Dearest Jenna,

Thought you might be hungry.

Hope you liked the flowers and the box of goodies.

Lunch buddies share their feelings, stories, and even goodies.

Thinking of you!

Your lunch buddy, Max

Putting the note back down, I ran out the door. Looking to my left and right, I didn’t see anyone. I must have missed him. Noting how he was there earlier, my mind started reeling. Did he hand deliver the sandwich himself? Most likely Mrs. Ross wouldn’t have let him in, but the way she was googling eyes at him, it could be a possibility. I bet he could talk himself through anything with his looks and charm.

Sitting back down in my chair, I ate from hunger. I didn’t have his phone number so I had no way to thank him. In fact, I only knew his first name; not that knowing his last name would help me find him. The only way I could thank him was to go to the Café Express and hope that he would show up.

When Lisa, Rachel, and the rest of the staff walked in, I had only finished half of my sandwich. Quickly folding the wrapper around the sandwich, I dumped it into the trash. I didn’t mean to. I could’ve saved it for later, but my face flushed red, thinking that somehow they knew who’d placed it there. The rest of the day went by quickly, and I was eager to go home to tell Becky, but since I couldn’t wait, I texted on the group text.

**

Turning the key and pushing, I walked into my apartment. “Becky,” I called, seeing light from the kitchen. The smell of spaghetti churned in my stomach. I hadn’t realized I was starving until I smelled the aroma of the ground beef and tomato sauce.

“I’m here.” Becky was draining the hot, boiling water from the pasta into a strainer.

“You made dinner?” I squealed, happily.

“You and I need to celebrate. Congrats on going to New York. This is your dream…well…one of your dreams.”

“I know…right? I can’t believe it.” My tone filled with excitement. Opening the cabinet, I pulled out two large plates and set them on the counter. Becky dumped some pasta on each plate and poured sauce on top of each. Taking the plates, I set them on the dining table. My eyes set on the beautiful roses that continuously filled the air with their sweet scent, reminding me of Max.

“When do you leave for New York?” Becky asked, breaking me out of my stare, sitting across from me, handing me a fork and a glass of water.

“This Thursday,” I replied, winding the noodles around the fork. “I’ll be back Saturday night.”

“You should ask Max to come along.”

I blanked out from the thought of the surprise lunch on my desk. “What?” I giggled. “I don’t even know his last name. In fact, I don’t know him at all.”

“I was just kidding, but I could tell from your stalling that you thought about it.” Becky took a bite. “I’m sorry, but the flowers reminded me of him. Not that I’m interested…don’t get me wrong.”

With my mouth full, I spoke anyway. “I know what you mean.”

During the dinner conversation, we talked about what happened during my lunch hour. We discussed her job and her dateless nights. After dinner, I called my parents. I thought about calling Luke, but I couldn’t. Going to New York was a great escape. Perhaps it would help me with my decision; continue dating Luke and make it work, or let him go.

Chapter 11

The next day at work, Lisa, Rachel, and the team got the news that I was headed to New York. Lisa was most thrilled. Being a New Yorker herself, she was suggesting restaurants I should try if I had the time. Being that it was Tuesday, Lisa informed me that most employees were going to Café Express for lunch. Thinking that I may run into the photographer and Megan, I agreed to go.

A part of me was hesitant, afraid that I would run into Max again, but I couldn’t refuse since I had turned them down several times before…or so I told myself to make myself feel better. There was no way around this. One thing for sure…he worked nearby, and we were bound to run into each other one way or another. I had to stop being timid, hold my head up high, and face whatever came my way.

The group of us walked to Café Express. When we entered, waves of hands greeted us. Though I didn’t know who they were, the group I was with in line did. Instead of waving back like everyone else, I just gave a heartfelt smile.

It seemed as though the company’s employees occupied most of the space, and there was hardly room left for the other customers. After we ordered and got our lunches, I followed Lisa to join the people that waved at us. Lisa introduced me to a bunch of people, but I quickly forgot their names except for Jake, the photographer, since Mrs. Ward had already talked about him. Megan wasn’t there.

Jake gave me the warmest smile. His hair was slightly long, but he had a nice smile and he was cute. He had a friendly aura about him, the kind that showed he made friends easily. After arranging chairs, we sat.

“Are we on the same flight?” Jake asked me out of the blue, after swallowing a spoon full of soup. He had ordered sour dough bread filled with clam chowder soup.

“I’m not sure. All I know is that I’ll be flying Thursday.”

“I’m flying Wednesday, tomorrow, with Megan,” he informed me. “I wonder why we’re not flying together? Have you been to New York before?”

“No, it’s my first time,” I said, looking at Lisa and a few other ladies sitting next to her, who were sitting up straight, smiling, looking past me.