“Nine o’clock tomorrow at O’Malley’s Pub,” she said. “We’ve got a date—a real one.” “I thought—” “Kristy wants to tag along for a bit. Says she wants to introduce us in person, see how that date’s going. I think it’s a lame excuse to see you.” Maya lowered her voice. “She’s trying to come between us. You gonna let her?” “I think I will,” he said. “No offense.” “None taken. I’m glad, too.” He worked the following morning. In the afternoon he went to Jon and Sheila’s, where he helped Jon paint the basement. Good busywork to keep his mind off Kristy. Except that Jon, once he finished talking about Caiden and hockey, wanted to talk about Grant’s upcoming “date,” which Grant had stupidly informed him of the night before. “We have a bet, Sheila and I.” Grant dipped the roller into the paint tray and removed the excess paint.
