“Oh yeah, I have been since I was a kid. I always loved the NHL.” Tom lifted his chin and gave me a grin.

While the rest of the table settled into their own conversations, I was buttering Tom up. I warned Olive I was the master at wooing parents and this time I was not holding back.

Although I was talking with Tom, I couldn’t help but notice Olive sinking into her seat in discomfort. She placed a soft hand on my bicep, which I might have flexed a little for her.

“Hey, didn’t you have a missed call from your landlord or something?” She looked back and forth between me and my phone lying in my lap. Her eyes widened and I knew what she was suggesting.

Get out of here before it gets out of hand.

“Nope. Not a single call or text.” I winked at her, and Olive’s spine stiffened as she narrowed her eyes at me, silently fuming. I could pick up on every hint her body language threw my way, and I knew the car ride back to her house was not going to be good.

When the food was served, the conversations lowered in volume as everyone dug in, but Olive was barely eating. She was picking at her salad, and I wondered if my presence truly bothered her that much. My stomach clenched in guilt. If her foul mood was due to me, I gladly would have left. Well, not gladly but I still would have. When no one was looking, I leaned into her ear and whispered, “Are you okay?”

Olive nodded her head but didn’t answer me. I still hadn’t quite figured her out yet, so I wasn’t sure how to take it.

“So, Olive, how’s business been?” Sarah asked from a few seats down, but she seemed shy. Or nervous?

“Fine,” Olive said, her tone clipped, as twirling her fork around her salad but not picking anything up.

“Mom said you’re editing podcasts. That sounds fun.” Sarah leaned forward and stared at Olive, hoping for a reaction. You could practically feel a chill radiating from her. She was a female version of Mr. Snow Miser.

Olive let out a bitter chuckle. “Ha. Yup.”

It was clear I was missing something big here. On the plane Olive said her family was a lot to deal with and she was anxious the whole way to see them. But, now we’re here and they all seem perfectly normal. Maybe too normal? It was a mystery I couldn’t unravel, and I would definitely be asking for more details later. That is, if she let me see her again.

Dinner finished quickly and during dessert Olive's mom asked me more questions. “What is it that you do, Finn?”