Page 63 of Thick

“And what are you going to settle for?”

“The grilled chicken breast with a side of steamed broccoli and a sweet potato. You?”

“I’ll decide when he gets here.” I set my menu aside. “What’s your favorite food?”

“Italian. But I can’t eat it. It’s sad. That stuff is like sex.”

“I don’t know about that, but it’s pretty damned good.”

I no more than finished speaking, and the waiter stepped to the table. “Have you made a decision?”

“I think we’re ready,” I said.

“For the lady?”

“I’ll have the grilled chicken breast.”

“Two sides?”

“Broccoli and a sweet potato.”

“Brown sugar and butter?”

“No thank you. Just plain.”

“Very well.” He looked at me. “For the gentleman?”

“The shrimp scampi, the chicken marsala, and two of the filet specials.”

He stared back at me as if I was crazy.

“I’m serious,” I said.

“How would you like your steak, I’m sorry, steaks cooked. Medium, and…” I looked at Bobbi.

“Medium,” she said.

“Make both medium, please.”

“Okay. One chicken breast, grilled, with broccoli and a sweet potato, plain. Then, one shrimp scampi, one chicken marsala, and two filet specials. What would you like for sides?”

“Broccoli and sweet potatoes.”

“For each of them?”

“Please.”

“Alright. I’ll be back in a minute with some bread.”

Bobbi let out a long sigh.

“Don’t bother,” I said. “We’re both gluten intolerant.”

He gave a sharp nod. “Very well. Your meals will be out shortly.”

Bobbi laughed and then shook her head. “What are we going to do with all of this food?”

“Eat the broccoli first. Then, half the baked potato. You’ll damned near be full. Wait a few minutes. Take a big bite of the filet, a bigger bite of the chicken marsala, and then close with two of the shrimp. It’ll be about the same points as eating that boring chicken breast.”