I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. I began this chapter on January 12 but every time I sat down to write more on it, my mind couldn't think of what I wanted to say or how I wanted the chapter to progress. This is a short chapter because I wasn't sure how to proceed with the storyline.

Chapter 2 – First Date

As Tony made his way back to his apartment, his thoughts were consumed only with Angela. Even though they had only met early this morning, there was something about her that he couldn't explain. He knew if he hadn't taken that last fare, he never would have met this incredible woman.

The next day, Tony made his way back to the garage to begin his new shift. As he walked in the garage, his mind continued to focus only on Angela.

"Hey Tony, how ya been?" Alex noticed Tony walked in the garage, like he was walking on air, as Tony sat down at the table where his buddies were playing cards.

Tony sat down and placed his hands under his chin, looking dreamily off into space.

"Tony?" Elaine waved her hand in front of his eyes, Tony unmoving and still in a "trance".

Bobby, who had been up getting a cup of coffee from the coffee machine, walked over and took a seat beside Tony.

"Man, he's got it bad. Hey, Tone! Hey!"

Bobby was finally able to get Tony's attention as he laughed at Tony, who was slightly embarrassed about being completely absorbed with Angela now.

"Yeah, Bobby? You need something?"

Bobby, trying to hold in his laughter, patted Tony on the back.

"Tony, man, who's the girl?"

Tony, knowing he'd been caught, didn't let on about Angela. He didn't want his friends to ridicule him.

"What woman? I don't have a woman."

Tony, jumping up and heading over to the coffee machine, placed a couple of coins in the machine as he waited for the coffee to come out. Once the coffee was done, Tony squatted down and grabbed the cup, taking a quick sip and glancing over the rim of the cup at his friends who were curious of the woman in Tony's life.

Elaine, unable to control her excitement any longer, leaped up from the table and made her way over to Tony.

"Come on, Tony. Tell us about her."

Tony, smiling slightly, took another sip of his coffee.

Before Tony could say a word, Louie grabbed the microphone that was broadcast over the whole garage and began to make an announcement.

"Alright, alright! Listen up cabbies!"

As silence filled the garage, Louie smiled devilishly and began to speak again into the microphone.

"Now, I know a lot of you are curious about Tony's woman in his life. I just want to say, I've met her and let's just say she's a woman I would kill to have on my arm."

Tony, seeing red, reached up and grabbed Louie's shirt collar, pulling his head towards the small opening of his cage.

"Lou! I'm telling you, back off!"

Alex and Bobby ran over and tried to control Tony's anger to get him to release Louie.

"Tony! Come on man, he ain't worth it!"

Pushing Louie back into his cage, Tony stormed off to the small table and sat down with his head resting on his arms laying on the table.

"Tony… Come on man, tell us about her."

Taking a deep breath, Tony began telling his friends about Angela and how she captivated him and took his breath away.

"Wow… Sounds like you're in love, Tony."

Elaine jumped up and gave Tony a quick hug, asking Tony to invite her to the garage to meet them or meet at Mario's.

"Tony, she sounds like a wonderful lady! We'd love to meet her!"

"Ehh, I don't know. I mean, I just met her and don't want to pressure her into anything."

"Oh, come on Tony! We'll be nice, won't we guys?"

"Yeah!"

Taking a deep breath and looking around at his friends sitting around the table, Tony smiled slightly and nodded his head yes.

"Okay, I'll ask her to meet you guys at Mario's one evening this week for dinner. Now, can we get back to work, please?"

All his friends laughed, patting him on the back, as they went back to start their shifts, driving their taxis for the night.

Later in the week, that Friday evening, Tony had requested off work for a dinner date with Angela. This was the first time he'd seen her since that early morning fare in his cab. She was coming back into New York to visit from Connecticut, and they were going to have dinner at a small Italian restaurant in the heart of the city.

That evening, Tony picked Angela up at the train station in his Honda Civic. As they made their way to downtown, both were quiet and unsure of what to say.

"Uh, Tony?"

Tony, not taking his eyes off the road, raised his eyebrows at Angela's voice.

"Yeah?"

"Um, after dinner, would you care if we walked around the city a little bit? I didn't get to do much sightseeing when I was in town last. I mean, nothing too adventurous, just walking together and enjoying each other's company."

"That's fine, Angela. I'm in no hurry."

"Thanks."

Tony pulled his car up to a parking garage downtown as they made their way down the street walking beside each other towards the restaurant. Once inside, the two waited until their table was ready and were seated in a somewhat secluded area in a booth. The waiter brought them their menus as they decided on what to eat.

"Gosh, everything looks and sounds delightful. Anything you'd recommend?"

"Well, being Italian myself, you can't go wrong with the spaghetti and house salad with some fresh baked bread."

"Ooh, I love spaghetti."

"Other than spaghetti, I'd recommend the veal. It's my favorite meal."

"Hmm…I've never had veal. But…I think I'll stick with the spaghetti."

