Page 61 of Hard to Get

How about Maki Magic? It’s the best

Cammy

Expensive

Jayden

You’re a rich hockey player.

LG

@Cammy You’re tighter than a fish’s ass. Bring your credit card.

Cammy

Fine

Sammy

Good with me

We agree to meet there at seven. LG says he’ll make a reservation.

When I take Frank to the park later, I look around for Stella and Betty. But I guess with their big evening, they walked earlier. I swear Frank is disappointed, too, running around. I think he’s looking for Betty.

I can walk to Maki Magic from my place. I don’t have to go past Stella’s place to get there. But I do. The restaurant is literally four blocks away from her.

But as I stride up Richards Street, I feel stupid. Her front window looks onto the street. She could see me walk by. She’ll think I’m stalking her. I’ve just passed Helmcken, so I stop. A guy behind me nearly bumps into me.

“Sorry!”

“You lost, man?” he asks, pausing.

Do I look lost?

“No, I’m good,” I say quickly. “Just, uh, missed a turn.” I spin around and backtrack to turn onto Helmcken. I pass a bunch of small, older houses that don’t seem to fit in among the high-rises in this area, and hoof it on down to Mainland Street. There are lots of nice restaurants along here. I think I’ve been to most of them.

I enter Maki Magic and spot the others already there. I join them, unzipping my jacket. The open kitchen is a buzz of activity and delicious smells.

“Hey.” I pull out a chair and drop into it. “Sorry I’m late. Had to walk Frank.”

“You had all day to walk Frank,” Sammy says.

“I slept all morning,” I admit. “I was beat. Also, have you seen our schedule the next couple of weeks? I’m gonna die.”

“It’s the next couple of months,” LG says. “That’s normal. What are you whining about? You’re not even old.”

“I’m not whining.” Okay, maybe I am a little. He’s actually right. That’s what the NHL schedule is like. For seven-ish months. Or more. Not that we’ve made the playoffs in recent memory. “I was trying to plan a date, okay?”

“With the dog girl?” Cammy asks. “Oh, that came out bad.”

“I know what you meant. But let’s not call her a dog. She’s gorgeous.” I’ve never mentioned to them who she is. LG met her that day briefly, but he was too preoccupied with his date with the girl who worked there to ask about Stella. Not that they would know her, probably. “She turned me down tonight to try a new face mask.”

They all crack up.

“Seriously?” LG says.

“I swear.”