He gave me a half smile.
We drove Lucy to Lina’s and then headed toward New Orleans. I’d never been there, but had always heard how magical it was.
“It’ll probably be busy, since we’re in the week before Mardi Gras,” he said.
“What is Mardi Gras exactly?” I asked. I’d heard the term, but didn’t know what it was.
“It’s basically a celebration before going into Lent. It starts early in January and goes until Ash Wednesday. The biggest celebration is the day before on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras,” he said.
“Oh, I see,” I said.
“We are gonna take a slower route, see the countryside, see where I grew up. It will take about an hour to get there,” he said.
“I’m here for the ride, chief,” I said.
He laughed for nearly a minute. “I guess I started this little name-calling.”
“Yeah… except yours feels a little cruel,” I said.
“No. Does are sweet and gentle. Yes, they can be naive and wide-eyed. Once they get older, they are alert, aware, extremely intelligent, and nurturing. You’re all of those,” he said.
I smiled at him. The way he complimented me melted me in ways that I couldn’t explain. I reached over and put my hand on his thigh instead. He placed his hand over mine and squeezed it.
“Before we get there, especially if we’re holding hands or we kiss, not everyone will be so accepting of us,” he said.
“Good thing, I don’t care about anyone else,” I told him.
“I don’t care either. I just don’t want you to be surprised,” he said.
Once we got into New Orleans, we parked in a parking lot. Quinn interlocked his hand with mine, pulling me along the way. We got into a horse-drawn carriage, sitting side by side. The guide took us all around downtown New Orleans. After our carriage ride, we got out on Bourbon Street. There were artists everywhere. Some were singing, some were playing beautiful music. I pulled us both to a stop, listening and swaying to the violinist.
We went into a Cajun restaurant on the main strip. As soon as you walked in, the smell of food hit your nose. We sat at a little table across from each other. We both got their famous meal—Trout Meunière Amandine. As we were eating, an older white couple came into the restaurant. Both of them immediately stared at us. As they were taken to their table, they both gave us a disgusted look. This was what Quinn was talking about. Quinn and I both looked at each other, tilted our heads, and raised one brow—almost in sync.
Then we both burst into laughter. We enjoyed our lunch and then headed back onto the street. There was alcohol being handed out everywhere. We both got a glass of who-knows-what and sipped on it. It was strong, sweet, and melon-flavored.
Beads were being thrown everywhere, and women were flashing their tits in exchange for them. Some of them had dozens around their necks. My eyes widened as I took everything in. This made me realize that maybe I was a little sheltered.
“So, flash the titties and get the beads,” I said.
“Don’t think about it,” he growled.
“I… am quite prudish actually… but because you said not to,” I said.
“Zay,” he said in a warning tone.
I laughed. “I wouldn’t, but this jealous side of you is comical.”
As we walked, he reached down and grabbed a bead necklace and then placed it around my neck.
“I’ll take payment later,” he said.
Every part of my skin tingled with electricity. My cheeks seared with heat. I’d hooked up with plenty of guys before, but this was different. He wasn’t just some guy. Most of those guys, it was purely for sex, and that was it. This was more than that. I could deny it every day, but Iknewdeep down that I had feelings for him. I wanted him, but the idea made me nervous in a way that felt foreign.
We continued walking down the street, taking everything in. The live Jazz music was the most mesmerizing music I had listened to. Artists were painting in the street, with no cares in the world, just their paint and a canvas.
We went to a movie theater that was playingPie in the Sky. We sat side by side, holding hands. Both of us gave each other random smiles throughout the movie. It hit me that I hadn’t ever actually been on a date before. Sure, I’d slept with a handful of guys, but I hadn’t actually been taken on a date. Most of the guys had really only wanted one thing from me, but then again, I wanted the samething from most of them. Some of them I desired more than that, but they didn’t.
The movie was a romantic comedy, and left us feeling a bit handsy. We headed out of the movie and back into the streets to wander more. The people on the streets were more drunk than when we walked into the theater.
