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the last time you saw your dad?” Jen asked cautiously.
    Just the thought of her father had Selena’s ire rising. He was the first negative influence she had walked away from, and in the four years since they’d last seen one another, Selena had never been happier. “It’s been…a long time.”
    â€œDoes he even try to see you?”
    Selena shook her head. “Not really. Every once in a while my sister will throw the guilt trip at me: Dad misses you. You should give him a chance; he’s changed. Blah, blah, blah. We didn’t get along while I was growing up, he’s never let me forget how I disappointed him, and to be honest, I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. I keep telling her she shouldn’t push it, that now she can finally claim that daughter-of-the-year thing she’s been going for all her life. I want no part of him.”
    â€œBut he’s your dad…”
    â€œFathers don’t act the way he did. He wasn’t just cruel, Jen; he was hateful. You know it and I know it. He wanted to control my life, and when I wouldn’t fall in line with his plans, he just turned mean. Believe me, my life has been so much better without him. Sometimes I’ll make a mistake at work and my first thought is ‘Oh my God, Dad’s going to kill me.’ It shouldn’t be like that! I’m a grown woman, and yet at the first sign of messing up, I’m immediately afraid of his reaction. How messed up is that?”
    Jen wasn’t sure how to answer that one. “I guess it’s a natural response, Selena. It’s programmed into you. Hopefully, it will get easier as time goes on.”
    Selena wasn’t sure she believed her but didn’t want to argue the point.
    â€œHow’s your mom doing?”
    Again Selena shrugged. “She’s good. Mom’s always good.” It was true enough, but part of that had to do with the fact that her mother never liked confrontation—she put up a good front for the world to see, and sometimes Selena resented that. It would be nice to know that she wasn’t the only one in her family who got ticked off and emotional sometimes. “Since the divorce, she’s become more confident, and last year she actually started dating again.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œYes! It’s true. It’s weird and awkward at times, but it’s true.” The last time she had talked to her mother, she had to hear all about her latest date—they had gone to dinner and dancing—and then it turned to talk about all of the years Selena’s father never took her dancing. Yes, sometimes it was just painful.
    â€œSo your mom’s dating. Are you?”
    Selena made a dismissive sound. “Please. The business keeps me so busy, I don’t have the time.”
    â€œSo make the time,” Jen pleaded as she reached across the table and put her hand over Selena’s. “Trust me, you may enjoy yourself.”
    â€œAnd then what? End up with some creep stalking me? No thanks.” She looked up and saw the devastated look on her friend’s face and instantly apologized. “That was inexcusable, Jen. I’m so sorry. I…” Her words died in her throat as Jen turned away. If she wasn’t mistaken, she heard her sniffle and that made her feel ten times worse. Way to go, Selena, she mocked herself. You’ve been back in town for a handful of hours, and you’ve already managed to disappoint the one person who’s always there for you.
    Standing, Jen cleared their plates and rinsed them without a word before returning to the dining room. “Not all guys are creepy,” she said matter-of-factly. “I thought you had your eye on that CPA in the office across the street from yours. What happened there?”
    Ugh . While Jen knew Selena better than anyone, Selena wasn’t comfortable admitting how uncomfortable it was for her to go out on