The walking dead

s didn’t fit in with any

n, a burnout, or a dork, a

car, or date the hottest

friends liked him, but

another. On most days, w

h in the cafeteria, he felt

eared most people wouldn’t

anging out with his threeyear-old son Jeremy on th

perience. It seemed as if

him. Even when he didn’t

f their eyes were projecting

enjoyed the attention—he

n ego boost every once in a

t intrusive, so he’d starte

lasses, trying to appear a

ternoon on the playgrou

n his usual spot, on a benc

earing his shades, and on

of Love.” There were

cognized from previous p

checkin

th a taller boy, probably

e boy before, but Jeremy

other around, playing

over to Simon and gave h

you,

too, kiddo,”

lized he’d spoken louderhan he’d intended because

back to playing

ing a stay-at-home dad h

still missed his career i

things had gone down at t

this he felt incredibly

with their children? This

to forget how

and saw Jeremy’s new frie

attractive woman with da

younger than Simon. Thoug

uld smell her strong perf

f dark-roas

ast few weeks, when wo

lly this had been a mistak

interested and started hit

Simon remained blank-face

listen to the Decemberis

use

ired. The woman was

ut the earbuds,

isturb you,” she said. “I

t have been able to hea

si

” he

play so well toget

ething Eastern Europe

or Lancôme, definitely L

s from Dunkin’ Don

ey do,” S

in you?”

a limit to how rude he co

l jerk, so he s

widely, and said, “I’m Milika

,” she said, looking right

en ver

knowledgment but d

head again when Milika sa

o

no idea what beautiful

od exactly how it felt t

hadn’t learned ho

aid, without look

as staring at him. H

an you turn off y

said, “is it

just want to talk t

ile and was giving him th

t was the longing, desperate, comehither l

t else to do, so he t

a very attractive

little taken aback. Wom

w had actually sta

ia,” she said.

ca,” Simon said

he was very married and

s lap, in an obvious way,

ld weddi

ffect on Milika either.

deep voice,

ce had gotten deeper. H

he’d realized he could do

nes imp

be in movies. You know

vies, in commer

Maybe it’s not such a bad idea.