Page 63 of February

“Yes. It sounded the most breakfast-like.”

Bridgette smiled at her and asked, “Can I steal a strawberry?”

“Sure,” Monica said.

Bridgette picked up Monica’s fork, stabbed a berry, and brought it to her mouth while Monica watched for probably a little too long before she cleared her throat and dug her spoon into her grits.

“Here I go. Wish me luck,” she said.

Bridgette chuckled, and Monica took her first bite, deciding she’d be having grits for breakfast again.

“They’re good,” she noted, sounding surprised.

“I told you.”

“Like, really good.” Monica took another bite.

“I’m glad you agree.” Bridgette laughed. “Now, I won’t bother you anymore. I just wanted to see if you liked them. I’ll–”

“You’re not bothering me,” she interrupted. “Seriously, stay. You can help me eat this since I like the grits. I got the other stuff in case I didn’t.”

“I guess I can steal another strawberry, at least,” Bridgette said before she stabbed another berry and ate it. “So, how are you feeling after last night?”

“I have a little headache, but it’s going away. I think I just need to eat.”

“That’s good,” Bridgette said.

“How doyoufeel?”

“Well, I didn’t really drink, so I’m good. You, on the other hand, had a few, and at least two of them were extra sweet, so you might not have realized how much alcohol was in them.”

“I was with you, so I wasn’t worried,” Monica said.

She knew that to be true. The feel of Bridgette’s hand on her back as they’d walked through the crowd had made Monica feel not alone for the first time in a very long time. She knew Bridgette wouldn’t let anything happen to her and wouldn’t let her drink anything that would cause her to fall over, drunk.

Bridgette stared at her for a long moment before the waiter arrived.

“Can I get my usual and a blueberry muffin to-go?”

“To-stay,” Monica suggested.

“Are you sure?”

Monica nodded.

“Okay. Never mind. I’ll have it here.”

The waiter nodded and walked off.

“So, you’ve been dressing casually lately.”

“Is it bad? Have your parents said something?” Monica asked before she took another bite.

“What? No, they haven’t said anything. They probably haven’t even noticed. I’m just saying that I like it.”

“You do?”

“The casual look works for you.” Bridgette shrugged a shoulder.

---