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She mentally drafted the text she would send him: Hey Sam! Hope you had a good time with your family yesterday! I was wondering if you might want to meet me for dinner tonight? Wishing she didn’t have to wait, she opened her food-delivery app and began scrolling through the endless lunch options.

And then a text message interrupted her scrolling.

Sam: Hello! Is there any chance you’d be interested in coming with me to my friend’s game night tonight? If you’re not sick of me, that is.

Arden’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Her body flooded with relief and excitement. She didn’t have to wait two days to text him! She would be seeing him again tonight! She smiled at her phone as she typed back. (How refreshing was it that she didn’t feel the need to wait a few minutes to seem like she was playing it cool?)

Arden: Sounds fun! Let me know when & I’ll be there.

She had some follow-up questions, but before she had time to formulate them, Sam texted again: It’s super casual. No need to bring anything but yourself. Here’s the address. I’ll meet you out front at 7.

That evening, Arden took some extra time with her hair and makeup before donning a pair of jeans and a pullover sweater. She couldn’t quite believe Sam had asked her to hang out again so soon. And although a part of her felt guilty for not focusing more on spending time by herself—the supposed point of this trip—she was mainly happy. Not just happy—joyful. She’d enjoyed last night so much, she couldn’t wait to see Sam again.

She stepped out of her Lyft a few minutes after seven and was relieved to find Sam already waiting outside his friend’s house.

“You made it!” He opened his arms for a hug.

“Of course!” Arden stepped into the hug, resting her cheek against his shoulder for a moment before pulling back and smiling at him.

“It’s really nice to see you again.”

“You too.” Arden enjoyed the moment of gazing at him, not knowing whether they were going to kiss. Their kiss in the snow last night had been so magical. But they still barely knew each other. She could sense that they both needed to work up to another moment like that. Still, there was a warm, fuzzy feeling inside her just from being in his presence again. Part of her wanted to question that feeling, analyze it. But mostly, she just wanted to soak it all in.

“Come on in and meet the guys!” Sam beckoned, and Arden followed him up the front path toward a small Craftsman-style house. They were in a cute neighborhood, the street crowded with cars, the houses strung haphazardly with Christmas lights. Arden noticed that there was an electric menorah twinkling in the window of this house.

Sam called out a hello as they entered. They were greeted by a blast of warm air and the chatter of voices. Arden followed Sam’s lead, hanging her coat by the door and leaving her boots beside the jumbled shoe pile.

In the kitchen, Sam greeted his friends with hugs while Arden hung back. “The guys” turned out to be four men and four women.

“This is my friend Arden.” As Sam introduced her, everyone waved.

A blond and heavily pregnant woman shook Arden’s hand. “Welcome! Glad you could make it. I’m Lisa, and that’s my husband, Scott.” She pointed at a man with dark brown hair chatting near the fridge.

“Thanks for having me!”

“How long have you known Sam?” Lisa perched on a barstool with her hands on her belly.

“Two days.” Arden laughed. “You?”

“Twenty years.” Lisa laughed, too. “We met in fifth grade. He doesn’t usually bring dates to game night. He must like you!” Lisa seemed to pick up on Arden’s awkward hesitation, because she added, “Drink? Beer, wine, and other stuff is in the fridge.”

“Thanks.” Arden helped herself to a can of hard cider. “Your first?” She gestured vaguely to Lisa’s middle. She was aware that you weren’t really supposed to comment on a pregnant woman’s belly in case she wasn’t actually pregnant, but there was no mistaking Lisa’s beach-ball-sized bump.

Lisa nodded. “Due in February.”

“Girl or boy?”

“We’re keeping it a surprise.” Lisa smiled at this, a look that suffused her face with quiet joy. Arden felt an unexpected twist of longing somewhere deep inside her. Luckily, Sam chose that moment to swoop in.

“Okay, so we can choose what we want to play first. There’s Jenga and Monopoly.”

Arden was surprised. “I was expecting, I don’t know, Exploding Kittens or Cards Against Humanity.”

“Scott and Lisa always keep it classic.”

“We originally called it Nostalgia Game Night.” Lisa heaved herself to her feet; her husband was beckoning for her to help start the games. “I’m just waiting for the day I can pull out my old Pretty Pretty Princess game.”

“No way! I used to love that game!”