Kat saw genuine interest on the man's face, but she shook her head. I don't think so.

Why don't you start at the beginning? That's usually a good place. Then you can just build on that.

Kat frowned. You mean, like, with my childhood?

Sure.

You have no idea what you're getting into.

Jeff shrugged. Take me for an example. I was one of three kids, born and raised in Vermont. My dad was a middle school principal and my mom ran a day-care center. I went to Yale on scholarship and got my degree in engineering. I'm thirty-two. Never been married.

Wow, Kat said. I must have missed that sign-up sheet.

And you?

Kat reached for her watered-down ginger ale and drank every warm, fizzless drop that remained. I was born in a West Virginia coal-mining town, she said.

He laughed. That's a good one.

It's not a joke.

Oh. Jeff looked mortified. Sorry.

It was also a college town. My father was an art professor and a wife beater. My mother was a house wife who was scared of her own shadow. One Wednesday when I was sixteen, I found out I was pregnant, got thrown out of school, kicked to the curb by my boyfriend, and then went home to find my dad out in his sculpting studio, screwing the governor's wife.

The state had commissioned him to do her bust, but I guess he decided to go ahead and do all of her.

Damn.

He saw me watching them. He sent the woman packing and then got in his car and drove off. My mom came home a couple minutes later. She'd been at the grocery. She found me out in the studio where I'd smashed the bust to a million pieces.

Jeff stared.

My mom told me my dad would kill me when he found out. I cried and told her I was pregnant. She gave me all the cash she had hidden in the cookie jar and then kicked me out.

Oh my God.

So I hitchhiked on a lumber truck and was taken in by a woman in Baltimore who played bingo for a living and had up to forty-seven parakeets at a time. Her name was Phyllis and she helped hide me so my family could never find me. I had my baby. He's a sophomore at Johns Hopkins now. He wants to cure cancer.

Jeff's mouth hung open.

I got my GED and then an associate's degree from a community college.

I've worked as a florist for seventeen years, can you imagine? Then Phyllis died a few months ago and left me stinking rich. Apparently, she'd invested all her bingo winnings in communication and tech stocks.

So I went with Nola thereKat pointed over her shoulderto Manhattan, where we got outrageous head-to-toe make overs and then came up with the brilliant idea that I should go back to my hometown and get revenge while I still looked good, which we did about a week ago.

Jeff leaned toward Kat. I've been meaning to tell you how much I love your cut.

Thanks.

So? What happened?

Well, my father had a heart attack when I showed up in town. Then I learned that my mother died a year ago. Then I realized I might still have feelings for my high school sweetheartmy kid's fatherwho is getting married to another woman in a couple months.

No!

Yes. But we had incredibly hot sex while I was in townbefore I knew he was engaged. In fact, I was just dreaming about him a minute ago, thinking how every time I've ever touched that man has been like magic.

Even the first time. And we were just kids. Kat paused. You know, I've only ever experienced sex and love together when I've been with that man. What is /wrong/ with me? I mean, it can't be natural to be hung up on one man your whole life, can it?

Jeff's lips parted like he wanted to speak, but nothing came out.

Here's the really interesting part. Kat took a deep breath. I'd always told my son that I didn't know who had gotten me pregnant as a teenager, that I was just another runaway hillbilly slut teenage mother.

Get /out/ of here!

So just the other day I had to tell him the truththat he has a father, a father who wanted him all along. I had to tell him I've been lying to him his whole freaking life! And now he won't speak to me!

Jeff suddenly sat up, swinging his feet over the edge of the lounge chair and shoving them into the sand. He hung his head in his hands and mumbled something that Kat thought ended with the word nightmare.

Yeah, she said, sighing. It's a mess.

But aren't you relieved? When Jeff looked up, Kat saw tears in his eyes.

Aren't you at least glad that the truth is finally out? You'd been carrying the burden of lies for so many years that it's got to feel good to let it go.

Kat thought about that for a minute.

Jeff looked worried by her delay in answering. It's a good thing, right?

Actually, Kat said, it pretty much sucks.

Oh God! Jeff put his hands on either side of his face and looked nervously out to sea.

Kat was surprised by the level of his concern. The guy seemed broken up over her story. Hey, I'll be all right, she said.

Jeff turned back and snapped at her, This is not about you! His outburst was obviously a surprise to him and he groaned. Look, I'm sorry. I do want you to be OK and everythingyou seem like a wonderful personbut I was thinking about /me/. My own lying, stinking mess of a life. I'm..

. well…

Kat was having trouble following him. You're what?

So completely gay, he whispered. I've been hiding all my life, but I've finally fallen in love and I have to come out to my family, friends, even the guys I work with, or I'm just going to explode! Jeff's eyes flickered toward the group down the beach. But after hearing that god-awful account Kat sat up too fast and almost lost her balance.

Don't say that! She placed her hand on Jeff's forearm. My situation is just a little unusual is all. I'm sure the truth works out really well for most people.

Jeff stared down at his feet and wiggled his toes in the sand. I don't know.

By the way, why were you hitting on me so hard if you're gay?

Jeff raised his eyes and stared at her incredulously.

Fine, but if you plan to keep posing as a straight man, you need to improve your game. Those were the worst pickup lines I've ever heard.

Am I interrupting something? Nola's voice had an edge of disapproval to it.

Kat turned, leaving her hand on Jeff. Not at all. Join us.

I should be going anyway. Jeff jumped from the lounge and grabbed his towel. Maybe we'll all catch up later.

Kat was surprised when Jeff leaned down and kissed her cheek and whispered, Thank you, sweetie. She smiled at him.

Nola wasted no time spreading her towel on the chair and taking Jeff's place. He's cute. Is he any more exciting than the other three?

You seemed happy enough over there.

Nola shrugged. I'd rather be getting my freak on than my geek on.

Kat laughed and lay back down, closing her eyes. You say you're not looking for a man, anyway.

I'm not, and ten minutes with those weenies reminded me why.

Jeff was a very nice guy, actually.

Yeah? Well, I bet Dr. Bohunk wouldn't like him very much.

Kat hissed. He's gay, Nola. /Riley is gay!/ Kat burst out with a laugh, which hurt her forehead. I was talking about Jeff.

Thank you, God.

But don't say anything to his friends, because they don't know. Not yet, anyway.

Well, all I'm saying is, I think you're glossing over the fact that Riley has been trying to reach you for days.

There's nothing to say to each other.

You really should talk to himmaybe he's had a falling-out with the future Mrs. Bohunk. Hey! Nola shot straight up with excitement. Maybe Riley was so happy to see you that he's called off the wedding!

Kat closed her eyes, relieved to retreat behind the shades. Her head pounded harder, which wasn't entirely bad, because at least it gave her something to focus on besides the ache in her heart. /How could Riley be marrying someone else? He was supposed to be with me! How could he love anyone elseever?/ I've told you, Nola. Riley and Aidan know about each other and what happens from here on is between them. There's no future for me and Rileyeven if I wanted one, which I don't.