Smiling at each other, the waiter came and took their orders and menus and left them to themselves to talk between time while their dinner was being prepared.

"So…how has work been going?"

"Oh, you know…Driving a taxi is pretty much all it's said to be. Just drive around the city, take people back and forth, collect their fare… Pretty simple."

"You know, Tony, it must be fascinating seeing so many different people while you are driving. I imagine you meet a lot of new people in this big city."

"Yeah, driving a taxicab keeps you on your toes, that's for sure. So, what about you? How's the advertising business going?"

"Oh, now there's a job that keeps you on your toes! You know, just last week, I had to come up with a new jingle for men's body wash for an 11-million-dollar account? Thankfully, I stayed up half the night and came up with the new jingle right before the presentation."

Tony was surprised when she said $11 million dollar account.

"Did…Did I hear you right, Angela? Did you say $11 million dollars?"

"Yeah, of course, it's not all profit. I have to pay taxes, employees, benefits, etc."

"But still - $11 million dollars!"

Tony's eyes were huge, and he couldn't believe she was so easy going with $11 million dollars. Heck, that was more than he'd make in his lifetime! He was feeling out of his league with Angela now. Why would she be interested in a taxicab driver? He pushed the thoughts out of his mind to enjoy his time with Angela.

Before he could say anything, he heard his friends make their way into the restaurant to find him and Angela. He knew he shouldn't have told them where they'd be.

"Hey, Tony!"

Tony, cursing under his breath, didn't want his friends here to embarrass him in front of Angela.

Alex, Bobby and Elaine made their way over to Tony and Angela's table to see how Tony was doing on his date and to finally meet Angela.

Standing in front of their table, all three stood there smiling largely at Angela.

Tony, trying to compose himself, smiled at Angela and then looked at his three friends.

Taking a deep breath, he began to introduce his friends to Angela.

"Angela, I'd like you to meet my three best friends… This is Alex Reger, Bobby Wheeler, and Elaine Nardo."

Angela, nodding at each person's name, smiled as she met Tony's friends.

"It's very nice to meet you all."

All three friends stood there with big grins plastered on their faces, not saying a word.

Tony, getting more upset by the second for his friends interrupting his date with Angela, gave his friends a look that was telling them to leave.

Alex spoke first.

"Well, uh, I guess we will be going. We were just in the neighborhood and wanted to say hello. It was nice meeting you, Ms. Bower."

Alex reached out and shook her hand. Angela smiled and shook his hand.

"Yeah, it was great getting to meet Tony's date."

Bobby spoke next and smiled largely at Angela.

Elaine was the last to leave.

"Ms. Bower…"

Angela, stopping Elaine, smiled at her.

"Elaine, please call me Angela."

Elaine grinned as she knew Angela was a good fit for Tony.

"I think it's wonderful that Tony has a girlfriend as nice as yourself. I hope we will see more of you. Nice meeting you."

Waving, Angela said goodbye to all three of Tony's friends and turned around at the table towards Tony, smiling at him. Tony, on the other hand, had placed his head in his hands on the table, clearly embarrassed.

"Tony?"

Glancing up at the mention of his name, he saw Angela sitting there, watching him carefully.

"You must think I'm an idiot, Angela. I never shoulda told them where our date was."

"No. I think you're lucky, Tony."

Confused, Tony jerked his head up and looked at Angela.

"Lucky?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Why lucky?"

"Well, it's not every day that a guy has three of his best friends check in on him during a date. Most people don't even have that many best friends. They all seem like nice people, Tony. You should count yourself fortunate to know people as sweet as them."

"To tell you the truth, Angela… I never even thought of it like that before. I guess I am pretty lucky, huh?"

Smiling, Angela nodded at Tony as she took his hands in hers across the table.

"Very lucky."

"Thanks, Angela." Tony continued holding her hands in his lost in the moment together.

Moments later, the waitress appeared with their dinner, breaking their "silent moment" together.

"Did you two need anything else before I bring the check, sir?"

"Oh, goodness. I don't think I could eat another bite. What about you, Angela?"

"I'm stuffed. I can't eat anymore. Everything was delicious."

"Yes, delicious."

"Thank you, sir. I'll bring you the check."

The waitress took their plates away and brought Tony the check moments later.

As Tony paid the waitress, he led Angela out the restaurant and towards his car in the parking lot. Tony held the passenger door open for her, shutting it once she was situated inside. Tony made his way around the car and hopped in the driver's seat. They took off down the street towards a small park that they could park near and do some walking around and sightseeing.

Tony pulled his car into a parking spot moments later and ran around to the passenger's side to help Angela out of his car.

"Thanks, Tony."

Angela glanced around at the small park and the buildings that showcased what New York City was so famous for… Skyscrapers, taxi cabs and people everywhere.

"Shall we?"

Tony held out his arm for Angela to put her arm through. Angela smiled as she took Tony's arm and they began to slowly walk around the park, enjoying their time together.