I walked into to the pizzeria with a baseball cap and dark shades, there was a hostess standing at a stand in front of the restaurant that greeted me as I walked up.
"Hi, How can I help you?" The hostess asked
"Hi, I am waiting for one other person but can I have a table for two?"
"Yes, right this" She turned, grabbed two menus and walked towards the middle of the restaurant and I followed.
"Can we have a table in the back corner?" I asked as I saw her getting ready to put the menus down on the table in the middle of the restaurant.
"Sure follow me" She answered and walked to the back of the restaurant while I followed. She stopped at the table in the corner and put the menus down on the table.
"Thank you" I said as I slid into the booth.
"Thanks, You waitress will be with you in a little while" She said as she walked back to the front of the restaurant. The restaurant is dimly lit so it easy for me to be inconspicuous, especially with the hat and glasses. The waitress walks over to the table.
"Hi, my name is Lisa and I will be your waitress for tonight. Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"Yes can I have a water with lemon and a Corona?" I asked
"For the Corona do you want a glass or a pitcher?"
"Someone else is joining me so I will order the pitcher" The waitress wrote down my order and walked away. I looked at the menu to see what I felt like eating. This restaurant has been around for years I used to love coming here for their pizza and other Italian food when I lived here and it usually isn't busy during the weeknights. Since I haven't been here for a while I would like to eat the pizza I don't think I want anything too heavy. I look up and I see the same hostess leading an older looking Bobby back to my table. When he reaches the table the hostess walks away, I stand and do a bro hug with Bobby, and he sits down.
"Hey, long time" I said speaking first.
"Hey, yea it has been" He answered. The waitress walks back over with my water, the pitcher of beer, and a glass.
"Hi, Can I get you anything?" She asks Bobby
"Sure" he answers
"Can I start you off with a drink?" She asks
"What kind of beer is that?" He asks me
"Its Corona" I answered
"Okay, I will take a glass, and a water also." He said to the waitress.
"Are you ready to order or do you need a minute?"
"Give us a minute" I answer her
"Okay let me grab your drink and I will be right back" she says before she walks away
Bobby is looking at the menu and I am thinking of how I can start the conversation with him.
"So how's life been?" I decide to ask before I drank some of my beer
"Good I have a little one now and I am a firefighter in Manchester. I don't have to ask how you have been I don't think I ever see an athlete in the tabloids as much as you are."
"Don't believe everything you read or see on TV, they tell the story that sells. It's not always the truth. But anyway I think that's great that you became a firefighter" I laughed and explained before putting my cup up to my mouth
"Okay so you don't change women like you change your drawers?" He asked and I laughed because I don't know why everyone thinks that.
"I don't honestly I don't change women like that. I just have multiple women that I kind of go between."
"So that is so much of a difference" He laughs sarcastically. The waitress came back over with Booby cup and water with her pad and pen
"Are you guys ready to order?" She asked.
"What are you thinking?" I asked Bobby as he poured himself some beer
"I feel like pizza. What about you?" He said looking at me
"Yea that's what I was getting. How about we get a large meat lovers?" I asked
"Sure" he answered before drinking his beer
"We will have a large meat lovers, hot wings with ranch dressing. Can you also bring another pitcher of Corona when you bring out the Pizza" I watched her write everything down and I grabbed the picture and refilled my cup with beer.
"Ok I will put your order in now and I will bring the pitcher of Corona out when the pizza is ready."
"I just don't want to settle down. What about you are you still with your kids' mom?"
"Oh no we actually broke up before she even had him."
"Wow, ok how old is he, are you dating?" I asked
"James is three and yes I have been with the same person for the last two years. What are you doing back in Connecticut?" He asked
"My mom guilt tripped me in to coming here while the season is over. She wanted me to stay the whole time but I doubt if that will happen. I like it better in Cali. How's your family?" I wanted him to be the first person to bring up Chanaé but I was getting anxious to know about her.
"Everyone is good. Living their life and either raising kids and working or in school. I can't believe your mom is still in living in Connecticut I thought you would have moved her to be with you in Cali?
"Man she is not leaving Connecticut. I can't even get her to stop working. She won't take money from me let alone move to Cali. I had to sneak and have my aunt help me look for a house and buy it without her knowing. I barely got her to move in." I answered him. Everyone including family thought that my mom would move when I got drafted into the NFL but nope not Marie Hernandez.
"Miss Hernandez was always the strict stubborn one. I am really surprised that she hasn't guilt tripped you into returning before now. You guys have always been so close even in college you were home almost every weekend." He said before he drank more of his beer.
"Oh she has tried, I just always got away with convincing her to come visit there until now. She was laying it on thick this time. I am glad I did though because I got to see family that I have not seen in a while." I drank more of my beer as Bobby refilled his cup.
"Okay. So question what made you want to talk now it's been years?" He asked and drank from his cup.
"I actually wanted to know why you ever stopped talking to me when Chanaé and I broke up. I reached out for a while but after you never calling or answering I stopped. I am back home what better time than to find out now" I answered.
"You know that I never wanted you guys to date but when I found out what you did and that you guys broke up…
"Wait you said what I did. I didn't do anything. She just freaked out one day and left and never looked back." I interrupted Bobby
"I don't know the story and maybe you and Chanaé should have that conversation. I just know why I stopped our relationship between us. I didn't really think we should be friends after you guys were done. I know the way I went about it wasn't right but I was young and that's the way I knew how then. We were like brothers and it was hard not to see you but because I was in college and always busy with classes and new people it made it easier to not talk to you, then days turned in to months and months turned into years." I guess I understood that and there was nothing that I could do about it now except move on. At that moment the waitress brought over our food and beer. She set everything down on the table.
"Is there anything else I can get for you guys" She asked.
"No" I answered and she walked away.
"I guess I understand your point. You were like a brother to me and I would like to mend our friendship and at least keep in touch. I need more people here to keep an eye on ma."
"Oh wow the great Anthony Hernandez wants to be friends with me, are you sure I fit in your circle?" He said sarcastically with his hand on his chest for the full effect.
"Seriously, man my circle is small" I said with a laugh as I grabbed a plate and a slice Bobby did the same.
"I am just pulling your leg" He said.