A/N: ASL Dialogues in double-quotes ("") and italics. 

CHAPTER 3
OF GO-KARTS AND SNAKE CHARMERS

“You know what this means, right? No more Ramen!”

Tom seemed to be more excited about Lucia’s news than Jodi, but she couldn’t hold back a throaty laugh when he reached up with his hand to high five her. “Hey, I like the chicken one… it’s tasty!”  She did her best to ignore the look of repugnance on her lunch companions.

Lucia took a sip of her Pinot Grigio before she continued delivering the good news, “And that’s just on opening night… I’m pretty sure we’ll break $300,000 within six months.” Her smile widened as she stared at the redhead across the table, “Congratulations, Jodi. You are officially IT.”

The waiter approached them, carefully laying the plates they had ordered on the table. Lucia had made reservations to have lunch at Tao’s, one of New York’s trendiest restaurants, after they had chosen a date for the opening. It was supposed to be a celebratory lunch on having survived her first opening; it turns out they had not only survived, but had exceeded the original expectations.

The redhead picked up an Unagi from her sushi tray and allowed her mind to daydream. She hadn’t expected to make a lot of money, but who knows? Maybe she’ll finally get out of her asbestos infected rental unit and into a real apartment, hopefully a brownstone… maybe move her sculpting studio to an area that doesn’t reek of urine… maybe get that motorcycle she always wanted…

Her musings were interrupted by Tom, who had stopped eating his Shabu Shabu in order to tap her on the hand and relay the question Lucia had just asked. “So… how did you like last night?”

“The opening? I guess it was alright. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be,” she replied truthfully.

Smiling conspiratorially, Lucia added, “I’m not talking about the opening.”

Jodi struggled not to crack a smile; she hadn’t been able to get Mary out of her mind. Still, she always welcomed the chance to give Lucia a hard time. She wiped her lips with the clothed napkin before answering in her most innocent voice, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”