Page 35 of Taming a Menace
“What’s the difference?”
“Take another shot because you’re too uptight right now. We’re not even supposed to be talking about him. We’re not worried about a man you can’t have. We’re worried about all of the men who are going to be at this party tonight. I need you to pull it together, bae.”
“I’m trying,” I said, taking the shot glass from her and tossing it back. “Girl, he cooked for me. Never in all the time that we lived together did Wyatt ever cook for me. I’m pretty sure the only man who’s ever cooked for me was Dad. The man made me freaking tiramisu, Isis. Do you know how bad I want to say fuck the rules, sis?”
“They do say fuck a horse, ride a bad boy for a reason.” She laughed.
I busted out laughing right along with her. We were way past the tipsy mark at this point, and it showed.
“You know that’s not what they say.”
“It’s something like that. Ervin is a little rough around the edges, but he treats me like a queen. That’s what I want for you.”
“Me too, but who’s to say he’s the one to give me that? I’m not trying to lose my job over a maybe. I just started it. I have ahouse to pay for. I can’t play with my future over some good but temporary dick.”
“But can’t you? How will anyone even know what you’re doing outside of work hours? You said you barely even talk to your coworkers at that place.”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to find out. It’s not worth it,” I whined. “Let’s not forget the fact that the man is a criminal.”
“And Wyatt was a doctor, but clearly that didn’t make him Mr. Right. It just made him look good on paper. Don’t let him having a record deter you. He has a career. One that he loves and is damn good at according to you.”
“Don’t forget that he’s crazy as hell according to the paperwork. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t really seen that side of him yet. Well I’ve seen the lack of impulse control, or either the refusal to use it, but nothing outrageous.”
I’d already gone over everything my sister had to say a hundred times in my head. There was no use in her saying them.
“What did he go to prison for again?”
“Assault or something like that. Letting those anger issues get him in trouble. I can’t risk being around somebody like that. What if his anger turns on me?”
“You got a point, sis.” She nodded before taking another shot.
“He’s sofine,though, Isis. I cannot say that enough, and the sex was so good. It was a quickie or whatever. It didn’t matter. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it or the way his dick curved just right and his mouth. Ugh! Girl, I don’t need anything else to drink for the rest of the night.”
“Nah, we’re not doing that. I like when you’re able to unwind. You have fun. I’m driving tonight,” she reminded me.
“You know I like to be in control of my faculties at all times.”
“That’s your problem right now.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to hear that shit tonight. You’re about to get loose.”
“Whatever. I’m ready when you are,” I said, giving my outfit a final glance.
Since I couldn’t think of a good excuse to back out, I followed my sister to the door and locked up before going to her car. I knew I was in desperate need to get out of the house. I hadn’t gone anywhere other than work for far too long.
Once we made it to Isis’s car, she found the perfect song. An up-tempo track by Carteay filled the air before she finally backed out of my driveway and took off into the night. As anxious as I was about going to the club, it felt good to be going somewhere for a change.
We vibed and listened to her favorite singer as we journeyed to our destination. One of Carteay’s slower songs played, prompting me to sing along. I loved hearing how she was ready to risk it all for the man she loved. If only there were men who were worth taking such a risk for. So far, I had learned that even when it didn’t feel like a risk, men were unreliable. My whole world had been upended by one fool who didn’t know how to keep it in his pants.
After a short drive we made it to Glass, the club where the after party was being held. I had never been to Glass, but from what I could tell from the pictures and videos I’d seen on social media, it was pretty nice. I was grateful to see that the line wasn’t so long when we pulled up to the front of the building. Isis was able to find a parking spot in the lot across the street, so we didn’t have to walk far.
“I see Patrice standing by the entrance,” she said as she switched the car off.
“I guess she’s waiting for us before she goes in.”
“Yeah, she texted right before we left your house and said she was pulling up. Come on,” she instructed as she climbed out of the car.
“I’m coming.”
I followed my sister to the building where we met our girl standing out on the sidewalk.
