Read Online Lost in Rome by Cindy Callaghan - Free Book Online Page B

old-world feel that really captured traditional Rome and the personality of Amore Pizzeria. “It’s more fab than I’d imagined it could be.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “I just want us to have a plan for the matching.”
    â€œYou’re gonna keep doing it?”
    â€œLook.” I pointed to the crowd outside the door. “That’s why they’re here. I can’t let them down.” I added, “It’s for the good of Amore Pizzeria.”
    She sighed. “What do I have to do?”
    I thought for a moment.
    â€œPut people looking for matches on this half of the dining room. That’ll be my half. Rico can wait on the other half.”
    â€œFine. You know Aunt Maria is going to be mad when she finds out about all of this.”
    â€œBut she’s happy about all the customers. Maybe she’ll be happy and mad,” I said. “Then I’ll tell her how hungry I am, and I’ll just eat and eat. That will make her more happy than mad.”
    â€œProbably.”
    My section of the restaurant filled up quickly. I took orders and studied customers. Some of the matches jumped out at me right away, and some were more complicated.
    I delivered sausage to a woman and called out, “Who ordered the garlic?” A man yelled in Italian, but I figured he was claiming the garlic. “Come over here.” I set the garlic plate next to the sausage. “You two enjoy your lunch.” They giggled and shook hands.
    â€œWho has sliced zucchini?”
    A girl raised her hand.
    â€œCome on over here and sit with this gentleman.”
    This was the way I made the matches, by moving people around. I watched the customers and took notes on an extra order pad. When I finished, I stashed it under the register. I didn’t know if I’d made true love matches, but lots of people looked happy. Obviously, they all loved their pizza.
    Aunt Maria came out from the kitchen and manned the cash register as customers left.
    â€œHow was your lunch?” Maria asked the sausage customer.
    â€œIt was great,” she said.
    â€œAnd the pizza was delicious too,” the man who ordered garlic added.
    Gianna glanced at her phone. A huge grin crossed her face, and she hunched over in the corner as she thumbed a message. I had a pretty good idea who she was texting.
    When she returned to her job, she sat a table in Rico’s section, where a waiter who I’d never seen took their order and gave it to AJ. I found Rico sitting at a table, sipping an espresso.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I asked him.
    â€œWhat? You mean that guy? He’s a friend of mine.” He shrugged. “And he has some serving experience.”
    Aunt Maria rang up one of the last customers and caught my eye with a menacing glare. Then she stuck out her finger and bent it in, like, Come here .
    Gulp.
    She looked way mad, like, angry with a side of enraged.
    I smiled. “I’m starving.”
    â€œWe talk.”
    â€œCan I eat first? I think I’m gonna pass out.”
    â€œFine. Get some food and come right back.”
    In the kitchen AJ said to me, “She looks pretty angry.”
    â€œNo duh,” I said. “Can you make me a meatball sandwich?”
    â€œOne sec. I’m outta sauce.” He put the empty pot in a pile of dirty dishes and lifted another simmering pot from the back to the front burner. Then he scooped three lovely meatballs onto crusty Italian bread and covered it with the sauce from the new pot. “Cheese?”
    â€œWhy in the world would anyone eat a meatball sandwich without cheese?” I asked. “Do you know the only thing that goes better than cheese?”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œMore cheese!”
    He smiled. “Toasted?”
    â€œPut ’er in.”
    He slid the pan with my sandwich into the oven. It took only a few Mississippis for the cheese to melt.
    I took my plate back to the cash register