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She strides toward me. “You donated your car?”
“I—I did. Yes.”
“Because of the contract I helped you with?”
“Because of that. Yes.”
She rams her bony fists into her hips and glares at me. “You kissed him.”
“I… I did. Yes. Last night.”
“Let me get this straight. You set up a date for Nick and me… then you turn around and kiss him? You gave me your word you’d help me if I helped you. This is not how matchmaking works, Maddison.”
“I know that, Hana. I’m?—”
“I’ve spent hours working on your legal issue for you.”
“I know, and I’m grateful.”
“And this is how you show it? Going behind my back to steal the guy I like?”
“It didn’t mean anything, Hana. I’m telling you—you still have a shot with him.”
She whips around and locks her car with her key fob. Then she marches forward, heading for the patio seating of a nearby restaurant. “Have lunch with me.”
It’s not an invitation.
It’s an order.
I tie Outlaw to a bike rack nearby, then settle in across from Hana. We both wait quietly while the waitress fills our water glasses and rattles off a list of specials.
Once she leaves, Hana tents her hands like she did back in her office. “I want to know everything.”
“Hana, are you sure?”
“Ev-er-y-thing.”
I sigh. “Okay, fine.” I twist the base of the water glass and wonder where to start. “Um… I guess it was after the club meeting last night.”
Sheharrumphsand sits back. “I can’t believe he would do that. I was there… with him.”
“It wasn’t his fault. Nick is a good guy.” Agreatguy. A really,reallygreat guy.
The best.
“We were cleaning up, and I think it felt sort of nostalgic, for both of us.”
“What do you mean, nostalgic? It’s not like either of you have ever worked at that diner.”
“No, I mean other things. The lighting, I guess, the music, and how we were alone after a club meeting. Look, Nick and I are both going through rough patches in our lives. I’ve been getting to know more about his situation since I got back to town. Things are really hard for him at work. He’s been stressed out about his dad, who has Parkinson’s. I think we both felt this wish that we were back in college, you know? It was… a simpler time.”
She appraises me, judging the story.
It’s true,I think.
Most of it.
I mean, we both long for college. We’ve talked about that. Being an adult isn’t easy.
