we were cool now?
Approach him with caution and thank him for his apology?
Return to the bar, snag two flutes of champagne, come back here and toast to new beginnings?
In my usual fashion, I decided to wing it.
I marched up to him. “So here’s the thing, Lund. I’m guilty of doing the same thing you did.”
Without looking at me, he said, “Being an asshole?”
“Yeah, that too. But I’ve said stuff that could’ve hurt people if I’d been overheard. It’s just . . . that comment hit me where it hurts because I’ve spent most of my life fighting back against incorrect assumptions.”
“I wish you would’ve fought back against me and mine.”
“In a way, that’s what I’m doing tonight. Only because I’ve been drinking. I confronted you—when I could’ve let myself be pissed off at you forever. So, I accept your apology.”
A beat of silence passed between us.
“That’s it?”
“It’s not enough? You want more?” I teased.
His lips quirked, even when he kept his focus on the game. “I never would’ve pegged you as funny.”
“I hear that a lot. Along with Crabby Gabi.”
The machine made a tinny sound and Nolan smacked the button on his left. “Being called Crabby Gabi bothers you.”
A statement. “That’s what sticks in people’s minds. It’s hard to overcome.”
“Tell me about it. In college I was known as Trollin’ Nolan. I didn’t go to college here and thankfully that nickname stayed there after I graduated.”
“Wait. You didn’t go to U of M like everyone else in your family?”
“I went to NYU.”
My mouth dropped open. “Why?”
“Because at the time I figured I’d be stuck in Minneapolis the rest of my life, so I wanted to live somewhere else when I had the chance and didn’t have a dozen relatives looking over my shoulder.” He paused. “You little fucker. Stay put.”
“Excuse me?”
“Talking to the game.”
I sighed. “I’ll leave you be then. I should probably find my date anyway.”
The whomp whomp whomp whomp whomp sound of him losing followed me as I walked away.
Not that I got far before Nolan spun me around. “Ash isn’t your date any more than I am.”
“You’re right. But you’re here, and I’m here, and we just bitched and made up, so let’s find a game we can play together and make everything all better.”
“Last game we played, you kicked my ass. Twice.”
I offered him a sunny smile. “Which is why I’m offering you a chance to redeem yourself.”
“Ha. You just wanna sucker me.”
“If you’re saying no . . .” I stood on my toes as if peering over his shoulder. “I’m sure there’s someone around here who’d be interested in losing to me.”
“Jesus. You’re impossibly cocky. Fine. I’ll play with you.” Nolan loomed over me. “One game, Gabriella. One game of my choosing.”
“Unless I win and then you’ll demand a rematch. So, it has to be three games.” I looked around at the possibilities and rubbed my hands together. “Now what’ll it be?”
“Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man or Pac-Man are the only dual-player games I’ve seen. Come on.” Nolan placed his hand in the small of my back to direct me. We didn’t stop to chat with any of the people he’d smiled at, said hello to or greeted by name. Seemed he knew everybody here.
Seemed he didn’t want to introduce me to anyone he knew.
Because he’s embarrassed to be seen with you.
I must’ve stiffened because he came to a full stop.
“What?”
“If you’d rather hang out with someone else, it’s fine. I can track Liddy down.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I’d rather hang out with you, even if you’re pissed off at me, because the rest of these people are here for the bragging rights of being invited to an exclusive event thrown by the Lund family and for the free booze. They’re not even interested in the games.”
That explanation made me feel better.
He tilted his head at a rakish angle that was utterly charming. “Or . . . are you getting cold feet because you’re afraid you’ll lose to me?”
“Now who’s being impossibly cocky?”
“Come on, let’s go.”
A couple had claimed the Space Invaders game.
He said, “Ladies first,” and directed me to the Ms. Pac-Man table.
After sitting down, I leaned forward to read the instructions printed on the outside of the glass. Either they’d replicated this feature, or this was an original machine.
“What are you doing? Don’t you know how to play?”
“It’s been a long time since I played,” I lied, “so I’m refreshing my memory.”
He placed two stacks of tokens on the edge of the