Page 37 of Love or Leave

"I'm gonna try the cabbage roll sandwich," he announced, placing the menu down and taking a drink of Willow's new ale.

"Solid choice," she said with a smile. "It's delicious. My grandmother's recipe."

Jalen's eyes slowly lifted and met hers, and he stared at her for a moment. "Your grandmother's recipe?" he asked with a wince, as if he'd just realized he was sitting across from a completely unhinged person.

"Yeah," she said with a laugh. "This is actually my brother’s and his girlfriend's place. Keller is my last name."

His face relaxed—albeit slightly—as he sat back. "I didn't know."

"Are we all set to order?"

Jalen looked up at the waiter who'd appeared beside their table. "Cabbage roll sandwich, please."

"And for you, Cara?"

"I'll have the maple bacon burger but be sure to tell Luis it's for me. He'll know what to do."

"You got it," the waiter said with a wink, then turned and disappeared.

Jalen relaxed fractionally but stayed quiet as the awkward silence returned. This time it swept over them like an avalanche, cutting off air.

Cara searched for something to ask him to fill the void as she fidgeted with the bottom of her shirt. She'd sworn off the fidgeting but could not put an end to it.

Should she tell him what she was working on at school? Mention the once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower that was coming next week? Start blathering on about how cold it had been?

Ugh.

Finally, her mind landed on golf.

"Have you been out on the links lately?"

On the links?

What on earth was she saying? And why was she bringing up a topic she knew nothing of?

His eyes met hers, as if he’d been waging his own silent battle for conversation and she’d just cast him a lifeline.

He smiled, opened his mouth, and started blathering on about handicaps and eagles. She followed along, trying to gauge an appropriate time to laugh or nod, trying to keep up the ruse. If she was going to go on another date with him, she'd need to broaden her golf research beyond little throwaway terms she didn't fully understand, like “links.”

Suddenly, the door opened, and an icy breeze blew in, followed by Max.

His eyes met hers briefly before zeroing in on the guy sitting across from her. A millisecond later, he changed his trajectory and turned toward her, gobbling up the distance between them while staring daggers into the back of Jalen's head.

She rolled her eyes at him, then realized he was wearing gym clothes.

And the ends of his hair were wet.

And it was Thursday.

Shit.

Hockey night.

That meant that not far behind would be—

The door opened and in blew Adam, Ethan, and Antonio. Adam followed Max and when he saw her and Jalen, his ridiculous face broke into a smile.

Here we go.

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