Starting from Square Two by Caren Lissner Page B

reaching over the couch to shake his hand. But he shifted a little, still seeming like he wanted to go. Erika continued, “That’s Gert, and that’s Hallie.”
    â€œNice to meet you.” He shook their hands, but then turned to walk away.
    â€œSo,” Erika called out. “Where are you from?”
    He turned around again, but kept walking backward. “New Jehhh-sey,” he said. Then he took off with his friends.
    Erika looked deflated. All the guy had really wanted was a light. Erika’s whole body seemed to sink in her seat. Gert felt sorry for her.
    â€œI need chocolate,” Erika said. “And give me another graham.”
    â€œNone left,” Hallie said.
    Erika dug into her pocketbook for eleven dollars.

Chapter
5
    â€œS o,” Gert said, laughing during dinner, “the guy with the clipboard wouldn’t even let us up the stairs.”
    She and Todd were on their second date, at a restaurant in Little Italy. Gert had never actually been in Little Italy before, although she’d certainly heard good things. She was sure that if she stayed in New York for another eight years, she still wouldn’t get to all the neighborhoods. Two months ago, in fact, she had visited Columbia University for a focus group on women who had lost a spouse, and she was amazed at what she saw when she wandered a few blocks north to 122nd and Broadway: To her left, a verdant park that held Grant’s Tomb, and ahead of her, the part of the subway where it exploded up into an elevated line bedizened with lights. On both sides were Gothic buildings and grassy fields and backpacking students, and it looked completely different than only fifteen blocks earlier. Tonight, she’d felt the same way when she’d started following Todd’s directions to Little Italy. She’d begun to doubt them, because up until the last block, she’d been surrounded by the stores and unintelligible signs of Chinatown. Then she’d turned a corner and been thrust into a wonderland of bright lights, iron balconies, roaring laughter and rich tomato smells.
    Todd smiled while Gert talked about her friends. He was a great listener. Better than anyone she’d met in a while. It was refreshing to talk to someone who didn’t know anything about her, who didn’t pass judgment or cut her off. He seemed genuinely interested.
    She thought about how Marc used to tell her about his day. She’d always listened to his adventures in pursuing clients. He was the consummate salesman. She loved watching him relish the chase.
    â€œI know Hallie and Erika are your friends,” Todd said, “but it seems like there’s a tension between you.”
    Gert found it interesting that she’d been on only two dates with him and he’d already picked up on that. “I have more friends, but they’re in other parts of the country,” she said apologetically. “I probably should make more of an effort to understand Hallie and Erika. It’s just that they get so crazy about everything, especially dating. They analyze every aspect of it to death. And they get jealous of people in good relationships, too.”
    Todd was wearing a soft sweater. Gert figured he’d gotten it as a gift once from a girl. Most of the men she knew tended to prefer button-down shirts that were comfortable and easy to clean.
    â€œYou seem more easygoing than they are,” Todd said.
    â€œYeah, well,” Gert said. She knew guys liked that about her, but she suddenly felt modest. “I don’t want to bore you all night with my sad, sad stories of my sad, sad friends.”
    â€œI don’t mind,” he said, arranging his fork and knife. “Talk about whatever you want.”
    The waiter came with their waters. They passed on drinks and said they needed a few more minutes to look at the menu.
    Gert remembered that Hallie had told her to make sure she didn’t just talk about