The Save Game

Chapter 5

Can you do lunch? 12:30?

Allison glanced down at her phone. She had stayed away from the hospital the last few days so that she could try to understand what Sal was asking of her. Now he was texting her for lunch and she wasn't sure if she should, or even could, commit to what he expected.

Sure. She hesitated before pressing send.

A few minutes later, he texted her an address. She let him know she got it and then took out a cigarette. The nicotine had taken the place of the high that she still craved when she wanted the world to disappear.

She inhaled as she touched the flame of her lighter to the end. She was close to the address Sal had texted and had a few minutes before she needed to meet him so she leaned against the brick wall of a Starbucks. She watched the other New Yorkers rushing by on their own lunch hours.

Allison made sure to blow her smoke up and away from the others. She wished she was strong enough to quit the vice but was afraid if she laid the cigarettes down she'd be back to smoking crack in no time.

She wondered about the people that rushed passed her. Did any of them have problems that made them want to disappear? If they did, their smiles and lively cell phone conversations hid it all.

She took a final drag and stuck the butt in the sand ashtray beside her.

Three minutes later, she was standing outside the address that Sal had sent. She was familiar with the small sandwich shop and was thankful that he had chosen someplace where few people went.

She pushed the door open causing the bell above the door to ring. There were only three tables in the shop and Sal sat at the one in the very back. He glanced up at the sound of the bell and waved when he saw her.

"Hi." Allison said as she joined him at the table.

"Hey." He laid his cell phone to the side of the table and smiled at her. "Missed your face at the hospital."

"I've had some things to work on." She lied before taking a drink of the water in front of her.

"Or were you avoiding me?" He teased.

"You got me." She laughed, trying to ease the obvious tension that had settled between them.

"You never responded to my text." He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her explanation.

"I thought we were here for lunch, not an interrogation." She shot back.

"I've already ordered for both of us." He leaned back in his chair, putting a little more space between them. "I hope you don't mind."

"Well, no, I don't but still." She sat back as well and they both studied each other from across the way.

"Q's been moved out of ICU. He's going to have to stay for a while until they are sure there's no lingering effects." He changed the topic to put her more at ease.

"I'm glad." She said. "You never told me what happened to him. How'd he get there? I know it was a motorcycle accident, but that's all I know."

The waitress brought out the soup and sandwiches that Sal had ordered.

"Is that okay?" Sal asked, motioning to her lunch.

"Yeah, this is perfect." Allison looked at the tasty options in front of her. This was one of her favorite sandwich places because everything she had tried here was always delicious. "I love this place actually."

"I've been a few times." Sal said. "It never disappoints."

She nodded as she took a bite of the soup. She savored the heavy broth as it slid down her throat. Allison was thankful that their food had arrived so that she could gather her thoughts before Sal brought up her avoiding him again.