Oh, thank God. Not that I didn’t trust her judgment, I’m sure you’re a catch. But I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I just wanted to do something nice for Tilly.
You’re as sweet as she says. The fact she trusted you with her rugelach speaks volumes. My partner and I are just keeping things low-key for now. Demanding careers, nosy family members—esp the grandma variety.
That’s a lot to share with the person delivering pastries, but I appreciate the clarity.
LOL Well, I still look forward to meeting you.
And if you need any advice about your first time on the Baller, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you on board, Leah.
Well, she could at least mentally check off "awkward setup" and "expectations" from her bucket list. No romance, no pressure—just rugelach delivery. She deleted the thread and slowly walked back to join the men and the conversation.
“How ‘bout some catering for the road?” Danny offered. “We’ve got a full fridge in the green room.”
“Now you’re talking.”
Danny jogged toward a back staircase. Avi pulled a sheet of paper taped to the box office wall, folding it before handing it to her. “Hang on to this for me?”
She slipped it into her purse, only to look up and see Avi striding into the main part of the venue.Were they allowed to just roam around unescorted?He seemed right at home, like he knew the place as well as the back of his hand. Leah had no choice but to follow.
Avi stood in the middle of the concert floor, facing the front. He pushed his hands into his hoodie pockets and lifted his chin as if he were watching some ghost band take the stage. And maybe he was – the venue had a vibe about it. Not malevolent, just…seasoned. Leah could imagine specters from its speakeasy days, tramping the same floor.
“Everyone played here back in the day,” Avi commented, as if reading her mind. “Sinatra, Coltrane…all the greats. What I love about this place, is it has perfect sightlines.”
He paced to the left, then the right, before walking his way backward to the stage. “No matter where you stand…great views of the band. That’s one of the reasons why we still choose to play here and not the arena down the road.”
He braced his hands behind him and deftly hoisted himself to a seated position at the lip of the stage, patting the spot next to him.
Leah joined him, not as gracefully. Once settled, she stared out into the darkened room. Safety lights shone here and there, offering her views into the corners and crevices. She again tried to imagine it full of people. And through Avi’s eyes.
“If everyone can see you…does that mean you can see everyone?” She asked.
He nodded slowly, smiling. The lone spotlight from above brought out the russet in his hair. He turned to her. “Can you film me for a second?”
“Avi Wolfson, he who has avoided cameras and the public at every turn?” she joked but hopped down and honored hisrequest. Avi ran a hand through his dark locks and gazed out at her from where he sat.
“Hey, everyone. It’s Avi.”
His smile was all at once sheepish and sexy.Did he practice that look in front of a mirror?All Leah knew was that it was doing funny things to her insides.
“Sorry about tonight’s show being canceled, we were looking forward to rocking out with you. But safety first, kids. Tickets are being refunded at your point of purchase, but I promise you, we’ll be back to make it up to you, Buffalo. Until then…” He flashed a peace sign. “Shalom, stay safe.”
The wink at the end was everything. It brought back a memory that had no images or words, just a feeling. A feeling of being thirteen and in the same room with a cute boy and, oh, the possibilities.
“You can stop filming, Gellman.” His tone was teasing. She realized she was still holding up her phone, gawking from behind it.
“Safety first for you, too.” Avi’s expression shifted, and his voice held a serious note. “Are you okay to keep driving? And…with me?”
She knew what he meant. The two of them, in the same boat. With the same end goal.
The Matzo Baller and Manhattan were at the finish line of this strange marathon. Was it better to have someone to pass the baton to — or in this case, share the driving and the hours?
She nodded. “As long asIget to play DJ when I’m riding shotgun.”
“Jesus take the wheel,” he joked, but the relief on his face was apparent. He nodded, too. “Deal.”
Danny was back, plastic bags loaded with to-go containers swinging from his wrists and a six-pack of Labatt beer in hishands. “Here you go, even got your kosher beef on weck from Mastman’s Deli.”
“Bless the tour rider!” Avi laughed, taking the bounty from him. “You always go above and beyond, man.”
