Markus arrived in the hotel lobby to wait for Adriano. What the hell was he doing? He was so peopled out that grabbing food from a vending machine and eating it in his room sounded better than going out. Markus contemplated leaving to do just that, but Adriano walked up.
Adriano: Hungry?
Markus: Yeah.
Adriano: Emilia is already there, and Nathan is on his way.
Markus and Adriano chatted about snowboarding experiences en route to the ramen bar. Like Markus, Adriano and his long-term partner loved the sport. Markus was relieved to find Emilia and Nathan waiting in an alcove in a relatively quiet restaurant. The sake was already flowing.
By the end of the meal, Markus felt a pleasant buzz. The food and his lunch companions had been enjoyable. It was a much-needed respite.