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exception nowadays, and she knew she was the one who was woefully out of step.
    She had pretty much resigned herself to living alone – which was a novelty in and of itself considering that she was the eldest of such a large brood – when Marielle had mentioned to Lita that Brandt was interested in going out on a date with her. Lita was so surprised that her mouth literally gaped open and sounds like stifled squawks emanated from her, nothing intelligible in the least able to work its way past the severe, terrified constriction in her throat.
    Marielle, of course, was chuckling. She and her brother – and all the rest of the family – laughed a lot, and Lita loved that about them. They were so casual and easy with each other – it was so different from the tense, critical atmosphere in which she had grown up. She loved being around them, and spent a shameful amount of time over at her friend’s house just sopping it up.
    “But he’s – he’s—” gorgeous, she wanted to say, but couldn’t quite. Sexy, too, but that word was probably never going to pass her lips. “He’s much too...” She couldn’t even finish that sentence, but then realized it was an answer in and of itself.
    “Too what?” her friend had asked, confused.
    “Just ‘too’. That about says it all. He’s too smart for me, too good looking...” too vital and vibrant and full of life. He was sure to become bored with her in a matter of seconds, and if she was going to be rejected by someone, she knew she didn’t want it to be him. That would leave her the infinite pleasure of daydreaming about him, safely knowing that what she was fantasizing about would never, ever happen. But not because he’d tried her on and didn’t like her, but because they were just too different.
    “Mellita Georgiana Johnson, don’t you ever let me hear you talk like that!”
    For a moment, it sounded uncomfortably like Marielle was channeling her mother – the same words, almost, and definitely the same scolding tone of voice.
    “My brother’s just a guy, like any other guy. He’s nice looking, but he’s no Brad Pitt.” Marielle often forgot that Lita had no frame of reference about pop culture, and this was one of those times. “But he’s not egotistical about his looks, either, which is a point in his favor. And you’re far from dumb, girlie girl. You’re taking classes at the community college, and hell, his degree is from the same place, so he has no cause to be looking down his nose about that.” Marielle leaned her elbow on the table and shook her fork at her friend. “You could date any man you wanted to, and I’d be honored if one of them was Brandt. He already knows about you and your special situation, you’ve met him, and I’ll make damned sure he’s on his best behavior or I’ll have his balls on a platter the next day.”
    She must’ve put the fear of God into him, because he was more circumspect than any other man she’d dated had been. Heck, he didn’t even take her out at night until their third date. And he’d never really touched her at all, which was very different from her previous experiences. The others she’d dated seemed quite familiar, always touching here and there, but even the most non-threatening physical overtures were foreign to her, and she tended to tense up immediately, which put the majority of them off.
    Some of them, however, weren’t quite that easily dissuaded.
    Recognizing that she was uncomfortable with the subject, and that it was improper to discuss other women with the one he was currently with, anyway, he asked, “How many dates have you been on since you left your family?”
    One thing he had to say for her, she ate well. None of the usual “I’ll just have a salad” for her. She ate her full meal, practically even the garnish. Between bites of what had become her favorite – teriyaki steak – she thought. “Eight or so? Maybe? Six? Somewhere in there.”
    He knew he was going to hate