“No, please eat.” He leaned back a little while I ate, surveying the room. “Looks like the holiday assault force has landed. I wish they would take a break this year. The holidays depress me.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s lonely just watching others celebrate.”

It was exactly how I felt. “I know what you mean.”

“I thought you might.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I just noticed that you usually eat alone.”

I immediately went on the defensive. “It’s only because my workmates and I take different lunchtimes to watch the phones.”

He frowned. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m just saying that I’ve noticed we’ve both spent a lot of time down here alone.”

“I didn’t notice,” I lied.

He looked into my eyes. “So you’re probably wondering what I want.”

“It’s crossed my mind.”

“It’s taken me a few days to get up the courage to come over here and talk to you, which is saying something, since I’m not afraid of much.” He hesitated for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. “The first time I saw you I thought, Why is such a beautiful woman sitting there alone? Then I saw you the next day, and the next day . . .”

“Your point?” I said.

“My point is, I’m tired of being alone during the holidays. I’m tired of walking through holiday crowds of humanity feeling like a social leper.” He looked into my eyes. “Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Tired of being alone during the holidays.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m good.”

He looked surprised. “Really?”

“Really.”

He looked surprised and a little deflated. “Oh,” he said, looking down as if thinking. Then he looked back up at me and forced a smile. “Good, then. That’s good for you. I’m glad you’re happy.” He stood. “Well, Elise, it was a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m sorry to bother you. Enjoy your salad and have a nice holiday.” He turned to leave.

“Wait a second,” I said. “Where are you going?”

“Back to work.”

“Why did you come over here?”

“It’s not important.”

“It was important enough for you to cross the food court.”

“It was important. Now it’s moot.”

“Moot?” I said. “Sit down. Tell me what’s moot.”

He looked at me for a moment, then sat back down. “I just thought that maybe you felt the same way about the holidays as I do, but since you’re good, you clearly don’t. So what I was going to say is now moot.”

I looked at him a moment, then said, “I might have exaggerated my contentment. So what were you going to say that is now moot?”

“I had a proposition to make.”

“Right here in the food court?”

“We could go to my office if you prefer.”

“No, here in public is good.”