Page 54 of Taming a Menace
If seeing my ex with another woman weren’t bad enough, she was pregnant. With one hand on her stomach, he led the way to the back of the line. That’s until he spotted me. Recognition set in quickly, sending his big feet stomping over in my direction and leaving his pregnant friend behind to wait in line. I shook my head, but that didn’t stop him from approaching me.
“No need for niceties, Wyatt. I would prefer if you pretended not to know me if ever we’re unfortunate enough to run into each other in the future.”
“Hello to you too, Iyla.”
“Good night, Wyatt,” I spat.
“You can’t answer my calls or let me know you’re OK, but you can sit here alone in a seedy restaurant in the middle of the night?”
“Absolutely,” I said, standing to walk away from him.
We weren’t talking loudly, but I hated to make a scene. I was not about to have a screaming match with my ex in my favorite take-out spot. I had to eat here, but I didn’t have to ever see Wyatt again. Prayerfully, I never would. Wyatt stepped in front of me and cut me off before I could walk away.
“Women like you were meant to be alone. Instead of coming to me like an adult and discussing our problems, you ran away like a child. How could you just throw away everything we had over one mistake?”
“The pregnant lady over there proves that there had to be more than one mistake.”
“You were always so fucking naïve. I used to like that about you. Now I’m having a hard time remembering what I saw in you, especially after you let yourself go. Don’t come crawling home begging me to take you back once you realize that you’ll never find another man to treat you the way I did. I actually loved you. The rest of these guys only want to lay with you.”
“You think I want another man to make a fool of me the way you did? Ithoughtwe had something, but in reality, we didn’t have shit. I advise you to go back over there to your friend before she realizes what it took me too long to figure out.”
“Baby, did they call our order yet?” Keywan asked, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.
He smelled so good, and his hard body was so heavenly pressed up against mine that it took a second for me to gather myself to answer. Plus I was praying that Wyatt walked away while he could.
“Um, no. Not yet.”
Kissing my cheek, he moved around until one hand rested on my waist as he still held me firmly against his side.
“Who’s this?” he questioned.
“Uh, h-he’s no one,” I said, hoping that he took the hint and dropped it.
I’d already seen how quickly things could escalate when Key was involved. I prayed that Wyatt had enough sense to go back to his new lady. Something told me that he didn’t.
“So the man you were going to marry is no one?” Wyatt asked.
“Can you not make a scene right now?” I questioned, widening my eyes at him.
“Moon, baby, you don’t have to ask him not to make a scene. You know I love a scene. I suggest you find something safe to do, my man.”
“Iyla, what are you even doing out with a hooligan like this?” Wyatt asked, scowling as he looked Key up and down.
His brazenness was short lived as Keywan used his free hand to yank him by the collar and pull him closer. The fear in Wyatt’s eyes as they doubled in size would have been comical if I weren’t in the middle of the drama.
“I suggest you refrain from name calling, Screech. My baby doesn’t like for me to get out of character, but I tend to get off the leash when I find someone disrespecting her. You want your teeth in your mouth, or on the floor? I’m pretty sure you’ll need them to eat.”
“Number seventy-two!”
“That’s our order, Key,” I told him.
“Grab it for me, baby. Let me finish talking to the man that was stupid enough to talk crazy to you.”
I didn’t budge. I couldn’t walk away without knowing that Keywan wouldn’t strangle Wyatt within an inch of his life like he’d done the last person he thought disrespected me.
“Look, man. I didn’t mean any harm. I-I was just saying hello is all. I had no idea Iyla was dating, so it took me by surprise.”
“To ensure we don’t run into any moresurprisesstay away from this spot. This is one of my baby’s favorite restaurants. I would hate for her to have to avoid it just because she’s scared she’s going to run into you. Me, on the other hand, I’m praying I run into you again. I’m not as nice as she is.”
