The emcee on stage interrupted us with a demand for applause for the band, cutting in on whatever Kofi was about to say.
As I toyed with my food, I regretted not eating at the first restaurant Kofi had chosen. I would have been able to hear myself think and also absorb more of what Kofi was saying to me. The eatery I chose was a bar-cum-restaurant. Our conversation was limited because of the live band playing a fusion of jazz, reggae and salsa tunes.
The food was all-American fare. Hamburgers, sandwiches, wings and fries. A lot less special than the other restaurants on site.
Kofi was a gentleman. He could have said 'I told you so', but he didn't. He'd suggested two other places to eat in the huge park where we'd spent the evening. I'd liked the lively atmosphere in this restaurant, and he hadn't deterred me from eating here when he could have had a full meal at one of the other eateries.
Thankfully, the band had taken a break and we were now treated to background music.
I looked at Kofi's plate, wondering if he'd had enough to satisfy his hunger. He had ordered a salad and was half-way through eating a veggie burger and more leaves.
He caught me smiling and raised one eyebrow in a question.
I swallowed a piece of a potato wedge and wiped my hands on a napkin. "I was wondering if you’ll be full when you finish."
"I'll be fine. If I need anything, I can top up when I get home."
"I feel kinda guilty."
When he raised both brows, I continued my explanation. "You suggested the other places and now your dinner looks a little—"
"Inadequate?" He chuckled and patted my hand. "Gina, I am fine. Believe me, I know when I am starving and when I am full."
His gaze landed on the wings in front of me, drowning in barbeque sauce. When our eyes met, I raised both hands. "Don't say it. Let me enjoy this. I can double up my workout on Monday."
Kofi's full lips pressed against each other before he smiled, dazzling me with his brilliant teeth. "I am sure you know that is not advisable, so I won't say a word about it."
That made both of us laugh.
"You'll be fine," he said, leaning toward me. "A little overindulgence won't hurt."
His words were innocent, but had my mind taking off down a track that surprised me. I looked at him in my mind's eye and what I saw brought a sneaky smile to my face.
The band was back in full swing, preventing any more conversation for the moment. While the quartet did a cover of Bob Marley'sThree Little Birds, my thoughts reverted to how puzzled I'd been when we drove up to the park. Once Kofi paid our entrance fee and we were inside, my curiosity turned to awe.
The place was huge and offered a range of activity, including bowling, Go-Kart racing, miniature golf and roller skating. When Kofi asked what I wanted to do first, I was stuck. We started with golf, which I used to play at home. Of course, mini-golf was different, but it brought back memories of tagging along with Garth and his friends to the golf club where our parents were members.
These days they didn't play regularly, thanks to their distribution business, but that was another thing I avoided thinking about as much as I could.
Kofi led me to the skating rink where we watched for a while before he asked, "Have you ever done this before?"
I shook my head and backed up by a step. "Nope and I don't—"
"Come on," he said, taking me by the hand. "I can show you."
I looked back at the people in the rink and frowned, then tilted my head toward him. "I don't know. I've never had lessons."
"Did I say something about showing you?"
"Yeah, you did." I breathed in and swallowed my fear. "Okay, let's go."
He paid for us to rent shoes and other items. Before I was ready, Kofi guided me into the huge area where other people rolled past us minding their own business. This was one of the things I liked and disliked about being in Miami. Sometimes, I felt invisible. Now was one of the times I didn't mind feeling that way, especially since my gear of helmet, knee pads and wrist guards made me clunky.
For a man his size, Kofi was graceful. After giving me basic instructions, he rolled me inside the rink. With one arm across my back he guided me gently, reminding me of what he'd already told me. "Try and keep your balance. That's key."
"Here." He rolled to stand before me, taking both my hands. "Remember, feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees and squat a little."
Kofi assumed the same position and while moving backward, he pulled me forward. "Come on, take a few steps. Heels in, toes out."
