Page 67 of Take My Name

She scrunches up her face as if to say she doesn’t know. “I think he’d be fine goin’ to the courthouse and elopin’. He doesn’t like a lot of fuss.”

“So you’re both goin’ along with whatever makes your parents happy instead of what makes y’all happy? That makes a whole lot of no sense.”

“Yes, I know.” She groans. “Why do you think I was so eager to get outta here? She’s controllin’ and judgmental. I give her an inch, she takes a whole damn football field.”

I knew they were hard on her growing up, but I hadn’t realized how bad it still was as an adult. When they wanted to buy us a new house, and we said no, I think they knew I was the reason she was gaining a backbone. Seems like Hayes doesn’t know her all that well if he can’t see when she needs someone to support her in standing up for herself.

“Well…if you ever need someone to intervene, let me know. She already hates me. Pissin’ her off wouldn’t make me lose a lick of sleep,” I say, pulling into the parking lot and finding a spot.

She chuckles but quickly covers her mouth as if she’s surprised herself.

“Thanks, I’ll remember that.”

I shoot her a wink, then jump out of my truck and usher her out of the passenger side.

The moment we enter, my stomach growls at how good it smells.

“Wow…this is so different,” she whispers, leaning closer to my ear.

“It went under a remodel a few years ago. Aunt JoJo went a little overboard.”

The dim lighting makes it hard to see deeper into the restaurant, but it’s a large cabin-style building with a wraparound deck for outside seating. There’s a brick fireplace that adds to the mood, candles on every table, and decorative cloths. The servers dress up in three-piece suits and all the guests are required to be in formal wear.

“Mr. and Mrs. Langston,” the hostess’s eyes light up as if she didn’t know we were arriving but clearly does. “Welcome! Your table is ready.”

Resting my hand above her ass, I guide her to follow while the hostess leads us to a back area that’s secluded from the rest of the guests.

I pull out a chair and motion for Maisie to sit, then help push her in before taking the seat across from her. It’s hard to pull my eyes away from her, especially when I catch her looking at me too.

Once we’re settled, the hostess hands us our menus and tells us the specials. “Your server will be here shortly. Enjoy.”

“Thank you,” we both mutter.

“Wow…” Maisie scans the room in amazement at what I can only assume was Aunt JoJo’s doing.

Fairy lights hang from the ceiling, an ice bucket with a bottle of red wine is on one side of the table, and candles spread around a vase of purple roses.

“Hello, hi!” Yani enters, greeting us with a warm smile.

She’s worked here for the past five years and is one of their best servers, so I’m not surprised Aunt JoJo gave her our table.

I smile in return and ask how she is.

“Have y’all had the chance to look through your menus or have any questions about the specials?” she asks, pulling out a corkscrew, then takes the Cabernet Sauvignon out of the ice.

“I think we’re still lookin’,” I tell her since Maisie hasn’t opened her menu.

“No problem,” she singsongs, popping the cork and pouring it into our glasses. “I’ll be back with your bread.”

She returns a few minutes later with a basket of hot rolls and butter.

“You look extra muscular in this, by the way.” Yani squeezes my bicep.

I chuckle. “Thank you.”

Her gaze shifts to Maisie and slowly lowers down her dress before swallowing hard.

“Are y’all ready to order?”