Page 98 of Ready to Score

In one week, Olivia would be moving. Not just from Beaufort either but out of the country completely. She’d taken a teaching job in South Korea with a contract that would keep her away from them for an entire year. They’d spent the past few weeks shedding their tears and reveling in their sadness. Now it was time to send their girl off in style. With good company and Greenbelt’s finest.

Truthfully, it had been a while since they’d all gotten to spend time together at once. Work was hectic, and everyone trying to cultivate their own relationships took time. They still made sure to get together plenty, but it often meant that all their schedules didn’t align and someone was left out. They’d all made time for this, though, and it felt incredible to have everyone together in one place. Even Leo with his big-ass head made her heart feel full enough to burst.

“I will never forget the first time I had this cobbler,” Aja said, giggling. “Walker brought me here and made me try it.”

“Mm-hmm.” Walker’s voice was calm and quiet, like it always was. “Now she knows all about them peaches. Ain’t that right?”

“I’ve still never had any better than this.”

“I have,” Walker said quietly, and judging by the way Aja tucked her face into his chest and laughed, they were being too horny for their own good.

Jade decided to let it go without ragging on them. She was in too good a mood.

“Nothing’s better than Minnie’s,” Leo said. “And I’ve been to a lot of damn diners.”

“I have to agree,” Franny added, prompting Jade to throw anarm around her bare shoulders. “I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about this place that just won’t let up.”

“Well, that’s because Old Minnie was on her witchy shit,” Miri said.

Everyone else at the table groaned, and Miri just cackled.

“I’m serious as a heart attack too. My mama said that before she opened this place, Minnie put all kinds of wards and shit around the property for protection. I mean, when was the last time you saw anybody get into a fight at Minnie’s? Or even try to get nasty with one of the servers?”

They all went silent for a few moments, thinking.

“Well, never,” Olivia huffed. “But that doesn’t mean Minnie cast spells on all of Greenbelt.”

Miri shrugged. “People in this town fight at church picnics, girl. But somehow, they never fight at Minnie’s. The vibes are always right, the food is always hot, and the cobbler always hits. That feels like witchcraft to me.”

“Wait a minute. When did this place open?” Walker asked.

“My folks came here when they were in high school,” Leo said. “So… a long time.”

Walker’s blond brows furrowed. “My granny always told me Minnie herself was back there cooking. How old could she be?”

“Wait, I thought Minnie’s was just named after someone’s mama,” Jade interjected. “I didn’t think there was actually a woman named Minnie behind it all.”

“Mama said that it’s owned by a Black woman named Minnie and that these are all her original recipes.” Miri’s tone was incredibly sure.

Leo chuckled, not unkindly. “Well, if Ms. Patrice said it…”

“Oh, hush,” Miri said, smiling. “She’s right most of the time.”

“I don’t know if she’s right about this one,” Olivia said, phone upto her face. “The website says Minnie’s was opened in 1962, but it doesn’t say anything about who opened it or where it got its name.”

“That’s weird.” Franny pulled her own phone out, tapping on the screen. “This website looks like it was started in 1962…”

“Ooh,” Jade said, pulling her arm from around Franny’s shoulders and putting her elbows on the table, leaning forward. “Maybe we should investigate. Let’s get to the bottom of the Minnie’s mystery.”

The entire table went silent for a few moments, and Jade’s excitement grew as she assumed they were all taking her idea into real consideration.

“You want us to run around town like Scoob and the gang?” Leo laughed. “What happens if we find out the place is just an old chain restaurant run by an evil conglomerate or something?”

Jade pouted, throwing herself back against the booth, arms crossed. “Is it your life’s goal to ruin all my fun, Leo?”

Leo’s dark eyebrows shot up his forehead in an instant. “Oh, it’smeruiningyourfun now?”

“Yes, just like always.”

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