“Maybe,” she said. “We’d have to talk often for that to happen.”
“Consider it done.”
Schoolgirl crush. That’s what this felt like. It was refreshing.
“Men and their empty promises,” she said. She was only half-joking. She had bought into a lot of empty promises over the years.
“I don’t know nothing about those,” Nyair said.
He said it confidently, like he meant it.
“Good.”
Nyair pulled into the burger joint, and they climbed out.
“They don’t have an inside lobby or a drive-thru? What kind of hole-in-the-wall is this? Lauren asked. She pulled her coattighter. Winter was unkind, and standing outside for a burger was not the move.
“Yo, don’t be disrespectful. This is Northside’s finest.” He stepped up to the little window.
“Pastor Ny! My man. You got this pretty lady out here in the snow!”
“These burgers worth it, Big Mac,” Nyair answered. The older man had gotten the nickname in his younger years by claiming to be the originator of the famous megachain sandwich. “You know I got to pull up on you and make sure you’re good, though. You’re still doing alright, right? Making your meetings?”
“Every single one. You don’t got to worry about me,” the man said. He was known for his drinking problems too. A failing burger business and a daily 12 pack of beer had lost him a wife and two kids years ago. Nyair was his only consistent friend. Nyair had helped him repurpose his life and had baptized a grown man. Their bond was evident. “If don’t nobody come see me, this one right here gon’ come see me,” the man said gleefully to Lauren, while pointing a finger at Nyair. “Rain or shine. You keep the heat on in here. What can I get you? Same ol’ same ol’?”
“You know it. Two double cheeseburgers, grill them onions, though, and add bacon. Large fry, large onion ring, and two vanilla milkshakes,” Nyair ordered.
“Whose going back to work after all that?” Lauren protested.
He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “So don’t go back. Take the day.”
“I can’t even remember the last time I took a day off,” Lauren said.
“So let’s change that. You give me the day, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Lauren sighed as she weighed her options. It was time for her to do something other than work all day and go home to mom duties.
“Okay,” she agreed.
Pastor Ny! Here are my famous milkshakes. I know you asked for two vanillas, but this beautiful lady looks like she likes chocolate.”
“You’re a smart man,” Lauren said, smiling. She couldn’t believe she was eating ice cream in twenty-degree weather, but she took the milkshake. She picked up the spoon and tasted it. “Mmm,” she moaned.
Nyair chuckled. “It’s that good, huh?”
“It really is,” she nodded, taking another spoonful. Nyair grabbed a second spoon and dipped it into his own.
He held it up for her. “It ain’t better than that, is it?” He asked.
“I don’t know which one I like best.”
They retrieved their food and then sheltered inside the car.
“What you think? You going back to work or you want to take a day off? I don’t live too far from here,” Nyair said. “Maybe you can show me some of them plans for the banquet.”
“Is that not work, too?” She asked.
“That’s charity,” he laughed.
