Rei stood in the hallway, wearing a leather jacket and what Lucy could only describe as an expression of maternal pride.
"You look amazing," Rei said.
"I look like I'm trying too hard."
"You look like someone who's leaving her apartment for something other than work. I'm calling that a win." Rei linked her arm through Lucy's. "Come on. Marcus saved us seats. And before you ask—yes, Jake is already there. No, you don't have to sit next to him if you don't want to. But maybe you want to?"
"I don't know what I want."
"Then let's go find out."
They walked to Mac's Tavern through the cold November evening, their breath fogging in the air. Timber Falls was quiet on Friday nights—most people were home with family, or at the high school football game, or at the bar itself.
The tavern was warm and loud when they walked in. Lucy spotted the Timber Falls Wolves immediately—they'd taken over three tables in the back, laughing and arguing and being exactly the kind of loud, chaotic group that made Lucy want to turn around and run.
But then she saw Jake.
He was sitting at the end of one table, wearing a dark blue henley that made his eyes look impossibly bright. He was listening to Owen tell some animated story, and he was smiling—notthe tight professional smile Lucy had seen in the bakery, but something real and open.
And when he looked up and saw her, his entire face transformed.
"Breathe," Rei whispered.
Right. Breathing. Lucy could do that.
Marcus spotted them and waved. "Ladies! Over here! We saved seats!"
As Lucy and Rei made their way to the tables, several players greeted Rei—clearly she was well-loved by the team. A few looked at Lucy with curiosity but not hostility. Owen practically bounced in his seat, introducing himself with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever meeting new people.
And Jake stood up.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey."
"I'm glad you came."
"Me too. I think."
He smiled, and Lucy felt something in her chest loosen. This was okay. She could do this.
"Sit," Marcus commanded, gesturing to the empty seat next to Jake. "We're about to order appetizers. I hope you like wings because Owen's convinced we need fifty of them."
"We're a hockey team," Owen protested. "We need the protein!"
Lucy sat down next to Jake, and Rei sat on her other side, providing what felt like moral support and possibly a escape route if needed.
The evening unfolded around her—food arrived, beer was ordered (Lucy got a cider), stories were told. The Wolves were loud and chaotic and surprisingly welcoming. They asked Lucy about the bakery, listened when she talked about her grandmother's recipes, didn't make her feel like an outsider even though she clearly was one.
And Jake.
Jake sat next to her and didn't say much, but his presence was steady. Grounding. Every so often their arms would brush and Lucy would feel electricity shoot through her.
"So," Marcus said during a lull in conversation, "Jake tells me you make the best pork buns in Vermont."
"Did he?" Lucy glanced at Jake, who had gone slightly red.
"I might have mentioned them once or twice," Jake muttered.
