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anywhere until we talk, because your bad mood is affecting my happy home. I’m worried about you, and what worries me worries my wife. And I’m not having her upset over anything if I can help it. Especially not now. You’re going to be an uncle again.”
    Todd’s whole demeanor changed. “Seriously? That’s great news! When did you find out?”
    Jason looked at him sardonically. “Two weeks after you got back from Hilton Head. Which you would have known if you hadn’t tried to drop off the grid to sulk.”
    Todd looked slightly abashed. “Yeah, you’re right. Let me take a quick shower while you order some takeout. I guess I need to get a few things off my chest.”
    In a short while, the two men were sitting at the counter that divided the kitchen area from the rest of the loft, eating Thai food while Todd filled Jason in on why he’d been acting like an ass for weeks.
    “So after the initial shock of finding out that Emily and I were sharing the house, everything was great. She’s an amazing woman, Jason. She’sbrilliant, for one thing. She’s also funny, athletic, totally beautiful and totally natural. Emily is like light-years away from any of the women I’ve been dating. When we were together it was like nothing I’ve ever had with a woman before. That’s why I knew I’d screwed everything up.”
    Jason looked blank for a moment. “I get it. You messed up because you weren’t treating her like she was special. You felt like you needed to start over and do it right,” he said.
    “Exactly,” Todd replied. “You know, I used to dog you about your revolving bimbettes, but that’s what I’ve been doing, too. You think it might be genetic?”
    They both laughed. “I’m serious, man. I used to stay on your case about that endless parade of gorgeous women that trailed after you,” Todd said, “and I started doing the same damn thing. Some of these women are total predators, man. They come after a guy with no shame whatsoever. They set their sights on somebody and come charging. And it’s not like they’re looking to get married. They just want a lot of sex and no commitment. A lot of them bring their own condoms,” he said, shaking his head.
    “All women aren’t that way,” Jason reminded him.
    “Of course they aren’t. I’m not that stupid. But the women I’ve been hanging out with definitelyare. No strings, no commitments, they just want a good time. So I’ve apparently forgotten everything I ever knew about how to treat a lady. I should have been trying to get to know Emily instead of hopping in the bed with her. I should have been doing the candy, flowers and long walks thing, but instead I was all over her,” he said glumly.
    “So what did you do about that?”
    “I did the right thing. I told her that I’d made a huge mistake and I wished I’d handled things differently.”
    Jason raised both brows. “Okay, so you manned up. There’s nothing wrong with owning up to your errors and getting a fresh start. How’s that working for you?”
    “Not too well. If I call her cell, it goes straight to voice mail. If I call her at work, she’s in a lecture or a lab or something. If I call her at home, it goes to voice mail. I’ve sent plants, I’ve emailed; I’ve done everything but drive to Columbia to camp on her doorstep.” He looked both angry and miserable. “This is real messed up, Jason. I finally meet the perfect woman and fall in love, and she drops me like a hot rock and I have no idea why.”
    “Man, you sound like you’re about seventeen,” Jason muttered. In a normal tone of voice, he went on. “But since I went through the same thing with my lovely wife and you were a real stand-upbrother while I was losing my natural mind, I’m going to help you out.”
    Todd looked slightly intrigued but doubtful. “How?”
    “I know where Emily is going to be and when. That is, if you think seeing her face-to-face would be of benefit to you.”
    Todd answered him in very