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Bertie, busy by the coffee pot, grunts. “Checkers.Hrmph. Cribbage would’ve been more my speed.” He pulls out a soggy filter full of old grinds and tosses it in the trash.
Maddison hands him a clean filter. “Whenyoustart a club, Dad, we’ll play whatever game you want. You need me to grind up some beans for that pot?”
“Yes, sweetie, thanks. That medium roast has been a hit lately.”
Bertrand hands Maddie the bag of coffee. “I’ll go get some creamers ready. Maddison, when you’re done helping your dad with the coffee, save me a seat in the back booth. I want to beat your grandmother at checkers.”
“You got it.” Maddison takes a minute to run coffee beans through a grinder. She hands a scoop of freshly ground coffee to her father. Then she smiles at me and gestures toward the doors. “Not bad, for the first night.”
I swivel on the vinyl stool and see that almost every booth is filled.
The back one’s still open, and I’m not surprised when Maddie departs to go claim it for her grandfather.
I’m wondering where Maddie and I will play, when a slim figure lingering by the door catches my eye.
Hana Chen is here.
She gives me a shy smile and lifts her right hand. As she wiggles her fingers at me, it’s like a black cloud is skittering over my head, blocking the warm glow I’ve felt since stepping foot into the diner.
Why is she here?
I didn’t invite her.
Then again, Maddie and I pretty much invited the whole town, and Hana’s obviously included in that demographic.
And why should seeing her make me feel this bad?
We had afinefirst date. Pleasant, even. Above-average conversation, good food and drinks, appropriate parting remarks. We even made plans for a second outing.
It was not a disastrous date.
And yet, something inside me is screaming,Disaster! Disaster!
My palms feel sweaty. My shirt collar feels too tight.
I wanted to play a tiebreaker game with Maddison to start the evening. But now Hana’s walking toward me with that hesitant smile on her lips, and I can tell she has a different plan in mind.
She snags a plastic-wrapped cardboard box from the pile and places it on the counter near me. Then she lowers down daintily on the vinyl stool. “Wow, you guys went all out. Brand new games and everything. And… is that an apple pie that I smell?”
“Maddie’s grandfather is baking some pies for refreshments later.”
“Then I’m glad I decided to skipLaw and Orderreruns and come out.”
“I—er—uh, me too. I’m glad… you decided to come out.”
She flutters her lashes at me. “Thanks. I’d unwrap that box, except I just got my nails done today and I’m afraid of messing up the polish.”
“Oh. Uh, I got it.” Apparently, she’s not going to ask if I’m up for a game. She assumes we’re going to play.
And why not? It makes sense, technically. She’s the only person here I’ve been on a date with, recently, so she should be my partner.
All those dinners and hangout sessions with Maddison weren’t dates.
Anyway, for all I know, Maddie plans on playing with Roxie or something.
I drag my finger along the seam in the shrink wrapping around the checkers set. Across the diner, I see Maddison, sitting in the far booth, boxed in by her mother. Her back is to me, so she hasn’t yet noticed I’m about to play a game with Hana. Her grandmother and little sister are across from her.
Roxie shoots a glare my way.
