10. Marshawn #2
As soon as she split her lips, I regretted my decision.
Vonnie wrapped her full lips around the fork and retrieved the gator bite.
I watched her mouth as she chewed slowly.
Against my protest, my dick sprang to life like it was coming out of a bad dream.
Snatching my eyes away, I looked down and picked up one of the egg rolls.
“I gotta give it to you… This is actually pretty good,” she declared. “You know they say everything tastes like chicken, but this really tastes like chicken.”
“See? I told you it was good,” I said, finally biting into one of the miniature boudin rolls.
“How are those?”
“Not as good as mine,” I lied.
“You swear you’re a chef.”
“I’m just letting you know I got the boudin game on lock.”
“Let me see how this tastes,” Vonnie said, stabbing a ball with her fork.
I watched her pretty-ass lips as she chewed pensively. Taking a sip of my drink, I sat back in my seat and waited for her answer.
“Oh, yeah… These are good.”
“I’ve traveled the world. I’m here to tell you that New Orleans has some of the best food.”
“I’m starting to believe it.”
The waitress returned with another woman and placed our entrees on the table. After verifying that we didn’t need anything else, they went on their way. I was about to dig in before I realized Vonnie had dropped her head to pray. Out of courtesy, I dropped my head and allowed her to finish.
“I don’t know why I’m praying now when I already started eating,” she stated once she lifted her head.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Aww, hush! I wasn’t officially eating yet.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Well, don’t be saying nothing when it comes to me and the Lord.”
“My apologies.” I grinned as I dug into my blackened salmon. I didn’t give a damn what Vonnie said; the boring-ass baked fish I ordered was delicious. Her food must have been just as good because neither of us came up from our meals until I finally got the urge to take a sip of my water.
“This is actually banging. Here, try it.” Vonnie shoved a forkful of stuffed porkchop in my direction.
“I’m good, Vonnie. Eat up.”
“Nah, you had me out here eating crocodile. The least you can do is try some plain ol’ porkchop.”
Instead of continuing to protest, I opened my mouth and accepted the tender bite of pan-seared pork. It was as good as Vonnie had described, causing a smile to spread across my lips.
“Bomb, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty good.”
“Fuck pretty good. It’s damn good.”
“Do you make a point to curse in every sentence?” I asked.
“Only when I’m not working. I find that it gets it out of my system.”
“So, you have a lot of steam to blow off?”
“Sometimes,” she said, raising one shoulder.
“That’s why I like to schedule time off during filming. I would have figured you would go home.”
“I was actually in the process of moving when Larsen sent the job offer. My new place isn’t ready, seeing that I haven’t chosen it yet. I didn’t want to visit my parents or impose on one of my friends if I didn’t have to. It was easier to just stay here and explore the city.”
“Are you relocating completely or just within your area?”
“You know… I’m really not sure yet. More than likely, I’ll find a new place in my city.”
“Where are you from in Georgia anyway?”
“A small town outside of Lulaville. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”
“Lulaville, I know. The Lightning is my team.”
“My best friend is actually married to Azriel Nichols.”
“Oh, really? I’d love to shake his hand. That man has made me a hell of a lot of money in fantasy football.”
“He’s all right. I liked him, too, until he dragged my girl all the way out to Seattle.”
“I was pissed about the trade, too, but he’s doing well in Seattle. I can’t blame him for wanting to upgrade. He wasn’t getting the love he deserved in Georgia.”
“I don’t know about all that football stuff. I just know there’s no way I would choose to live somewhere where the sun barely shines.”
“I agree.” I chuckled, nodding.
We finished our food at about the same time, and I looked up as Vonnie reached for another egg roll.
“These are so good. I feel like a little pig just eating everything in sight.”
“I don’t know about that. I love a woman with a good appetite.”
“Well, you would love me,” she said, never looking up from the task of dipping her egg roll into the orange sauce that came with it.
I think I already do.
If it weren’t for our working relationship, I would have put the press down and pursued Vonnie openly.
On paper, she wasn’t even my type. I preferred my women soft-spoken and demure.
Being married to Clarissa had taught me everything I didn’t want in a woman.
While Vonnie wasn’t rude and obnoxious like my ex-wife, she was just as loud.
Not egregiously so, but she easily stood out.
