smiled a big smile . If this exchange was a game of chess , he felt as if he just took a major piece . He half-expected her to no longer lock elbows with him . That ’ s a move girls usually make . Disapproval means less physical contact . A crude but effective bit of negative reinforcement that ultimately means little . Instead , Cherry gripped his shoulder with her free hand and pulled him closer .
“ My goal is that you experience Market to Table and realize that I know food , and know what ’ s great in Winter Garden . All facts . You speak only in the theoretical . Or is that in hypotheticals ?”
“ Probably the latter ,” Antoinette whispered quietly to herself . She was close enough to them to hear , but close enough to be exposed . As they entered Market to Table , Chef Ryan Freelove came up and talked to them . Ryan and Cherry were clearly making fun of Frost ’ s confusion about bento boxes . Antoinette took the opportunity to sit upon the rail of the outdoor seating area , and as lady-like as such a movement could take place , swung her legs over and stood quickly on the other side of the rail . “ I stuck the landing ,” she thought proudly , then sat quickly and hunched , shielding her face with a single sheet menu . If she had an overcoat on , she would have raised the collar . If she had sunglasses , she would have put those on as well . But she had a menu as her camouflage . It wasn ’ t much . Cherry briefly got close to her as she tied Cartman ’ s leash to the rail . Frost was shaking hands with Ryan saying , “ I can ’ t wait , this is a great place ,” as Cherry once she got inside . Frost looked at her , “ Where would you like to sit ?”
“ Seattle if it isn ’ t too cloudy . Toronto , maybe ?”
He moved his head slightly , but noticeably . “ Japan ’ s nicer . San Francisco , too .”
“ You haven ’ t been to Seattle to judge . Or Toronto .” He was busted . “ But I haven ’ t been to Japan .”
“ So you really don ’ t know what a bento box …”
“ But I have been to San Francisco . As have you , clearly ,” Cherry said to Frost , neatly countering him . She turned to the hostess , “ San Francisco . We ’ ll sit there .”
“ Um , you can sit anywhere . Here .” The hostess handed them each a single-sheet menu . They smiled at her , noting that she was staying put . It wouldn ’ t be the first time that someone deemed them weirdos .
Frost spoke first . “ Thank you . I believe San Francisco is outside , mi ’ lady ?”
“ It is .” They went to the beautiful , fern-ringed lanai . One empty table separated them from a now mildly-panicking Antoinette , who took on the appearance of a person who was completely engrossed in the lunch selections as no one before her , especially when Cherry walked past her to give a bit of water to Cartman , who was laying belly down on the sidewalk , enjoying the warmth and smells of the area . “ I don ’ t know why you ’ re still looking at that menu . We ’ re both ordering bentos .” Cherry looked at her menu . No sideeye , she thought . Wait for him to look at me first .
“ I can still make a decision of my main entrée , right ? It says there are four to choose from .”
“ Of course , but you ’ ve already made that choice . So why do you continue to look ? I assume I ’ m more interesting .” Overplayed ?
“ You are , but to appear too eager , to gesture first – even an act of looking at you again before you look at me – that ’ s kind of like losing the game of ‘ chicken ,’ right ?”
“ You ’ re now acknowledging the game outright . I think that ’ s a forfeit .”
“ I ’ ll give you that one . But I can still win another .” The waitress came over to the table . Antoinette noted that the waitress was incredibly , notably , attractive . She looked on approvingly as Frost did not make any flirting gestures towards the waitress . The right balance of politeness and yet clearly prioritizing his own lunch date .
“ We ’ ll both have the bentos with the chicken .” He smiled briefly and handed both menus back to her . The waitress smiled back and went away saying , “ I ’ ll be back with those waters .”
Cherry cocked an eyebrow at Frost . He spoke , feeling her look . “ It ’ s like that movie said , ‘ Find out what the lady wants , and order for both of you . It ’ s a classy move .’”
“ First , the use of the word ‘ classy ’ means it is inherently not classy . Second , you didn ’ t get what I wanted to order .”
“ Did you not want the chicken ? You don ’ t strike me as a vegetarian . You barely acknowledged your menu , which meant that you quite often order the same thing . Are you going to have beef or pork day in and day out ? No way . Chicken .”
She smiled , for the first time conceding a clever move . “ I still won already , you know .”
“ You did indeed . But I am going to pick up a win against a different opponent right now .” Frost turned his head , looking over his left shoulder . “ Hi , mom , it ’ s wonderful to see you .”
“ Checkmate ,” groaned Antoinette .
Market to Table 146W Plant St . Ste . 140 , Winter Garden , Florida
FEBRUARY 2017 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | 33