Josh came into Fatone's late one night, dripping wet from the downpour outside, and saw that the small restaurant was unusually crowded.
"Hi Josh," Britney said, pulling out a menu. "Hey Britney. Why the big crowd tonight?" She sighed. "Mr. Fatone's whole family decided to come visit their pride and joy, the family restaurant."
Josh nodded his sympathy, knowing how busy Lance, Joey, and Britney would be. Britney took him to his usual table in the back and told her that Lance would be right out.
Josh smiled, the mere mention of Lance making him smile. They had kissed that night, and afterwards, they had just talked. Talked about their lives, their interests, anything that would help them get to know each other better.
Josh had given Lance his phone number that night, and the rest was history. They soon spent all of their free time together, and Josh came to the restaurant every night until Lance got off, and then they'd leave together and go to either Lance or Josh's apartment. Josh couldn't believe how far they'd come in just a month.
"Hey," said a tired voice, and Josh smiled. "Hey you. Busy night, isn't it?" Lance nodded. "So, what do you want?"
"You," Josh said with a grin. Lance blushed and looked down. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed," Josh told him, and Lance just turned redder. "The pasta, that's the meal of the night. You should have that," Lance said, looking up, his face still slightly pink.
Josh nodded. "Sounds good."
"Okay, be right back."
Josh looked around the restaurant, watching the families, the little kids playing with their napkins and dipping their hands in the water, the parents scolding them, and the middle aged people talking away.
Lance was back before Josh knew it, setting the food and cup of coffee down. Lance couldn't sit with Josh like he usually could, because the place was so busy, so Josh kept himself entertained by watching Lance when he would come out to wait on other tables.
After he was done, Lance came over and took the plate and empty cup into the kitchen. Josh thought about just leaving and waiting for Lance to get home, but Lance came back out and over to Josh, taking his hand. "Come on," Lance said with a smile.
"Where are we going?" Josh asked. "We're leaving," Lance told him.
"Lance, all these people-"
"Britney does it all the time, it's my turn now," Lance told him, giving him a smile, and Josh didn't know why he even argued with it in the first place.
Joey and Britney watched Lance from the windows in the kitchen doors. "Yep, he's gone," Joey said with a grin.
"Who's gone?" Mr. Fatone asked, coming into the kitchen. "Lance," Britney replied.
Mr. Fatone sighed. "Why? Did he not -see- the massive amout of people we have here today? Where did he have to go that was so impor-"
"Dad," Joey said with a smile, interrupting his father, "Lance is... how did you put it? Love struck."
Mr. Fatone looked back and forth from Britney and Joey, before smacking his forehead. "Ay-yi-yi," he muttered, shaking his head. Joey and Britney laughed, and Mr. Fatone walked back towards his office muttering something about needing his "No good, camera loving son to get his keyster in gear and do some real work."
*
Josh smiled as he stroked Lance's face. 'God, lying here, just like this, in his arms, is all I could ever ask for,' he thought.
"Can I ask you something Lance?" Lance looked at Josh expectantly. "You're always going to be here, right? With me?"
Confusion marred Lance's face as he asked, "What do you mean?"
"Okay, it's like, if I come into a restaurant, are you always going to be the one to be at my table?"
"If you're asking me if I'll always be with you, Josh, there's nowhere else I'd ever want to be."
Josh smiled and Lance snuggled closer to him.
Before Lance drifted off to sleep, he muttered, "I'll always be there with your regular coffee."
Josh smiled. That's all he'd ever need.
*
