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“They have a son who lives in Maine, but that’s it. We’re sort of their family.”

He looked thoughtful. “I like that. I used to work in a restaurant,” he said. “I kinda miss the regulars. It was a summer job in high school a few years ago. I was a busboy. If you need any help while I’m here, just ask. I can carry an impressive amount of plates.”

“Oh, I bet.”

“That would be a safe bet. Nothing like the one I lost.”

I tilted my head. “Hey, do you want some crayons?”

He blinked at me. “Are you serious? Heck yes I want crayons!”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll run some over with a kid’s menu. There’s a maze on the back.”

“This is just getting better and better.”

I leaned down conspiratorially. “We tape the best ones to the front of the hostess stand,” I whispered.

He puffed air into his cheeks. “Man. That’s a lot of pressure. I’ll do my best to stay in the lines.”

He made me laugh. Again.

5

MATTY

I WAS FIVE HOURS in. Rhiannon and I had been chatting off and on almost the whole time.

It was 11:00 a.m. and the lunch crowd was starting to arrive. Rhiannon was busy seating people and her station was filling up.

Everyone was staring at me.

I wasn’t kidding about helping to bus tables. I sort of hoped they tapped me in. I was already sick of sitting.

I was willing to eat one more stack of pancakes, but after that I was done. Rhiannon was working a thirteen-hour shift and I wasn’t going home a minute before she did.

I liked her.

I wondered if she was dating anyone, but I was afraid to ask. I didn’t want to make it weird since she was stuck with me all day. Plus I was kind of shy. Not onstage, though—that was a different thing. But in real life, I always had a hard time approaching people. I got hit on all the time doing the Sax Boy thing, but I didn’t like to blur those lines. Besides, it was weird going out with someone who’s only seen me in a Tom Selleck stache and a mullet.

I peered out the window. It had started to snow softly outside. The cars pulling in made tire marks in the slush. I watched a customer walk in holding a wrapped gift he dropped into the toy bin by the register. Then he went to sit at the bar, where he chatted and smiled at Rhiannon the whole time he ate his lunch, watching her walk back and forth like he was watching a tennis match.

I deflated.

She was probably so sick of getting hit on. I didn’t want to be that guy.

My phone vibrated on the table, and I picked it up. My brothers were texting me.

Leo: We need proof of compliance. Send us a picture holding up a fork.

I took a selfie of me in my mask, holding up a fork and a middle finger and I sent it.

They replied with skull emojis. I rolled my eyes and put my phone face down.

Maybe it was time to stretch my legs. I took a stroll to the restroom.

I really, really wanted to take off the mask. Just for a minute to wash my face and feel the air on my skin. But I felt like it was cheating. It was a matter of honor, doing what I said I was going to do, even if nobody was there to see it. So I used the bathroom, washed my hands, and came back out without touching my mask.

I stopped at the prize machines. There was a toy one that had some fake tattoos.