Page 43 of For the Win

He straightens.“You were?”

“Sure.You guys are some of the best hockey players in the world.”

He purses his lips.“Oh.You mean you were impressed with the team.”

I chuckle again.“Okay, I was impressed with you.”

“There we go.”He smiles.He lifts his wine flute and holds it up to me.I clink mine against it in a little toast, and we both finish off our glasses.

The next course is pasta—tagliatelle with cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, and peas.It’s a small serving, the perfect size.The wine is a California Roussanne blend.“Delicious,” I say after taking a sip.

“I’ve always wanted to do a winery road trip,” Harrison says.“It sounds so cool.I left here when I was eighteen and since I’ve been back, it’s never happened.I’d love to drive up to Napa Valley.”

“Oh, that would be amazing!I haven’t seen much of California since I’ve been here, but I love it.”

“Why’d you leave North Dakota?Tired of the winters?”

“Something like that.I needed a change.”

“That’s pretty brave, coming this far and starting over.”

“Itisscary,” I agree.“Luckily I knew Taj.He moved here after college and has made friends here, so that really helped.I wasn’t totally alone.”

“Oh yeah.”He frowns, his fork poised over his plate.“The roommate.”

I smile.“Yes.”I twirl some pasta ribbons around my fork.“You should meet him.His boyfriend owns the Golden Fish, right near the beach.”

“Boyfriend?”Then he smiles.“Ah.Yeah.”

My insides warm with the knowledge that he was a little jealous.Except jealousy can actually be a dangerous, ugly thing.I didn’t get that from Harrison, though.

I don’t know.I don’t trust my instincts anymore.I don’t trust myself.Apparently, my judgment is flawed when it comes to men, and trusting the good in people is naïve.So maybe his jealousy of Taj should be a red flag to me.

I just don’t know.

I sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh.Nothing.Sorry.Just a busy day.”

Conversation flows a lot more easily through dinner than when we started out, both of us relaxing.The third course is a chicken breast with pesto, accompanied by glazed fennel and baby carrots with a Pinot Noir from Oregon, and then dessert is a lemon bar served with a Sauternes.

“I get why they serve this for dessert,” I say, after sipping the wine.“But it’s a bit sweet for me.”

“It goes nicely with the lemon, though.”

“We sound like we know what we’re talking about.”

He laughs.“We will, after we do that Napa trip.”

Oh.That sounds so amazing and fun.And impossible.We barely know each other.My heart beats a little faster.

Don’t do this.Don’t ruin a lovely evening with a freak-out.

I excuse myself to use the ladies’ room, do some deep breathing.I breathe in courage and breathe out doubt.I’m okay.I touch up my lip gloss and smile at my reflection.

I really am okay.I’m doing this.

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