“Where would you settle?”
“That’s the question I’m trying to answer. How long were you married?”
She flinches. “Twenty years. He was older and established. We married before I even got out of college.”
“Wow. You don’t hear that much.”
“Honey I’m as Southern as sweet tea, we tend to be a bit old-fashioned.”
I snicker. There are moments when her personality bursts through like rays of sunshine through a cloud. I want to see that version of her all the time.
“It’s true. My town is backward by today’s standard, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
I try to place her accent. “Where’s home?”
“A tiny blip on the map in Tennessee.”
Her aversion is peaking my curiosity. “You know if you belong to the witness protection program I might not be the best guy to hang out with.”
“What?” She bursts into a fit of laughter. “I somehow doubt you’d care one, and two, no I’m not.”
“That sounds like what someone in the witness protection program would say.” I wink.
“Stop it.” She places a hand to her belly. “You make me laugh in a way I haven’t in a long time.”
“That’s why you should keep me around.”
“You know I’m too old for you, right?”
“Funny, I felt like it was just the right age gap. Besides, it’s no strings attached, so what are you worried about?” I ask playfully. “You and I are going to have fun, Blanche. In and out of bed, because what we have between us won’t be contained outside of the bedroom for too long.”
She licks her lips and presses her thighs together.
“Let me see those beautiful browns. No one is here, but us.”
She removes her sunglasses, and I relax.
“Much better. I think it’s your turn to ask a question.”
“How long have you been with your…organization?”
“The motorcycle club? I’ve been with the Kings of Chaos for nearly ten years now.”
“Why?”
“Everyone wants a family. Sometimes the one we make for ourselves just happen to look differently from the status quo. Why California, my peach?”
“That’s Georgia, and because my ex-husband got a job here.”
“Hmm. Where’s you spitfire friend?”
“Hanging out at home. There was no way in hell she was going to let me miss this lunch date because I was entertaining her.”
“I like her more already. You two seem close.”
“She’s my sister in every way but blood. We grew up together. Our mothers are best friends, and we lived around the block from each other, and roomed together in college.”
“That’s deep.” I can’t think of any person alive who’s known me for as long as these two have.