazing.”

“She was,” he said. “She absolutely was.”

“Can I buy you a drink?” she asked. “I owe you.”

“No, I’m fine,” he said. “I don’t really drink, either.” He looked at her a minute, studying her profile. She had very long eyelashes, and they looked real. Her nose had an appealing bump at the bridge, and her skin seemed very clean. “Would you ever want to go out with me?” he asked.

The question came out of nowhere. He didn’t regret asking, though.

No. He didn’t regret it at all.