Fran
She has a blind date!
Jackie
Is this a quarter-life crisis?
Val
More like a favor for a friend.
Jackie
How about you do your favorite sis a favor and come watch your nephew so I can have a night out with my husband?
Fran
I love Ollie too. Why do you always ask Val to babysit but not me?
And there’s my cue to exit this little chat thread. Their bickering will be waiting for me when the night is over. I don’t need to read the thread in real time. Fran feels like Jackie and I are always leaving her out, but it’s actually the other way around. Usually, she’s the one with plans and can’t join Jackie and me. Tonight’s the first time I’ll be going out while my sisters stay in.
A small smile lifts my cheeks. If nothing else comes of this date, at least I’ll have bucked what’s expected of me.
The driver pulls into the valet area and an attendant helps me from the car. My mind blanks for a minute as I try to remember the instructions Raimo gave me. My date is a hockey player, but that’s all I know. What am I supposed to tell the maître d’ again?
Right. Use Raimo’s name forthe reservation.
I step into the building while removing my scarf and unbuttoning my coat. The warmth feels perfect, and I doubt I’ll need either garment the rest of the evening.
“May I take your coat?” one of the hostesses asks.
“Yes, thank you.” I stuff my scarf into my coat pocket and pass the garment to her.
“Are you meeting someone?” the other one questions.
“Yes.” I keep myself from scanning the inside. I don’t want to appear nervous in case my date can see the podium. “I believe the reservation is under the name Karvonen.”
“Oh yes. The other party is already seated. Right this way.”
My heart begins thumping hard in my chest. Why am I so nervous? It’s not like I have to see this man again if the date turns out to be a disaster. But something like trepidation wraps its claws around me, making each breath more difficult.
The lights are at the lowest setting that still allows the place to be navigable. My gaze is fixed on the hostess wearing a sparkly black jumpsuit guiding me toward my date.
Pleasedon’t let him be a frog,Lord. Please,please,please.
I stop praying as my brain runs out of words. We round a corner, and my steps falter as I take in the seclusion of the area. Almost like we’re the only two people in this part of the restaurant.
Duh,he’s a famous hockey player. Probablywants to keep the fans away.
Though aren’t hockey players like football players in that most people don’t know what they look like because they wear helmets the majority of the time? Whatever the case, the hostess stops at the table. I peer around her at the face of my date.
My mouth drops.
Staring right back at me is Jabari Hall. He doesn’t stand and greet me. Just stares at me as if waiting for me to say something. But how can I? Somehow I’ve agreed to a blind date with my sister’s ex-boyfriend. I wasn’t born yesterday, so Iknowthis is breaking girl code, sister code, and probably some other codes vanishing from my brain cells right now. My thinking slows like a lagging internet search, so I do the only thing I can think of.
I sink into my seat.
Securing the black cloth napkin in my lap, I study the man across the table. The one we never talk about, the one who shouldnotbe in front of me clearing his throat as if preparing to say something. I frown. Is he going to apologize for cheating on Jackie? Leave early? My shoulders tense as I wait for him to speak.
