“Fuck it — Sure.”
Ana looks up at the waiter with a tired smile. He looks glad and uneasy.
The couple sits down across from her. It’s the only opening and it’s only 4. What else was she going to do? No, you can’t sit across from me even though I’m basically sitting with six other people on this bench. Why did he even bother asking? I’m not in charge.
She leans into her straw and the cold and the booze soothes her throat.
They’re cute, the couple. They smiled at her sheepishly and are now discussing how to maximize the happy hour menu the way couples do because they can share things without over-ordering. Spicy meatballs. Babaganoush. She suggests something Ana thinks is a vegetable.
The simplicity in their exchange softens the knot in her chest.
She hasn’t ordered yet either.
She scans the menu but her mind drifts to the work meeting from hell and the niggling in her gut that she should quit and move to Spain and the way her parents would lose their minds over it while polishing their collection of vintage china.
The waiter comes when the couple waves and animatedly affirms that they’ve curated their choices to spectacular gastronomic effect.
Then he steps over to Ana and notches down his enthusiasm in the most considerate way a person can do that. How about you? What can I get you?
She looks down at the menu and hands it back to him.
“I’ll have what they’re having.”
By Roberta Lawrinsky
On July 3, 2026
I love the ending! She’ll order the same thing as the happy couple sitting across from her! Her orders echos not only her sense that this couple has good taste in food, but they also have good taste in love partners. Perhaps she’ll get a good love partner too-the waiter appears very attuned to her.
By Jessica Yip
On July 4, 2026
Thank you!