The French toast sandwich and half the beignets were gone by the time the grits and Naomi showed up ten minutes later.
Naomi took in the plate of fried donuts, the huge cup of coffee, and the bowl of grits. “A pitcher of water, some eggs, and toast, please?” she asked Ellie.
“You’ve got it,” Ellie told her.
“You haven’t eaten yet?” Charlie asked her.
It was a fair question. Naomi’s grandmother and mother were both amazing cooks and lived within easy walking distance of Naomi’s little house. It was a rare meal that Naomi ate outside of one of their kitchens. She always said that was one of the things she had missed the most living in California. They’d had a cook who had been amazing, but it hadn’t been the same as home cooking out of her grandmother’s cast-iron skillet.
Naomi shook her head, looping her purse over the back of her chair. “That’s all for you,” she told Jordan. “The grits are going to soak up the alcohol in your stomach, but you’re gonna need some protein and a ton of water to get you feeling better.”
Jordan regarded her friends.
Charlie’s pale skin had just a touch of a tan now that she’d spent her summer in Louisiana. Her long hair fell in waves past her shoulder blades and had streaks of lighter gold that were hard to tell if they came from the sun or a salon. Her make-up was fully done from her arched eyebrows to her pink lips. She had a quick smile, talked fast, and was a problem solver, but she was spontaneous and often leapt before she looked. Then dealt with the consequences.
In contrast, Naomi had always been cool and collected. She was the epitome of had-her-shit-together. She planned ahead, was ready for anything, and handled everything with grace and class.
Her warm, medium brown skin was smooth and flawless this morning. Because of her time spent getting her makeup and hair done while acting, she now preferred an easy, natural look. Her long black hair was in braids and the only hint of makeup was mascara on her incredibly long lashes and a hint of berry color on her lips. She wore a simple white sleeveless blouse with denim capris and sandals. She looked relaxed and casual and perfectly put-together.
And while Charlie had pulled Jordan into crazy, spontaneous plans, Naomi was the calming influence. She mothered them all, but in a low-key, non-judgmental way that they all loved. Having Naomi around meant never being without a Band-Aid, a breath mint, a tampon, or duct tape. And yes, Jordan had borrowed all of those things from Naomi at one point or another.
Naomi was also the voice of reason more often than not, giving level-headed, thoughtful advice.
Jordan needed Naomi right now for sure.
She leaned in. “So, my new husband didn’t want to have sex with me this morning.”
Naomi frowned. “What?”
“But you did have sex,” Charlie said. “Right? I mean, that’s what it sounded like.”
“We did. After we made out and argued.”
“You argued while you were making out?” Naomi asked.
“No, after he stopped right in the middle of making out and reminded me of my eye infection.”
Naomi and Charlie looked at her in confusion. Then they looked at one another. Then back to her.
“You have an eye infection?” Charlie asked.
“I had an eye infection,” Jordan said. “When I was thirteen. At least that was the one he was referring to.”
Charlie wasn’t from Autre. She’d spent her summers down here with her grandparents and cousins, but she’d grown up in Shreveport, so had missed a few of the childhood shenanigans.
Naomi had retired from acting when she was fourteen and had moved back to Autre. While she’d been living in California, she’d visited and spent holidays in Louisiana when she was able, but neither of these women had been around to see some of Jordan’s more embarrassing moments. Unlike Fletcher.
“I mean, it was gross,” Jordan admitted. “But why was he thinking of it at that moment? And why would he bring it up even if it did come to mind?”
“What were you doing exactly?” Charlie asked.
“I was half naked, we were on the bed, his hand was in my panties.”
Just then Ellie arrived with her eggs, toast, and water.
“And he just suddenly stopped and brought up an eye infection?” Charlie asked.
“Yep.”
“But then you did end up having sex?” Naomi clarified.
“Yes. But he was definitely trying to resist. We argued and I took my clothes off and he…came around.” Jordan couldn’t help her little grin as Naomi, Charlie, and Ellie all snorted. “But—” she said the next second with a frown. “Why did he mention my eye? Oh!” she added, remembering their bickering. “He also brought up the time I peed on my shoe at a party.”
“Ew. What?” Naomi said.
“Don’t ‘ew’ me, Naomi LeClaire. I was at a party and all we had were bushes. You’re too classy for me and we both know it, but you love me anyway,” Jordan said.
“Of course I do and I am not. I’ve peed in the bushes myself but on your shoe? That’s an amateur move,” Naomi told her. “You’ve been squatting in bushes since you were little and didn’t want to take time to run inside at crawfish boils.”
Jordan laughed. “Anyway, I didn’t expect my husband to bring it up while I was all hot and bothered and begging him for more.”
“Sounds like he was trying for a distraction,” Ellie, Fletcher’s grandmother, said, propping a hand on her hip. She’d been shamelessly listening to the conversation.
But Jordan didn’t even blush. The Landry family had very few filters. And, after all, she and Fletcher were married. Honestly, even to Fletcher’s grandmother—even if Ellie wasn’t a typical grandmother in any way—it had to be a surprise that he’d pulled back when they’d been getting hot and heavy.
“A distraction?” Charlie asked. “Why would he want to be distracted right then?”
“So things didn’t go too fast. Lord knows he’s been waiting for this girl for a long time. He was probably pretty worked up,” Ellie said.
“And he didn’t have time to spread out the rose petals, light candles, and tell you all of the things he loves about you from head to toe,” Naomi said with a grin.
Ellie nodded. “That’s a good point.”
Jordan frowned. “What do you mean?”
“It may have hit him that this morning wasn’t romantic enough,” Naomi said. “I mean, I assume you weren’t up for much last night. So this was your first time.”
Jordan thought about that. Okay, the Landrys were a huge, grand-gestures, over-the-top-romance-crazy family. And yeah, it had been their first time. But…it had been hot. Why did it have to be a big, romantic production?
But that did make sense.
“Well, he should know he doesn’t have to do that for me.”
“Why would he know that?” Ellie asked.
“Because he knows me better than anyone.”
“But he doesn’t know what you like in bed,” Ellie said, matter-of-factly, as if they were talking about Fletcher not knowing how she took her coffee or liked her eggs.
And hey, he’d sure known how to make her happy against the wall.