Page 97 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

Vanessa says something quietly, but I don’t hear it. My wheels are too busy turning.

Maybe…maybe this’ll be the thing. I was gonna do it anyway, but they don’t know that. This is the one thing I know they—shewants, and if I do it, it may make her face relax. She might even smile. Tell me she’s proud of me for doing the right thing.

So I lean forward, plant my forearms on the table, and say, “Y'all are right.”

Kamryn rears back. “Damn. That was easy.”

Mama’s lips twitch like she’s trying to hide her satisfaction.

Pop finally speaks. “What are you gonna do?”

“I’ma cut her loose,” I say. “Can’t have somebody like that in my life.”

Mama nods, and I feel a twinge of relief.

I push back from the table, standing with a firm resolve. “I’ma handle it.”

Kamryn stares up at me, concerned. “You want some backup?”

I shoot her a look. “I wanna end a relationship, not start a war. Relax.”

Mama stands, too, and rounds the table. I stop and wait, surprised when she pulls me in for a hug—a warm one.

“Choices are important,” she says into my shirt. “You’re making the right one this time, Ace. I’m proud of you.”

It’s a rebuke wrapped in a compliment, but I’ll take it.

She answers the door in that black silk robe. My mind wants to go back to that night, but I fight every image before it comes into focus.

I have to do this.

Her hair’s piled up on top of her head, her lips glossed and pouty. She looks sosoft. Touchable. Fuckable.

Focus.

Her eyes flicker over my face, studying me, then drop to my shoulders, assessing my posture.

She knows something’s coming.

“Hey baby,” she purrs, squaring her shoulders. “This is a surprise. Are you coming in?”

“Actually,” I say, my voice low. “We’re done.”

She tilts her head. “Oh?”

I exhale sharply. “I know you lied. You’re not a teacher. You never went to Spelman. You stay keeping secrets. I’m over this shit.”

She watches me for an indeterminable amount of time, her expression unreadable. Then, she smiles.

It’s not a normal smile, either.

It’s slow. Sinister.

And I hate that my dick twitches in response.

She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms under her chest. “Okay.”

I blink a few times. “Okay?”

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