Page 105 of Ice Ice Maybe
“Did we pick the same thing?” she asked excitedly.
I shook my head. “Nope, you win. I chose the chocolate mousse cake.”
Zena did a little victory dance. “See? I didn’t copy you.”
“Okay, you’re right,” I conceded.
As she reached for the tiramisu, I grabbed the same dessert.
She froze, eyeing me suspiciously. “Wait … why are you getting that? I thought you wanted the chocolate mousse cake.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I changed my mind.” Unfortunately, I could not keep a straight face.
Zena glanced down at my hand. “Let me see your napkin.”
I handed it to her, still laughing.
She opened it, then jerked her head back. “Tiramisu! We chose the same thing!” She gave me a knowing smile. “I guess this means you and I are just connected.”
“No argument here,” I said, leaning closer and kissing her.
Our moment was interrupted by Mr. Dalton yelling at the big screen as the Maple Leafs scored against the Sea Lions.
“Everett, we do have guests, remember?” Mrs. Dalton said.
Mr. Dalton waved it off. “Don’t worry about them, Elena. They are adults, plus Vivian and Rowan are from Wisconsin, the heartland of diehard sports fans. These folks are cut from a different cloth. They’ll brave the frozen tundra, all for the love of the game. And let me tell you, when their Packers are down, I’m sure their voices can get much louder than mine.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “He’s not wrong! The last time I was at Lambeau Field, I spilled beer on my lap while it was five below zero, then realized I’d just glued my backside to the stadium seat! Ruined a perfectly good pair of jeans.”
Mr. Dalton raised his glass. “Now that’s dedication to the game. Cheers.”
“Let me get you a refill on that Prosecco,” Zena offered with a smile, taking Mom’s empty glass from her.
“Thank you, dear,” Mom said, then turned to the Daltons. “Zena is absolutely lovely. You did a fabulous job raising her.”
Mr. Dalton beamed with pride, momentarily tearing his eyes away from the game. “We certainly are proud of her.”
“I feel the same about Nolan,” Mrs. Dalton chimed in. “He’s a wonderful man. We couldn’t be happier that he and Zena found each other. Though I must admit, I was disappointed to learn their engagement wasn’t real and that it was only a ruse to get Mitch off her back.”
“I felt the same way!” Mom exclaimed, glancing at me, then at Zena with affection. “But I still have high hopes it will happen when the time is right. In fact, the screensaver on my phone is a photo of Nolan and Zena together, and she is wearing that gorgeous ring.”
Mrs. Dalton’s eyes lit up with interest. “I don’t recall seeing that photo.”
“Oh, you have to see it. Let me show you,” Mom offered, reaching for her purse.
Zena and I exchanged a worried glance, both realizing the potential disaster unfolding before us if Mrs. Dalton saw that ring.
She practically sprinted back with the drink and shoved it in Mom’s face. “Here’s your Prosecco.”
“Thank you,” she said, immediately setting it down on the bar, then opening up her purse and reaching for her phone.
The tension radiated off Zena, and I wondered if she had an idea to stop them from looking at the photo, but it didn’t appear so.
“Mom, didn’t you want to see the wine cellar?” I blurted out, trying to distract her. “Let’s check it out.”
Mom looked at me quizzically. “I never mentioned that. And why are you suddenly acting so strange, Nolan?”
“Me? Strange?” I said, letting out a psychotic laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
