Pike was pleasantly surprised just how much fun she'd had at dinner. Being around friends and family always helped distract her. It didn't hurt that the food was delicious and the wine plentiful.

But then she heard the strum of a guitar. For just a moment she caught her eyes rolling playfully out of reflex because - of course - it was about that time of the night for Scanlan to make a fool of himself so they could laugh themselves breathless.

But it wasn't Scanlan. Scanlan was gone. He'd left them. Left her. And now she's was in another dimension.

Tears stinging her eyes, Pike hesitated for a moment, then turned and exited the room as quietly as she could. She'd apologize later.