I look at the sign, then back at him.
“Good choice,” I say.
His smile grows. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Javonte Kind?” the host says, eyes wide.
“In the flesh.”
“Wow, thank you for coming in. We’re not busy tonight, so sit wherever you want. I’m gonna tell Mama you’re here.”
Javonte opens his mouth to respond, but the host is already rushing toward the kitchen.
“The life of the rich and famous,” I say, bumping his shoulder.
He slips an arm around me. “It’s not so bad.”
We pick a booth tucked in the corner, just in case it does get busy. He slides in beside me instead of across, our arms brushing on the table.
“What are you in the mood for?” he asks.
I scan the menu. “Everything.”
He raises an eyebrow. “That can be arranged.”
“No. That’s wasteful. I’ll figure it out.”
“If you say so. I’ll take whatever you don’t finish home.”
I keep looking until I spot a sampler plate with all the classics.
“Ah, look.” I tap the menu, and he leans in close to see.
I catch a hint of his cologne, and it pulls me for a second. I look away, steadying myself.
“Look at that,” he says. “Exactly what you wanted without the guilt.”
I nod. “Gold stars all around.”
He keeps looking at me, quiet and serious in a way that makes my stomach tighten. “What?” I ask.
“I miss you.”
I meet his eyes, and there’s nothing casual in them. That makes it harder, because I miss him too. I’m just not ready to give him that part of me yet.
“Y’all doing okay over here?” the waitress asks.
I look down at the table and realize neither of us has touched our drinks. “We’re good,” I say, probably too fast. She lingers fora second, her eyes moving to Javonte like she’s trying to place him, and I lean closer to him.
“You’ve got a fan,” I say. “Go ahead and sign something so she leaves us alone.”
He laughs, loud and easy, and I’m grateful for it because it gives us somewhere easier to go.
After the waitress leaves, I turn back to him. “Does this happen a lot?”
“Depends on where I am,” he says. “The nicer the place, the less attention. Somewhere like this...” He shrugs. “Comes with the territory.”
