Page 100 of It's a Date (Again)

Debbie carries in a basket of fresh baked rolls. She walks up behind Hank and plants a kiss on the side of his cheek. He and Debbie developed a friendship, which quickly blossomed into a relationship. I wasn’t surprised.

“Oh, let me help you with those, honey,” Hank says, taking the basket of rolls from her.

“What did I do to deserve you?” Debbie beams.

He leans down and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. “I could ask myself the same question.”

She blushes and turns toward the table, addressing the room. “All right, everyone take your seats. The caterers are ready to bring the food out.”

Hank and I exchange a smile and a nod, our way of thanking one another for being the reminders we needed to follow our hearts and to love as long as we live. Robbie and I take a seat next to each other, across from Maya and Anthony. Debbie and Hank sit at the head of the table on either end. Robbie’s hand finds mine. It always does. I don’t even have to glance over at him to know that he’s smiling, just as I am.

“You got a caterer, Debbie?” Maya asks.

She nods. “Yes, I did. Now that I have a boyfriend, my time is rather preoccupied.” Debbie winks at Hank. He returns it and sips from his glass.

The door off the dining room swings open, and a woman around my age enters. She’s petite with dark hair and light-brown eyes. She carries a tray of canapés and smiles at each of us as she places it in the center of the table.

“Hi, everyone. I’m Maddie. To start, we have bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese on the left and scallion and chive flatbread on the right. Your soups will be out shortly,” she says with a nod.

We thank her, and everyone immediately dives in, serving up plates and passing them around as she leaves the room.

“This is incredible, Debbie,” Anthony says, biting into a bacon-wrapped date.

A moment later the door swings open again, letting out a high-pitched squeak.

“Good evening,” a voice calls out. I immediately recognize it.

I turn to find Nash, dressed in a black chef jacket. He holds a serving tray lined with bowls of his homemade chicken noodle soup. That was the familiar scent.

We smile at one another.

“Debbie. You hired Peyton’s ex to cater this dinner?” Maya furrows her brow.

“Why wouldn’t I? He’s the best chef in the area, and he’s barely Peyton’s ex. No offense, Nash,” Debbie says.

“None taken.” He chuckles.

“It’s fine,” I say. “It’s really good to see you again, Nash.”

“Likewise.” He walks around the table, setting a bowl of soup in front of each person. When he gets to Robbie and me, he pauses. “Are you two together?”

We smile and nod.

Nash grins back. “Good. Honestly, when I saw you both interact at that coma surprise party Maya made up, I wondered how you two weren’t together. I’m glad it all worked out.”

“I appreciate that, man,” Robbie says.

“What about you, Nash? Are you seeing anyone?” I ask.

He walks to the head of the table, holding the empty tray against his chest. “Actually ...” Nash points toward the door. “I’m taking Maddie to my family’s Christmas next week.”

We all swoon and clap. The attention makes his cheeks redden.

“Lucky girl,” Debbie says. “If Hank hadn’t come into my life, I was going to hit you up.”

Maya and I burst out laughing.

“Lucky for me too.” Hank grins across the table at Debbie.