“You know, pitches for the Mystics.”
I didn’t need people gossiping, but what was done was done.I leaned closer to Godwin before he could respond.“Think we can get out of here?”I didn’t want to be the subject of that type of conversation when I had no idea how the MLB would react.Besides that, I wanted to spend my time with him by ourselves.“I have two days.”I hoped he’d join me.
Godwin’s eyes went wide, golden flecks shining in the sun.I’d surprised him for sure.But what would he do with that?I waited a heartbeat, then two.I stood there, staring at him, less than an arms length a part, with my breath held and my chest tight.Then he pulled himself together and smiled brightly.“Yeah, okay.Hang on.”He jogged back over to the men and spoke with them, or rather to one of them in particular.They shook hands, and he waved at the others before stalking back to me.“Come on, you.”He took my arm to escort me back to the vehicles.“Want to go to my place?”
“No.Uh, I’m starving.And since you’ve been so good about trying new things, I want to take you somewhere.”
“More sushi?”
“No.You’ll see.I bet you’ll love this.Follow me?”
He kissed me again.This time with his whole mouth.I chased his tongue with mine, giving back as good as I got.He broke away first.“Anything with you is going to be great.Lead the way.”He gestured to my SUV.I’d been keeping it at Momma’s and it beat the hell out of renting everytime I was in town.I smiled as I made my way over to it.I did know the perfect place, and it wasn’t far from his job site.
I drove around the corner to the main road and then turned onto Wheeler Avenue.I made another right a little up the road, then pulled into Dakoda and Honey’s Donations Only Restaurant.It was a cool place serving downhome southern cooking.There were no prices on the menu, you paid whatever you felt you could, and if you couldn’t, you could help around the restaurant to pay for the meal.I parked and got out of the car.
Godwin was right behind me, smiling brightly.“I love this place.”
“You’ve eaten here?”
Godwin nodded.“It’s hard to cook for one, so I eat out a lot, and this place...”He nodded to the front door.“It’s worth it.”
“It is.Come on.”I walked to the front door, and Godwin opened it for me.
“I thought you were a health nut?”he asked as we went in.
“Eh...I eat healthy for sure.But every now and then, you have to splurge.And this is thebestpossible splurge.Home cooking.The only other place I get fed like this is at Momma’s.”
We were seated quickly and ordered just as fast.We both wanted the chicken fried steak with corn salad and collard greens.When the server walked away, I said.“Nothing healthier than collards.”I winked at Godwin, and he smirked.
“I can’t argue with that.Except, if my memory serves me correctly, they usually fry that up a bit.With bacon.”
“Uh, yeah.So?”
“You wouldn’t eat bacon at my house.”
I kicked him under the table.“You didn’t offer any.I love bacon.”
“Good.Bacon sandwiches for breakfast.”
“Am I staying over?”
“Hell yeah.You came all this way.”
“Good.”I licked my lips hungrily, and the food hadn’t even been served yet.
The meal was delicious, and I donated a hundred bucks for mine.Godwin insisted on donating as well, but I didn’t know how much he spent.The owners came out and thanked us before we left, though.It wasn’t the first time I’d dropped a hundred there.It was a great way to give back to the community.
After we ate, I asked him to walk with me around Jenner’s Park.It was nice out, and I needed my food to settle, plus it was only around the corner.We drove over in his SUV, mine at the restaurant.Godwin linked his arm with mine as we walked.“That was a nice donation.”
“I like to give back.It helps people.Growing up, we could have used a place like that.”
Godwin nodded thoughtfully.“It’s weird that we both grew up here but never knew each other.”
“I was from the wrong side of town.”
“Still.It’s a small town.”
I scowled at him.“Did you knowanyonefrom the East side?”
