“Look, I don’t know what it’s like to be dealing with these people directly, I’ll give you that. I chose computer science so Idon’thave to know. But if you think it’s a deal-breaker,” Jason said, leaning back again, “I can’t force you.”
“I don’t want to repeat some of the patterns I had here in the city before. At this point in my life, I need to believe in what I’m doing—and who I’m doing it for. This time around I need some peace of mind, you know? Work-life balance? I need to be able to make space for a personal life with this job,” Andrea said, though, in truth, he couldn’t imagine making space for anyone who wasn’t walking around with apansotticutter in her bag.
“I hear you.” Jason laughed. “I only need to make enoughspace for someone who will hopefully be gone before breakfast, but I understand that not everyone wants to be a lone wolf, you know?”
“Excuse me.” The woman with the satin dress was now poised by their table, a gold quilted clutch bag in her hands. “Are you Jason Evans?”
“I am,” he said, smiling at the woman. “Wait. Are you—?”
“I can’t believe it’s you.” She grinned. She laid her hand against her chest. “It’s Malika Hill! From Midwood High?”
“Malika Hill!” Jason’s eyes widened and he stood. He took her hand and pulled her into a hug. “You look amazing! Where have you been? This is crazy, you have to come sit with us.”
“Thank you! But my girlfriends are over there,” she said, pointing toward a large banquette by the windows. “Maybe you’d like to sit with us?”
“Yes!” he exclaimed before looking down at Andrea. “Sorry, this is my friend Andrea Garibaldi visiting from Italy.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, standing to shake Malika’s hand.
“Wow, that accent! Olivia and Michelle got back from Rome a week ago. They are going to love you.”
“Great, great! We’ll be right over,” said Jason. “We’ll grab our drinks.”
“We’ll see you over there,” Malika crooned, walking back toward her table.
“Holy shit,” said Jason, leaning into Andrea. He turned to watch Malika sit on the edge of the banquette and tuck her long legs in. “That woman. I had a crush on her for all fouryears of high school. She was so out of my league back then. I think I heard she moved to Paris after graduation. All I know is that I never saw her again. I didn’t even recognize her!”
“What was that you were saying about lone wolves?” Andrea laughed.
“I don’t remember.” Jason grinned. “But it sounds like some bullshit.” He picked up his drink and walked toward Malika’s table.
While Jason and Malika slid over to one corner of the banquette, Andrea chatted with the very elegant Olivia and the very tipsy Michelle, who, as far as he could tell, had returned from their vacation completely in love with everything about Italy.
“Just say anything at all. Like, read me the menu or whatever, seriously. I will pay you,” said Michelle, grasping his wrist while her eyebrows pinned together. “I cannotwith that accent! I want to go back!”
“Hey, hands off the nice gentleman!” said Olivia, swatting Michelle’s hand away. “Ignore her, Andrea. She should have stopped after the first two pisco sours. You were saying that you don’t work with Jason? Or you do?”
“I don’t. I did. But I don’t know. I am—” He paused, unsure of whether he should explain further. “I’m actually the mayor of a small town in Italy.”
“You’re what? Liv, he’s the mayor! A hot mayor! I saw your movie on Netflix already! Spoiler alert,” Michelle called, cupping her hand around her mouth and yelling toward the next table. “He gets the girl in the end, and they raise goats in Tuscany in a field of sunflowers.”
“Michelle, drink some water, will you please?”
“I don’t raise goats,” he said. “But I think I’ve seen that movie too.”
“Whyareyou here? If you don’t mind me asking.” Olivia straightened her pencil skirt and crossed her legs.
“I’m thinking about coming back to the finance world. Jason is trying to help me decide,” he said, glancing over at Jason and Malika, who had formed a little conversation bubble, effectively ignoring the entire room.
“That’s funny because I can’t stop thinking about how I can retire there,” said Olivia, pushing a glass of sparkling water closer to Michelle. “I’m dead serious. I’ve never felt so relaxed while we were there, and I pop Klonopin like it’s a breath mint.”
“We had the best time. The food! The wine! Those little tiny napkins at the cafés that don’t actually absorb anything! It’s magic!” Michelle gestured enthusiastically, nearly knocking the water over.
“It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “Slightly different when you live there, but there’s a definite charm.”
“I’m sure. It seems like the whole world is obsessed with that country. There’s art around every corner and the lifestyle is just…” Olivia trailed off.
“La dolce vita!” yelled Michelle. Olivia shot her a death glare, but Michelle leaned closer to her to whisper, “Don’t be upsetti, eat more spaghetti.”
