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“Have fun!” she shouts, slipping into her driver’s seat.

“You too!”

The parking lot at Fork and Fiddle is only half full since it’s a weeknight. My heart pounds slightly faster than usual. I blow out a breath and slowly walk toward the front door. My date will be at a table with a bouquet of peonies wrapped in brown paper. My favorite. Winona must have tipped Declan off as to what I love.

I walk in and tell the hostess I’m here to meet someone.

“Take a look around,” she says.

I stroll through the front room past the low stage, weaving through tables filled with families and couples. No one with flowers. I step through the archway into the next room and see him.

No. Way.

Marcus Delaney is at a table for two toward the back of the room along the wall. He’s sitting there, sipping an ice water with a wedge of lemon in it. On the table is a bouquet of pink peonies wrapped in butcher paper and tied off with twine.

Can I take the flowers home as a consolation prize for showing up?

I’m going to kill my sister.

Phone on indeed.

I turn my back and start my call to her as I stride toward the hostess stand.

“Cass?” Winona’s voice is appropriately sheepish.

“What on earth?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm so I don’t disrupt anyone’s dinner. “Marcus Delaney? Is this a joke? Am I being pranked?”

“Hear me out,” Winona says. “I know you don’t like him very much.”

I’m silent. I like everyone. Not in a sunshiney, Winona way, but I’m known for how I find commonalities with people and make them feel seen. I champion causes. I’m a good listener. I care. People like me. He’s the exception to the rule.

“I tried on seven shirts, Win.”

“I know. I know. And I said, not a date-date. This is really a chance to get to know him. Declan and I …” She pauses and then she says, “Well, Declan went along with me. It’s really my idea. I want you two to get along. For the wedding, yes. But also, think about it. If Declan stays with the Thunder and Marcus stays with the Thunder … They’re close friends. You’ll be around him a lot. I just want you two to give it another chance.”

“And Declan is in cahoots with you?”

“He agreed to this. Like I said, it was my idea.”

I take a breath. I’m standing off to the side of the hostess stand where people wait to be seated. For some reason, I haven’t left the building yet. I’m out of sight of most of the tables.

“Put Declan on the phone. I want to know what he told Delaney to get him to agree to this.”

“He can’t come to the phone right now.”

“Why not? Aren’t you at his place?’

“I am. But he’s talking to Marcus.”

“Winona.”

“I know. You can get me back. Big time. But, just for me? Would you try? Give it one hour. Make it through appetizers. Just give him a chance to show you he’s not what you thought he was.”

I sigh. I’ll apparently do anything for my sister.

“For you, I’m doing this,” I say. “And you owe me. Big time.”

“Thank you! Thank you. You’re awesome. You won’t regret it. I just know all you two need is a little time alone to get to know one another.”