to avoid anything that will do me goo

ows went up. "

, re

certain 3:00 a

p rant. I'd already done the sympathy margarita thing with my girlfriends. I

more than just another failed relationship. You're used to those. If you wer

g that, too," Sab

doesn't mean you like it. I distinctly remember that before the breakup y

long enough-continually moving from city to city, job to job, one boyfriend to the next. All that had gotten

r a change-a sma

n your life, too. How long have you been in a holding pattern with Mr. Dull? And hasn't your boss at Regal Foods been

keeping up. I was promoted nearly a month

her sister stood it, being so steady and reliable all the time. She rea

Mr. Dull?" S

is Jason D

nooze. A

be up to your Danger Boy sta

"There's that word again.

We're alike.

enzie had been resistant to change. She'd lived in the same apartment since college, worked at the same candy company as she slowly wo

rom the slight ew factor-this was their middle-aged parents, after all-the couple's affection was enviable. "Te

fast. Mackenzie wasn't nearly as

and Nicole were still kissing. She leaned over the railing an

ise. When they spotted their daughters up on the

the remaining champagne in one swallow. "Macken

brina's latest temporary job was as a roller-skating waitress in a fifties-theme drive-in restau

kenzie went on. She took a breath. St

like her sister to be reckless, so she was forced to be cautious i

down in one city. Sign a rea

"You have to break

you get a job-a job you like enough

eled a finger at Mackenzie's round face. "Fi

I told you how I just

store. I know you've been saving for it. Why not crack

unge if you promise to give up men," she said, probably because she

Impossible! But she retaliated without voi

sho

brina said at

fall in love," Ma

ed on the ring box. "The

ntarily dumbstruck by the

ered, lifting a hand to st

very far away. She couldn't possibly. She

. I say we shake on it!" And bam, she stuck out her hand

wavere

ick

t. But what a

ey is its

na flung back the cashmere wrap

r divorce and stuck way in the back of her jewel box, saying she never wanted to see it again. Now and then, when their mother wasn't home, the sisters had sneaked in to take the ring out and try it on. Sabrina had want

mond solitaire?" M

ented Nicole with a new ring to symbolize their fresh sta

rriedly. "You'll be getting married before me.

Mackenzie gazed longingly at

he one of us who most successfully changes her life in the next year gets to keep the

ed in disbelief

over the railing. "I'm not giving you time to change your mind. We have a deal!" They shook hands, clasping them around the treasure

alcony. Charlie was laughing and Nicole was pulling out of his embrace, trying to ge

pi

ek, placating her with a few murmured words, then raised a fist, shaking it playfully at his daughters. "

ther and grinned. "Sorry," they sang i

ents' upturned faces. Charlie was balding and Nicole had lost the battle of the bulge. They had wrinkles and graying hair and fallen arches. There had been sieges when they'd threate

part of herself that still believed in love wasn't