Page 15 of The Love of Priest

The next day,Britain found herself sitting in the driver's seat of her vehicle, contemplating whether she should enter the restaurant. Her eyes hawked everyone who entered the high-class establishment. She was clearly underdressed. Just a few minutes before, she observed Priest as he stepped out of a porcelain white Porsche Cayanne. He suavely handed the keys to the valet before entering the restaurant. Britain ducked quickly when she noticed it was him. She didn't want him to know she didn't feel suited to enter such an elite atmosphere.

Looking down at her watch, she noticed it was just after eight in the evening, which seemed to trigger her phone with a text from Priest.

Priest:I said not to be late.

She responded to him, explaining why she wasn't seated across from him at that very moment.

Britain:I can’t go in there. I don’t feel comfortable.

The three dots danced at the bottom of her screen before his response was delivered.

Priest:I’ll have my security escort you in. Is that it?

An uneasy chuckle slipped out of Britain as she shook her head while typing up her reply.

Britain:I appreciate the kind gesture but no thanks. This isn’t my type of scene. I don’t wanna look like a klutz.

Britain believed as soon as she stepped inside Eleven Madison Park she would stick out like sore thumb. Her busy schedule at the chiropractor’s office today had prevented her from having time to go home to change into something more appropriate. Arriving at the front of the restaurant, Britain surveyed each person who went in and out of the restaurant, but she found no one as casually dressed as she was.

Her phone dinged with another text from Priest in no time.

Priest:A klutz huh? Where do you prefer? My treat.

Britain:A diner. Fast food. Food court. Hell, anywhere but here!

She enlightened him, being sure to decorate her text with a few laughing face emojis.

Moments later, Britain watched Priest exit the restaurant, reclaiming his vehicle from valet. Britain's heart almost palpitated out of her chest when there was a knock on the tinted window of her vehicle. Rolling her window down, she was faced with an older gentleman who had the stature of a linebacker. His thick beard was well maintained, and his short dreads were pulled back.

"Mr. Justice wants you to follow his vehicle," he advised.

Clueless about what to say, Britain just nodded with a light smile. She rolled her window up and started her vehicle. Just as she did, Priest pulled off in his vehicle, prompting her to follow right behind him. She had no idea where Priest was leading her off to, but her nerves were put to rest when they exited the jurisdiction of Manhattan and entered Harlem. Still though, Britain took precaution and sent Jadey the description of Priest's car and his license plate number.

Britain stopped her vehicle right behind Priest's. Scanning her surroundings, she chuckled at the sight of the low-key diner he took her to. This was more Britain's speed and more conducive to the way she was dressed right now. With a light smile, she pushed the button to kill her engine and removed her seat belt. Her door was soon being held open by Priest, who extended a hand to assist her out of the vehicle.

"This more suiting for you?" He smirked down at her as he shut the door to her car.

She pressed the button on her key fob, locking the doors. "Definitely. I couldn't go into Eleven dressed like this.” Britain shook her head while looking down at her attire. Her casual wardrobe was worn during the majority of her week since her weekdays mostly consisted of work while the weekends were signified by glamorous pieces that cost her a fortune and heels that gave her a foot of confidence.

"Chopsticks in the hair." Priest reached down, touching one of the chopsticks that was nestled within the bun that sat at the top of her head. "Aren't those for eating?" He chuckled.

Britain nodded her head with a light laugh of her own. "They're statement pieces as well," she added as he held the door open for her so they could enter the diner. Upon entrance, Britain's stomach growled at the combination of aromas steaming from the different foods being served. Her nose tingled at the striking scent of fried chicken colliding with the melted cheese from the baked macaroni that was a part of the menu.

"You've been here before?" Priest eyes sauntered down to Britain once more as she rocked side to side in anticipation of eating while they waited to be seated.

Britain shook her head. "I haven't. I just moved to Harlem from Staten Island to be closer to my dad about three months ago. I still haven't discovered all the underground spots." Taking a look around, Britain could tell the food was great. Not many people were seated and enjoying their food, and it was obvious why. The to-go line at the counter was lengthy, but that didn't affect the customer service to the in-house guests.

Priest nodded. Harlem was home to him, and he felt like he had successfully discovered every spot there was, thanks to his adventures around town with J'Ru, of course. A welcoming younger woman greeted the two before pointing them to a table at the back of the restaurant like Priest requested. Priest allowed Britain to take the seat with her back facing the door, while he sat opposite of her, scoping each action and every object in the diner.

"I'll give you two a minute to decide what you want." The waitress smiled before handing them the menus and going off to tend to other in-house customers.

"Everything sounds so good." Britain poked out her bottom lip as she drifted her eyes from top to bottom of the two-paged menu. She could hear Priest let out another one of his chuckles. Glancing up from her menu, she was shocked to realize his focus wasn't on the menu like her. Instead, his dark and observant orbs were fixated directly onto her.

"What?" She screwed her face up, not being one who liked to be stared down.

"You look like your pops," Priest told her with an amused smirk and a shrug.

Britain rolled her eyes playfully. "That's funny to you?"

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