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“Out.”
“Oh. I know where you’re going.”
“You don’t know nothin’.”
“Yeah I do. Go on. It’s okay.”
Ant’s first thought was that he was headed out to have a smoke. But he’d actually been doing a pretty good job at quitting over the summer so that probably wasn’t it. No, the even money was on Monty’s. He was heading out into the street and down the block just far enough to get a really good look at Monty’s. He wanted to see if they were at all busy.
“Be back in ten,” he said.
Romeo was dumbstruck. He couldn’t move, couldn’t look away. He just stood there taking it all in - Ant, Marco, Tyler, Ant, Nikki, Ant, Patrick, Ant, Cap…
“Eleven. Order one-eleven,” Nikki shouted over the crowd.
Marco wasn’t letting up. “Hey. Can we order or what?”
“What do you want?” snapped Nikki, losing patience. “Eleven.”
“I think they’re over there,” said Ant pointing.
“Okay, okay, don’t get testy. I was just having a little fun. I’m sorry. We’d like to order some food. Okay? ”
“Okay,” Nikki said, softening her tone. “What would you like?”
Marco mumbled something. Something that sounded like some kind of fries with cheese, but Nikki missed it.
“What?”
“Ass fries! Ass fries with fleas!” yelled Marco, laughing wildly and slapping his hand on the counter.
That sent Tyler flying back over. “You looking for trouble? Cause I’ll give you some trouble.”
“Yo, it’s ass fry guy,” said Marco, laughing.
“I’m warning you.”
“Keep this up and he’s gonna kick your ass,” said Nikki.
“Hey can we order?” asked a couple of kids, standing in line, clutching a handful of cash.
Ant had had enough. “I’m going to deliver this.”
Romeo was still watching. He saw Ant pick up the food and walk toward the back of the shop. He lost her for a second, but then she emerged out a side door. She stopped and surveyed. Then a look of recognition came over her face and she began making her way through the crowd. Snaking her way between folks, being careful not to spill anything.
When she reached the table where they sat she smiled and said “Hi, I think this is for you.” Then she dropped the food, picked up a nearby empty tray, turned and looked into the crowd.
And there he was again. That same guy.
11
It took Ant a moment to realize who she was looking at. To realize who was looking back at her. After all, she’d only seen him once. Or was it twice? And that was in a whole different time and place. But she did. It was that same guy. And now there he was again, smiling at her. With that incredibly perfect smile.
Romeo couldn’t believe his luck. He had thought he’d probably never see her again. After blowing his chance to meet her the first time. No, make that the first two times. He figured his luck had run out. And on top of that, his foot still hurt.
And now there they were. The two of them. Standing there. Grinning at each other. While a cheesesteak scented storm of traffic, music, food and family swirled all around them.
It was Romeo who made the first move. He took an imperceptible deep breath and began walking toward her. Ant, on the other hand, stayed where she was. Though she didn’t move, she wasn’t still. If you looked at her closely, really closely, you could see that she was drumming her fingers on her thigh, nervously, just a tiny bit.