Vonnie would be the first thing anyone noticed or heard when they entered a room because, more than likely, she would be laughing and talking.
That usually didn’t work for me, but for some reason, when it came to her infectious laughter, I couldn’t get enough of it.
I wanted to know what made her so happy and bottle some of that joy for myself.
Hearing Vonnie laugh made me laugh. Seeing her smile made me want to smile.
Whatever she was doing, I wanted to be a part of it.
Wherever she was, I found a way to be near.
As if something was drawing us together, we had ended up at the very same restaurant out of maybe thousands in the city.
I couldn’t get enough of her—even the universe knew it and was conspiring to keep her close.
“Care for dessert?”
“I actually want to try beignets while I’m in New Orleans. I was going to look up a spot after I finished here.”
“I know a great place if you don’t mind going into some seedy areas.”
She laughed at that, but I was deadass serious. I was about to take her deep into the trenches. I pulled a few bills out of my wallet as I stood and reached for her hand.
“Obviously, you don’t know where I’m from. Seedy is my middle name. The strip club I worked in was in the heart of the hood.”
“Tell me more about this past life as a stripper.” I grinned.
“See… I didn’t say that I was a stripper. I said I worked in a strip club.”
“What were you then… a bouncer? A pretty little thing like you couldn’t have scared anybody up in there.”
More of that laughter I loved followed my comment as I led the way out of the restaurant. The crowd outside had grown, and I was glad I found Vonnie before she was subjected to the infamous wait time.
“I was actually a makeup artist for the strippers.”
“Oh, damn. I wonder if they’re looking for a replacement. That sounds like my dream job.”
“You’re a mess. You know that?”
“So, I’ve heard. Back to you, though. How did you become a makeup artist for strippers?”
“Well, when I was a stripper, some of the girls started asking me to do their makeup. It started catching on, and when I gave up dancing, they asked me to keep coming on the weekends to make them look good.”
“See? I thought you said you weren’t a stripper.” I shook my head but couldn’t hide the apparent smile that split my lips.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t a stripper. I said I didn’t tell you that I was.”
“It was misleading.”
“Oooh, look!” Vonnie exclaimed, releasing my hand as she began to clap to the sounds of the second line ahead of us.
Like a trained seal on a leash, I followed a few steps behind as Vonnie joined the processional. Her jovial laughter filled the air as she danced and pranced along with the people who had fallen in line with them. I was hypnotized as her hips swayed to the lighthearted jazz music.
Vonnie was having the time of her life. At that moment, I was committed to making sure she continued to have a good time.
I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her living life without a care in the world.
She was really something else. After a brief reprieve, the band continued down the street.
Vonnie danced her way back over to where I stood, watching from the sidewalk.
“That was so fun! I’ve never seen that in real life.”
“You’ll probably see a ton more before we leave.”
“And I’ve been cooped up in that house every day after work. I have to get out and enjoy myself.”
“You don’t seem to have any issue with having fun when the opportunity presents itself.”
“You’re right. I planned on taking a trip to Bourbon Street, but these heels will not permit.”
With that being said, my eyes did a quick scan before landing on a gift shop. I was sure we could find Vonnie some more shoes there. They might not be as sexy as the strappy gold heels that made her ass sit up like it was on a serving tray, but they would undoubtedly be more comfortable.
I motioned, leading the way to the store. “This way.”
As soon as I walked through the door, I spotted a wall of sandals and flip-flops.
“Oh, thank goodness! I was this close to walking barefoot through the streets. My feet hurt bad enough from standing at work all day. I can’t have my dogs barking when I’m out trying to have fun.”
“You probably need better shoes,” I suggested.
“I know. I keep saying that I’m going to get new ones, but so far, I haven’t.”
I watched as Vonnie reached up and selected a pair of green flip-flops that weren’t quite the same shade as her dress but would do in a pinch.
I didn’t care what she got; I just wanted to make her comfortable.
Leave it to her to grab a feathered boa of the same shade as we made our way to the front counter to pay.
She searched through her tiny, little purse as the cashier rang up her items. Before she had the chance to pull out her card, I had already tapped mine.
“Shawn, what are you doing?”
“I wasn’t about to stand here all night waiting for you to pull your money out of that little bag. We have beignets to eat.”
“Oh, hush. Come on.” She snatched the bag from the counter and headed outside.