Sunflowers and Lillies

𝟘𝟠

"What is this place?" Nick asks as he gets off the bike. He pulls off his helmet and holds out a hand for me to take.

"Heaven," I sigh and take his hand before getting off as well. I take my helmet off and hand it to Nick, who puts it in the back trunk, while I pat my hair down.

We start walking towards the blaring country music and sounds of meat getting grilled. The smell of ribs, brisket, and everything a meat lover loved wafted through the air as we stood in line and waited for a table.

"This new boy," I say gesturing around. "Is where you'll find the greatest tasting ribs you'll ever eat."

"I didn't peg you for a ribs kind of girl," he raises an amused brow.

"I'm from Texas. I've grown up on ribs," I reply pocketing my hands. "The line might take a while but I swear you won't regret it."

"No problem," he leans against the metal railings that were placed around to form a line. I lean against the opposite end and pass him a small smile.

"So," I drawl. "Where are you from?" 

"Well," he sighs and shuffles a bit as the line moves. "I was born in Ohio, but I moved around a lot so there isn't much I can say."

"Where you been?"

"San Diego, New York, spent a little in England, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Indiana, Delaware, Georgia, Nevada, Washington, and now Texas."

I count every state on my finger and then hold them up quizzically, "and you're 17?"

"Eighteen."

"That's like—fifteen different places."

"Thirteen."

"So what was the longest you ever stayed in one place?"

"Uh—two years, I think."

I frown, "why all the moves? That must have been tough moving around all the time."

"You get used to it," he shrugs. He doesn't answer my question about why.

I blow out a breath, "well, I hope you find yourself staying here a while."

He looks at me, like really looks, and for some reason, my face flushes a small pink; I tell myself it's just the cold. "Yeah. I hope so too."

We stepped forward another small step, a small quiet encasing us until we reach the end of the line where a waiter sat sending everyone to their tables. He was bellyful, his eyes playfully and wearing a cowboy hat to hide his Afro head of hair.

"How many?" Austin says, then looks up to me, and a grin forms on his bearded face. "Lizzy!" he jumps up and pulls me into a bear hug. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Austin," I chuckle, smoothing out my hair. I turn to Nick whose looking between us awkwardly, no doubt weirded out by the fact a thirty-year-old man had just hugged me.

"Austin, I want you to meet my friend Nick." I gesture to him and Austin holds out a hand to which Nick takes. "I come here a lot and Austin's almost always my waiter," I explain.

"Nice to meet you, Nick," Austin says as they shake hands. "Should I arrange the lovers special?"

My face flushes, red and on fire, right then and there. "No." I clear my throat making sure my glare was evident of my feelings, "No, you shouldn't."

And I know for a fact there isn't even such a thing as 'lovers special.' 

He eyes me and Nick playfully; I was running through the multiple excuses I could give off for accidents of his murder. "You sure?"