His whole face spread into a smile. “Hello. What do I win for not forgetting your number?”
“Did we wager anything?”
“No, but you did say ‘I bet you’ll forget my number.’ And knowing I was going to win I should’ve had you put up a wager.”
“It’s looks as if I was wrong about you.”
“Are you saying that I won?” he asked.
There was a pause before Nydia’s voice came through the speaker again. “Yes.”
Lamar stared through the windshield at the slow-moving traffic leading to the exit for Baton Rouge. “Do you mind if I select the prize?”
There came another pause. “No, I don’t mind.”
“I’d like to take you to one of my favorite clubs.”
“I’m game as long as it’s not a strip club.”
His chuckles echoed throughout the interior of the vehicle. “I don’t do strip clubs.”
“I’m just checking, because therearedifferent types of clubs.”
“True. But I was referring to a jazz club. The one I’d like to take you to offers wonderful food and music.”
“Are you talking about Jazzes?”
“You’ve been to Jazzes?”
“Yes. Hannah took us there last summer.”
“The place I’m talking about is nothing like Jazzes. It’s what you’d call rustic.”
“It sounds interesting.”
Lamar held his breath for a few seconds. “So, you’re willing to go with me?”
“Sure.”
He curbed the urge to pump his fist in victory. “Are you busy Thursday night?”
“Yes. I’m teaching Tonya how to makepasteles.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No, I’m not.”
“The last time I hadpastelesis when I celebrated Christmas with Iggy’s family.” The first time he had the tamales, he couldn’t stop eating them. Iggy’s grandmother packed up a dozen for him, and over the following two weeks he’d eaten one each day along with his dinner.
“I’ll be certain to save a few for you.”
“Which night are you free?”
“Friday.”
He smiled. Friday fit perfectly into his plans, because he was scheduled to pick up his daughter Sunday afternoon and bring her back to New Orleans for the first day of the new school year. Lamar didn’t want to remind Nydia that Friday was date night. “Friday it is. I’ll meet you in the lobby at seven.”
“Luego.”
