Page 110 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"No."

"Moose."

She shakes her head. "Of course it was Moose."

"He looked very pleased with himself."

"I'm sure he did."

"I ate cereal."

She finally gives up trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"I'm a little sorry."

"Not enough."

She smiles over the rim of her cup. "Probably not."

I find myself laughing too. Not because the story is particularly funny. Because hearing her laugh somehow makes the whole disaster seem worth it.

The conversation drifts naturally after that. Favorite breakfasts. Favorite coffee.

Whether pancakes count as acceptable weekday food.

"They absolutely do," Annette insists.

"They're dessert."

"They're breakfast."

"They have syrup."

"So?"

"So does ice cream."

"I've never put syrup on ice cream."

"Don't." She points a finger at me. "That's not the point."

"It might be."

She shakes her head, smiling. "I refuse to discuss breakfast with someone who thinks pancakes are dessert."

"They're cake."

"They're pancakes."

"They have cake in the name."

"They also have pan in the name."

"I don't think that's helping your argument."

"It isn't."