The next morning, Alice felt no better. She overslept, not waking until Keeley knocked on her door.

"I'm so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me," Alice apologized, opening the door.

"You're going through something difficult; I don't blame you for being tired," Keeley replied with a sympathetic smile. "What do you want for breakfast?"

Alice was always impressed by her friend's kindness. Perhaps talking things out would improve her mood.

"Crêpes. I could really go for some crêpes."

Keeley loaded the babies into the car and drove them to a popular crêpe place near Battery Park. Thankfully, they had high chairs; otherwise, she wasn't sure what she would have done. It wasn't safe for the babies to sit in regular chairs.

Alice ordered vanilla bean, peach, and cream crêpes, while Keeley chose fruit salsa crêpes with whipped cream and caramel sauce, and a plain one with whipped cream for the twins. As they waited, Keeley suggested Alice tell her everything.

Alice explained Brock's change of heart as emotionlessly as possible. She didn't want to cry in front of her friend, even though she felt more broken and unwanted than she had since the divorce began.

Initially, she'd thought the divorce would be liberating. She resented Brock and all he'd put her through. So why was she still sad? She was free sooner than expected and had gotten the terms she wanted! She should be thrilled!

"Just because you got what you wanted doesn't mean you can't be sad," Keeley said wisely. "Human emotions are complex. He said something terrible; it's perfectly normal to be sad about it."

Keeley's words were validating, making Alice feel better and worse simultaneously. She didn't want to be emotional. She'd been taught to suppress her emotions, never showing weakness.

But she needed to stop thinking this way. Hadn't she been inspired to leave Brock by seeing Aaron's transformation? He'd been the "Ice King"! If anyone had learned to express emotions after a lifetime of suppression, it was him.

He was much happier for it. Alice shouldn't let her upbringing hold her back. She wanted to be as happy as Aaron.

"I am sad," she admitted with difficulty. "I'm sad, confused, and, worse, I think I offended Roger. He didn't send his usual good morning text."

She hadn't noticed at first, being busy getting ready, but once in the car, she checked. Nothing. He'd been acting strangely the previous night, making it impossible not to jump to conclusions.

Keeley raised an eyebrow. "How could you possibly have offended him? That guy adores you."

Alice's brain froze at that, but her friend didn't notice; the food had arrived, and she was busy cutting the plain crêpe for her children. Adored her? Roger? That was impossible.

She wasn't like Keeley—warm, cute, or fun. Men didn't adore women like her. Alice considered herself unlovable, despite hoping to marry again someday for love.

Eventually, Keeley looked up and saw Alice's stunned expression. She frowned.

"Don't tell me you didn't know. I don't see you two together often, but whenever I do, he's very attentive. A man wouldn't act like that unless he was interested."

Roger had always been kind, so Alice thought he was simply a nice person. Had he really liked her all this time? It seemed impossible.

"Say you're right, and he is interested. What could I have said to upset him then?" she asked skeptically.

Keeley shrugged. "I don't know. What exactly did you say to him?"

Alice recounted her conversation with Roger: Brock's actions, Roger's indignation, her thanks, and her calling him a good friend. Once she finished, she looked at Keeley in disbelief.

"Alice, think about it. If he cares about you, of course he doesn't want to hear that he's a 'good friend.' That's the classic 'I'm not interested' line."

Keeley paused, a troubled look on her face. "I had a good male friend once who liked me, but I didn't feel the same. He didn't react well and said terrible things because he was hurt. I don't think Roger is like that. He's probably not saying anything because he wants to sort out his feelings while still being kind to you."

Alice's head was reeling. Could Roger really like her? But why? She wasn't special. She'd been discarded by people who were supposed to love her: her friends, parents, and husband.

How could she believe someone would truly care about her? It didn't make sense!

Even if he did like her, Alice wasn't sure she felt the same. Her only experience with love had been twisted. She didn't know what genuine love felt like.

"What does it feel like when you're in love with someone?" she blurted.

Keeley's eyes widened, then a soft smile appeared. Leaning her head on her hand, she answered, "I can only speak for myself…but you're happiest around that person. They make you smile and laugh more than anyone else. And you feel completely comfortable around them."

For a moment, Alice was appalled that she could feel those things toward Aaron. Happiest around him? He makes her smile and laugh? She feels completely comfortable around him? Was she really talking about Aaron Hale?!

She'd long wondered how Keeley ended up with her normally reticent friend, but this was unbelievable. That said, Keeley's description of love struck a chord.

"You sound like you're describing a best friend rather than a lover."

"Aaron is my best friend. My mom was my dad's best friend. Jennica and Cameron are best friends. I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive," Keeley said with a shrug, taking a bite of her crêpe.