Page 48 of His Hungry Wolf

“Seriously?” I asked, cringing.

“There were a few.”

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, apologizing for all white people everywhere.

“Listen, if that was the worst thing that happened to me while I was there, I would have been fine with it,” he said with a sarcastic smile.

“What was the worst thing?” I asked, nervously.

He just stared at me.

“Fuck!” I said, realizing that what I had said had been it. “I’m so sorry, man.”

“I get it.”

“It’s just that, in all of the time I knew you, I really wanted to touch your hair. I didn’t know how to ask…” I shrugged longingly.

Claude looked at me for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“Can I do it now?” I said, reaching for him.

“Get off me,” he said, pulling away.

“Claude, can I touch your hair?” I teased.

“Get off!” He said, giving me a push.

I settled, feigning disappointment. “This will not help race relations,” I joked.

“You’re an idiot.”

I pointed at myself. “Florida Man.”

Claude laughed.

Hearing Claude laugh made me feel better. It always did. It had a magical ability to make me believe that everything would be okay.

Landing in Pensacola, I immediately texted Papa letting him know Claude had agreed to do the workout. I had waited until now, fearing Claude would change his mind. I knew I might have, considering what had happened between us. But with the plane on the ground and him in Pensacola, I finally felt free to set things in motion.

“Coach says he’s setting things up. He has to coordinate with the general manager and a few others. He’ll let me know when he has the day and time.”

“What do we do until then? Did you get me a hotel room?”

My panic-sensitive brain lit up.

“Shit! Did you want one?” I asked sincerely. “I was thinking you would stay with me. On the couch, I mean. Is that fine? I swear it’s comfortable. Or, I could take the couch.”

Claude stared at me.

“No, I can sleep on the couch.”

I could tell what he was thinking.

“If you want a hotel room, I can get you one. I just figured that there’s not much to do in Pensacola and you’d prefer to stay with me. My place isn’t big or fancy, but at least you would know someone.”

“It’s okay. Your place is fine,” he said with a kind smile.

It was only as I looked into his warm eyes that I actually thought about my place. I had been so focused on getting him here that I hadn’t put any thought into what he would be expecting.

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