“Uhh…why?”
I shrug. “She likes you. Come on. Let’s go while they’re not busy. Their lunch rush will be starting soon and I want a good table before that happens.” Best to distract her from dinner with my mother. I’m hoping I can get her to dinner with Mom by next Sunday. Fingers crossed as my cousin would say.
Ellie’s Biscuits and Fixins, as the place is called, is one of the best kept secrets in Minneapolis. Only the locals go here and the tourist visit the fancier places. Which is fine with all of us. Ellie’s is only open until 3pm so it’s always busy. Even as we walk in, the tables are still full. I take Daisy’s hand and make a beeline for the one window table that’s open. I see two guys walking toward it and run, making it to the table a few steps before them.
“Was that necessary?” Daisy asks when she catches up to me.
“Yes,” all three of us guys answer.
She shakes her head and slides into the booth. “Stupid.”
“But we got one of the best seats in the place.” I can’t hide the pride in my voice for beating out two of the college basketball players. They might spend half their time running, but I spend most of my time skatingandrunning. I’m faster.
It’s not long before our waitress comes over with menus and a complimentary carafe of coffee and mugs.
“See, I told you not to worry about coffee.” I grin as the waitress laughs.
“I’m Casey and I’ll be your waitress today. Do you two want creamer as well?”
“Please,” Daisy murmurs.
“I’ll be right out with it. Can I bring you some juice or water?”
“Water for me.”
“Water’s fine.”
“You know you can order OJ or something. It won’t bother me.”
“Lies. You’ll want it and I’ll end up feeling bad. Now, what’s good here?” she asks.
“Everything.”
“That tells me nothing.” She flips the one page menu over. “Eww, grits. I hate grits.”
“My mom loves them.”
“Nana loved them so I learned how to make them. Still don’t like them, though.”
“Let’s see…for your first time, I’d try one of the specialty waffles.”
She looks up. “Nah. You can’t eat them so I don’t want to eat that in front of you.”
“I’m used to it. I’m getting steak and their egg white omelets. Trust me, get the waffles, I don’t mind.”
“I really want to try the cinnamon roll waffle.”
“I had them over the summer. They’re my favorite.”
“Nope, not getting them then.”
Mom is going to love this girl.
When Casey comes back, I give her my order and Daisy decides on fresh strawberry crepes.
“What are crepes?” I ask when the waitress leaves. I think I’ve heard of them, but I can’t be sure.
“They’re like thin pancakes folded over and stuffed with all sorts of things. You can make breakfast, lunch or dinner crepes.”
