“Enough to know that we just missed the lunch rush.”
I really don’t know what came over me aside from the .22 stashed in my purse. Even if I weren’t a cop, I think I would be strapped, especially now that I was a single mother. I couldn’t be too careful out here with my baby girl.
With that being said, I stood with my arms folded across my chest as I listened to Nicholas confirm that his people could tow my car to their shop in the next thirty minutes to an hour.
Once that was settled, I climbed into the passenger seat of a car that cost more than my salary. Opulence didn’t mean I was letting my guard down. I kept my hand on my purse as I took the short trip down the block to one of my favorite hood fish houses with a man I only knew on a first name basis.
I was surprised that there wasn’t a crowd because most times when I tried to stop by Wilson’s, you could barely get inside for the crowd of people trying to take advantage of the lunch special.
“Let me get two pieces of whole catfish, double fries with no seasoning, a large lemonade, and whatever the lady wants,” Nicholas said to the young girl who was grinning at him like he was a celebrity.
I had to give it to him. Nicholas was handsome and all, but damn, girl; have some decorum. She didn’t know if he was my man or what. She was just skinning and grinning.
Instead of trying to make a decision about what to order, I asked the cashier to give me the same thing that he had ordered. I loved the catfish and usually didn’t eat my coleslaw, so it made perfect sense.
Nicholas got our drinks and led the way to a booth at the furthest end of the restaurant, where I was sure no one ever sat. Most people ordered to go now. The tables were remnants from a time when people sat in restaurants and smoked while theyate. That was made apparent by the smoking sign on the wall right next to me.
I slid in the booth with my back to the wall out of habit. I always liked to face the door in case something went down. To my surprise, Nicholas scooted in next to me in the same booth and folded his hands in front of him on the table. Mentally, I checked the box for clean nails. His hands looked freshly manicured, which was a plus in my book.
“I saw you over there feeding the homeless when I pulled up. Is that something that you do often?” he quizzed.
“Actually, it is. It’s nothing that I feel I need to broadcast or brag about, but yes. We try to come out for a few hours every other Saturday.”
“That’s commendable. Not many people are willing to give up their weekends to give back.”
“It’s not much, but I like to feel like I’m doing my part.”
“If only more of us thought that way. So, what do you do, Jameela? Or is shop talk off-limits on a first date?”
“First of all, this is not a date. Usually, I don’t talk shop until further down the line, but I’ve been on medical leave for a few months. I’m not doing anything currently.”
“Everything good?” he asked, tilting his head curiously.
“More or less. I went on maternity leave, and my bosses are milking it for dear life. I think they see having a single mom on board as a liability.”
“That’s discrimination. There are plenty of single moms who are killing it in every area of the game.”
“I know that, but tell that to the powers that be.”
“How old is your daughter?”
“She’s almost one.”
“I miss that age. My daughter’s six going on thirty-six,” he revealed.
“I bet she’s a daddy’s girl.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I loved the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his daughter. I only wished that Tremaine felt the same way about Bella. I was done begging him to step up to the plate. Going forward, I would make sure she never had to feel the loss of his absence. I had to love her enough for both of us. Hopefully, he would come around before it was too late.
When our number was called, Nicholas stood to get our food. I slid out of the booth and went to the front to help him carry everything.
“I got it, habibti.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I can carry the food without your help.”
