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“Because even if you’re just going to be my friend, me and Buck are a package deal and I can’t be friends with someone who hates my dog.”

For a moment I wanted to laugh, but she was absolutely serious.

“I don’t hate dogs. I’m sure your dog is wonderful.” That seemed like the right thing to say.

“You could meet him and find out. I promise he’s very well-behaved. I know a lot of dog owners say that and it’s not true, but I trained him well and he’s a good boy.”

My heart cracked open just a tiny bit when Stace talked about her dog. Anyone could see she adored him. That this was important to her.

“Okay,” I found myself saying. “I’ll meet your dog.”

Stace gave me one of her biggest smiles yet. “Yeah? How about this weekend? My little brother has a soccer game, but I could meet you nearby.”

My mother had another charity event on Saturday that I was expected to attend. Or maybe it was a baby shower for one of her friend’s daughters. Something. I hadn’t been paying attention to the invitation I’d gotten. There had been so many over the years.

“When?” I asked her, checking my calendar on my phone. There it was. It was actually a bridal shower for one of my mother’s friend’s granddaughters that I barely knew. Most people wouldn’t even know if I was there or not.

“It starts at two,” she said, which was the exact same time as I was supposed to be sipping cocktails and making small talk with people I didn’t care about but had to pretend to like.

A little boy’s soccer game sounded much better. Especially if Stace was going to be there.

“But I’m just coming to meet your dog, right? Not your whole family?” There was no way in hell I was going to meet her family. I still didn’t even know her actual first name.

“No, no. I wouldn’t subject you to them this early in the game. My family is wonderful, but they’re a lot all at once. And we get a little extra when one of us is competing.” The fondness with which she spoke about them made something different ache in my chest. What was it like? To be loved and cared for like that?

“It’ll be just me and Buck. The field is right near the park so we can just meet up there. I’ll sneak you some snacks.”

That didn’t sound awful at all.

“Okay,” I said, deleting the other event from my schedule and exhaling. Why did that feel so good? My mother was going to be absolutely livid. I was going to get another round of angry voicemails from her and my father.

“Should I bring anything?” If there was one thing I learned from my mother, it was that you always showed up with a gift.

“Nah, just bring your gorgeous self,” Stace said, making something flutter and unfold in my chest.

A lot of people had told me I was pretty but hearing Stace call me gorgeous was like hearing it for the first time.

I was still going to bring something with me. Maybe something for the dog? What did dogs like? Bones, right? I’d have to do some research.

“I have a question for you,” I said after I’d finished my pie.

“Shoot,” Stace said.

“What’s your first name?” She laughed as she scraped the plate for the last crumbs of pie.

“Do I have to tell you?” she asked.

“No, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” It must be something really awful.

She sighed heavily. “No, it’s fine. It’s Katrina.”

“Katrina? What’s wrong with that?”

Stace raised both eyebrows. “Do I look like a Katrina to you?”

“No, but there are a million nicknames. Kat, Kate, Katie, Trina.”

As someone who had zero good nicknames for my name, I was envious.