Page 28 of The One Where They Fall in Love

“We’ll have two orders of the pork fried dumplings, a shrimp ball,har gow, andsiu mai,” Elle says, pointing to the variety of woven baskets on the cart next to us.

“Wait, I think there’s one thing you didn’t order,” I say sarcastically.

“This is just round one,” she replies, a dead-serious look on her face.

It’s Saturday afternoon, and Elle has invited me to a traditional dim sum brunch in Chinatown. She let me pay for an Uber this time, because it’s the weekend and the roads are clearer, so it didn’t take next to forever to get downtown. On the way here, I Googled the place we were going and found out there was one right by our apartment.

“That’s not the same. This is the original in Chinatown. It’s more authentic,”she’d said, rolling her eyes like this was something obvious I should have known.

“They have the same stuff on their menu,”I’d deadpanned.

“Shut up, Oliver, and prepare to watch me eat my weight in dumplings.”

And that, she wasn’t kidding about.

We’re sitting outside because she insisted that we bring Thor, even though I hate eating on a New York City street. I should only be eating outside if I’m looking at a beautiful view. Not smelling the subway fumes.

I’m pretty sure Elle has already eaten about twelve dumplings, and the cart has only passed by us once. Frankly, I’m impressed. She loves the fried pork ones, which I do too. But I only take two and leave the rest for her. I reach for the plate ofhar gowand put two on my plate.

“So, how was your date?” I ask, feeling like a glutton for punishment. I think back to Thursday night, when I saw Elle walk up to the building stoop with Henry. I remember the way my stomach dropped when he kissed her. I can only hope that Elle doesn’t bring up the fact that I was on the treadmill for an hour that night, unable to sleep with that image in my head.

“It was good,” she replies, not making eye contact with me. “He’s really sweet.”

A beat passes between us. “But?” I prod, gesturing with my silverware.

“Nobut,” she says with a shrug. She’s lying. She looked down and back up again quickly. She always does that when she lies. I know this after asking if she gave Thor peanut butter with his dinner most nights. She has no poker face.

“Do you think you’ll go out with him again?”

“I think so,” she says, popping another dumpling into her mouth. “Any advice?”

I think for a moment. “I don’t know, Henry’s pretty chill. He loves his family and his business. Big into Formula 1. Giants fan—”

“Please stop listing sports things, that’s not helpful,” she interrupts.

I think for a second, getting lost in her doe eyes, before I settle on, “He’ll like you for who you are.” There’s a moment between us, when I give Elle a shy smile, and something feels unsaid. But I can’t find the words.

“You might be the worst dating guru ever,” she says plainly, shaking her head.

“I’m okay with that. That’s not really something a guy wants to be called.”

“What about Hitch? I’m sure he would like to be called that,” she rebuts, raising a brow.

“Oh please, don’t get me started,” I scoff. “That was the most unrealistic plot of a movie ever. What New Yorker goes on a jet ski in the Hudson? We all know what is in that water!” I reply, getting a bit animated. Elle smiles knowingly. “What?”

“You called yourself a New Yorker,” she says cockily. Her grin spreads wider.

I visibly roll my eyes at her, and return to my plate. I swat away a fly that won’t leave our table alone.Thisis why I don’t eat outside.

“Q-tip,” Elle says, mimicking the dance move that Kevin James does in the movie.

“Throw it away!” We say in tandem. We both cackle so loudly, we gain the attention of our neighbors, and the unhappy waitress pushing the dumpling cart. Elle’s face goes red as she puts her fist in front of her mouth, tryingto suppress her laughter. I continue laughing so much that Thor even jumps up to see what the commotion is about. I swat the fly away from him.

“Fucking bugs,” I mumble.

“You’re afraid of bugs?” Elle asks, curious about my frustration.

“I’m notafraid,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “I just don’t like them.”