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loss.”
    Walking to the table, Tyree reached the side I was sitting on and pulled out my chair. “Thank you,” I responded in kind. He walked to his side and took a seat.
    “ This looks incredible! You can see the flavor,” I said before bowing my head in a silent prayer. Looking up, Tyree’s eyes were on me. I smiled in return, “let’s eat!”
    “So tell me about yourself Sahara,” Tyree said before taking a bite of his crab cake.
    After I swallowed my buttery waffle, I replie d as if he hadn’t said anything. “Tell me about yourself, Tyree.”
    “Call me Ty. And how about a question for a question? That’s fair right?” he bargained with a laugh.
    I mulled over it for a bit as I chewed another bite of food. I have about 20 minutes before anyone is even allowed in the lounge and 50 minutes before the show starts. If the conversation deviates into territory that makes me uncomfortable, I can just end the game. And I hate to admit it, but there’s something about him. In my mind, I decided I would indulge my handsome neighbor. Even if just for the night, spending a little time entertaining conversation with him wouldn’t hurt , I told myself as I swallowed.
    “Sure, why not,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant and failing miserably.
    “You don’t have to tell me anything that you don’t want to. I know we don’t know each other. But I am hoping to change that,” Ty said with a smile. “Friends have to know something about each other,” he announced as he raised his water glass to his lips. I tore my eyes away from his mouth and looked at my plate. What have I gotten myself into? I need to take control of the situation…and of my hormones.
    “I’ll go first. You mentioned you’re new in town. What made you pick Richland?”
    “My grandfather grew up here and he wanted to return. When I had some success with my restaurant in my hometown of Boston, I knew I wanted to open one in Richland. It just so happened that the year I found the space I liked and all of the pieces started coming together, my grandfather passed away,” he shook his head in disbelief and looked down at his crab cake, cutting another bite.  Before putting the piece in his mouth, he continued, “So how long have you been in Richland or are you from around here?
    How can I answer this without answering this? I asked myself. “I went to school in Charlottesville, VA and I moved here about 6 years ago. What type of music do you listen to?”
    “ Hip hop, R&B, rock, classical. I can listen to anything with a good beat or a smooth sound. I don’t really mess with country music though. What about you?”
    “I listen to everything. Including a few country songs. What’s your favorite movie?”
    “ Coming to America. You?”
    “Coming to America,” I said smiling at our common movie. “Favorite hobby?”
    “ Photography,” Ty answered without hesitating. “Your favorite hobby?”
    “Experiencing art,” I responded immediately. I quickly got into the rapid fire question and answer volley we had going on.  Taking a breath to pop a piece of chicken in my mouth, I thought over one of his answers. “Why did you wait until the day before your grand opening to move into your place?”
    “I had movers move all my stuff into Libby Lofts this past week.  It had everything I needed and I gave the movers directions on how I wanted my place set up. My primary focus for the last few months, but especially this past week, has been on every last details of this place. I didn’t want to deal with moving in and getting settled this week so I stayed at The Four Seasons. I had meetings all week with marketing and finance.  And this morning, I had to find a replacement for one of my hostesses—which is why I agreed to give my head bartender’s girlfriend a trial run—”
    “ Marie?” I interrupted.
    Ty nodded and continued, “Yeah, Marie. Very sweet woman—friendly, upbeat—everything you’d want in a greeter to welcome