Page 37 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

He kept this from me.

But, why?

He trusts me with his body. His time. His fucking sustenance.

But not this?

My fingers tighten around my phone.

I breathe. Slow. Deep. Controlled.

Then I exhale.

Okay.

Now I’mreallypissed.

They don’t know who they’re fucking with.

Kamryn especially.

I refuse to beef with an ex who lost a baby. I mean, I’m not a monster. I’ve been through that before. I handled it just fine, but I’m sure it’s excruciating to lose a child you actuallywanted.

Kamryn? She should know better.I’mthe woman in Ace’s life. She shouldn’t be entertaining old hoes.

Whatever, though.

She gon’ learn.

I perfected revenge long before I perfected my winged eyeliner.

Ask Naima Bates.

Senior year, she spread a rumor about me stealing from the debate team fundraiser. I mean, I did, but it wasn’t a lot, and she didn’t have to snitch. I found out she was fucking our biology teacher. Guess who sent an anonymous email to her parents? And the school board?

Terrica Henry also learned a painful lesson. I’d only been working at the Amazon warehouse for a few months when she pulled some sneaky shit, telling the cutest worker there, who everybody knew I was talking to, that I was a weirdo. I don’t even remember his name, because that’s not important. What’s important is that her car was stolen. And totaled. And nobody was ever caught. And she had no way to get to work, so she got fired. She had kids at home, too. Such a shame.

And then there’s Ferris.

The Taylors?

They’re next.

And it won’t be quick. Quick is merciful.

This will be slow.

They’re gonna feel me in every fiber of their spoiled, bougie, backstabbing bones.

And Ace?

He’ll understand. Eventually.

13

Raya

I find out as soon as I walk through the door.

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