I let out a sigh. “Yeah. I know I should. I know that. But I don’t want to take away my babies’ home. Their lives were already turned upside down; I don’t want to move them out of the place they’ve grown up their whole life too.”
He nods. “I get that. What about you and Mia though? How did y’all feel when you moved out of your childhood home and into the apartment?”
I blink at him. I had never thought about that before. “Um… well… it was actually great. It was like an adventure. That was my mom’s doing, now that I think about it. Her demeanor, the way she acted while we moved. I clearly remember noting how happy she seemed, how chipper she was, when I was so used to seeing her down and depressed. It was a new beginning, leaving behind our home that was filled with bad memories. A fresh start. We didn’t have much money, but Mom made a big deal about letting Mia and me paint the walls whatever color we wanted in our room. We painted it just the three of us, with my mom singing about not needing a man, how we could do anything we put our minds to. Might seem silly, but my dad had always done all the handiwork around the house, so it was a major thing for my mom. You should’ve seen us trying to figure out how to open the paint can.” I giggle.
His face softens, and I have to fight my urge to let out a dreamy sigh. He’s so freaking handsome.
“Knowing that, what’s to say you couldn’t move into a more affordable place and turn the experience into a happy one, like your mom managed to do for you?” he asks.
I shrug. “I’ll think about it. I just have so much going on right now I don’t want to add apartment hunting and selling the house to the list. I’m mostly focusing on keeping calm. My anxiety over Mike getting served Monday has been wreaking havoc on me all evening. I have no idea how he’s going to react, seeing as I’m sure he didn’t think I’d be able to afford filing, especially so soon.”
“Well then, how about a little distraction, naekkeo? You didn’t take a dinner break earlier. You hungry?” he prompts.
I tilt my head. “Yes and no. I’m hungry but have a nervous stomach.”
He snaps his fingers then points to me as he stands up straight. “I have just the thing.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his keys. “You riding with me, or you want to follow?”
My brow furrows. “Follow you where?”
“My place.” He shrugs. “The kitchen here is all disinfected and ready for business tomorrow. Don’t want to dirty up any dishes. Plus, I have the ingredients I need at home.”
I audibly gulp and sit up straight on the stool. “Y-Your place?” A tornado of butterflies add to the nervousness already filling my stomach. “Um…” I hadn’t thought about this being a possibility. I knew I wanted to talk to Winston tonight and let him know I wanted what he offered the other night when he was pressed between my legs, kissing me like I’ve never been kissed before. But I hadn’t thought past that. I hadn’t imagined being anywhere else with him other than here at the restaurant.
“I just want to feed you, Cece,” he says softly, and the sincerity in his eyes somewhat calms me.
I nod. “Okay. I’ll ride with you.” If I drive, I’ll do nothing but talk myself into a panic and probably end up convincing myself not to do what I want—spend time with Winston. Plus, with my girls staying the night at their dad’s, there’s no reason for me to go straight home. I can stay out as long as I want and not have to worry about leaving my kids with Mia with no help if she needs it.
“Excellent. Let’s go,” he says, giving me a devilish grin that makes that tornado of butterflies touch down right in the center of my core. I barely retain my whimper.
I stand, pulling off my apron and hurrying to the other side of the bar to put it in the cabinet and grab my purse. “My car should be okay here, right?”
“Where’d you park?” he asks.
“In the back,” I reply.
He nods. “Yep, it’ll be fine. And there are cameras if it isn’t.”
I follow him through the door to the kitchen and offices then out the back door, which he turns around and locks with his keys. He unlocks his truck with his remote, and I can’t help but smile when he opens the passenger door for me. “Thank you.” I blush, reaching for the seatbelt as he closes the door with a wink.
When he’s in the driver seat and starts the car, I jump as the radio starts blasting, my hand going to my chest to keep my heart from escaping as he flinches and turns the music way down.