Page 110 of Say It Isn't So

Knox:Friends don’t have their minds in the gutter with other friends. It’s not friendly. So take this for what it is: hot dog stand byBellissima. Meet me there.

Bianca:Yes, sir.

Bianca:Wait, are we eating there?

Knox:What else do you want to do there?

Bianca:I’ve never had a hot dog from a stand.

Knox:Never?

Bianca:Never!

Knox:Oh, you’ve missed out. This is going to be good.

Bianca:If they’re anything like the other hot dogs I’ve had in my life, I might have to agree with you.

Knox:You know, one wouldn’t know you have these dirty thoughts just by looking at you.

Bianca:It’s part of my charm when you get to know me. I only reserve these moments for my *true* friends.

Knox:I feel special.

Bianca:You should.

* * *

Knox was already there when I arrived, waiting for me off to the side of the blue and yellow umbrella. He was wearing dark jeans and a white dress shirt with the first two buttons opened. He looked very good and all I wanted to do was walk right up to him and kiss him.

I refrained, though, and instead casually waved and smiled as I closed the gap between us. “There’s a pizza joint right around the corner,” I informed him, pointing to where I was talking about.

He shook his head. “Nah, in all my years in this city, I’ve learned New York is known for a lot of things.”

I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but before I could say anything he began listing each one off, popping his fingers up in the air as he did. “Delis, sushi, pizzerias, steakhouses.” Then he put all but one down and wagged it. “But there’s nothing quite like having a dirty water hot dog.”

I tried my best not to laugh. “Are you done now?” I grinned. “That was some speech on New York food. You’d think you were the one who was born and raised here with your extensive knowledge.”

He shrugged. “I love this city and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

“All right,” I said, clapping my hands together and mimicking a manly, macho voice, “so let’s get us some big, thick hot dogs.”

He laughed, shaking his head the whole time.

Surprisingly, there was no line, so we walked right up and ordered. “You go first,” I told him, placing one of my hands on his bicep.

He looked down at my hand and cocked a brow, but didn’t say anything, only went on ordering.

“What do you want on it?” the man working the stand asked.

“Mustard and relish,” Knox answered quickly and confidently, like he had done this a thousand times before.

As the man was adding those condiments, I turned to Knox and asked, “Mustard and relish? That seems like an odd pairing.”

“It’s actually really good,” he replied. “Sometimes I’ll order coleslaw, but figured I’d go classic mustard and relish today.”

“Is that classic?” I shot an eyebrow up in the air as a group of passersby walked just behind us.

He chuckled. “It is for me, but I’d think classic is probably plain.”

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