Page 8 of A New Chapter

The den was a cozy room at the back of the house with a bay window overlooking the heavily treed backyard. Emma noticed that a swing set had already been assembled, which prompted her to ask about Gracie. “Where’s your daughter tonight?”

“With her mom. Alicia took her out for dinner and shopping, so I don’t expect her back for a few hours.”

Emma stopped herself from asking more questions about his ex and surveyed the scene. “Any particular order you want the books in?”

“I’d like the business books on the shelf that’s level with my desk, but you can arrange the rest any way you want since you’re the expert.”

Emma smiled at that. “So, what do you do for a living?” They had been so busy mapping out the rules of their friendship at Starbucks that she had failed to ask him about his job.

“I’m a financial consultant. I basically help people plan for their retirement.”

“Sounds… sensible. What’s your number one piece of financial advice?”

“Don’t get a divorce! It’ll cost you a fortune!”

Emma glanced at Zack as he sat organizing his desk. He had made the comment lightly, but there was nothing light in his expression. Zack was busy putting paperclips and pens in their assigned cubbies, but she wondered if he was purposely avoiding eye contact.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she ventured. So far, they had just skimmed the surface when it came to the topic of divorce, yet it had been such a major event for both of them. She figured one way or another it would all come out.

“Not right now,” Zack said, finally looking up at her. “I’d rather talk about something else if you don’t mind.”

Emma completely understood. “Ok, then how about if we talk about your taste in books! I see some James Patterson, John Grisham, and Michael Crichton in here. I take it you like mysteries and legal thrillers.”

“Yeah, pretty boring, right?”

“No, not at all. Kelly would say that makes you a man of mystery—a puzzle to be solved.” Emma giggled at her friend’s analysis.

“Hmm… I think that Kelly would be sorely disappointed. Men aren’t very mysterious; we’re pretty simple creatures.”

“How so?”

“Well, most men I know like three basic things: food, sports, and sex. Not necessarily in that order.”

The James Patterson book she had been holding dropped to the floor with a thud. Emma bent down to retrieve it, happy to be out of sight for a second to catch her breath. When she stood back up, Zack’s gray eyes sparkled with merriment.

“Oops, was I not supposed to share that with my female friend?”

“No, it’s fine. You were just being honest, and as your friend, I value honesty.”

Zack leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands behind his head. “I came clean about what men want, so now it’s your turn to share. What’s important to the ladies?”

The rascal! And yes, that was exactly what he was, a rascal! “Based on my discussions with women, I would say: companionship, loyalty, and romance.”

“Romance, as in sex, right?”

Emma put her hands on her hips and cocked her eyebrows at him. “Now see, this is why men are from Mars and women are from Venus. That’s not what I said at all. Romance and sex are two different things, although they make for a nice combination when paired together.”

Now it was Zack’s turn to raise his eyebrows. “Please, continue. Give me an example.”

Emma shook her head. “I am not continuing this discussion with you, at least, not until after dinner. I’m starved.”

Zack’s hearty laughter filled the small space. “Now see, here’s where we agree. The number one item on my list is food!”