“Did you enjoy dinner?”

“Mm.”

He nodded vigorously, despite a mouthful of pie. She had successfully recreated her mother’s roasted chicken recipe, and was glad he found it edible. Despite culinary fulfillment, she was sorry she had wasted the effort on him.

He finished chewing and swallowed. “Dinner was great, babe. You not hungry?”

“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

He quickly devoured another bite. Eyes filling with dread gazed at her from atop flushing, rotating cheeks.

“I don’t think we should keep seeing each other, when you’re obviously interested in dating other people. Like Laura.”

He stopped chewing. “Honey – ” more chewing. “I work with her, I’d never date her. I told you, we just talk during the day since our cubes are so close to each other. There’s nothing going on there.”

“There’s not much going on here, either. Not since your conference in Hartford last month.”

He realized that she knew. He also realized that cherry pie would never taste right again.