Page 41 of Taming a Menace
“You need daddy to carry you?” Key asked, leaning down to speak directly into my ear.
“Thanks but I think I got it.”
“Just checking, beautiful.”
I didn’t need him to carry me, but every fiber of my being wanted my legs wrapped around him. Thankfully, there were other people around to keep my mind on the fact that Keywan was off limits. When we made it to the back of the club, Key pushed through the doors and stepped aside to let me and my girls walk through. There were people scrambling around making sure everything was right.
Keywan put his hand back on me before continuing to lead us through the controlled chaos. A few people spoke to him, but he didn’t linger long enough to have a conversation with anyone. Just beyond the small group of people setting things up for the performance, there were a couple of huge guys flanking a tiny little girl as a woman touched up her makeup.
“There she is,” Isis whispered.
That’s when I realized that tiny little thing in front of us was Carteay.
“You doubted me, big sis?” Keywan asked, looking over his shoulder.
“A little,” she admitted.
“Carrie, this is my girl and her friends that I was telling you about,” Keywan said as we walked closer.
Her makeup artists moved aside, giving her space to move closer to us. “Hey, ladies. Key didn’t tell me how gorgeous you all were.”
“You should’ve known if they were with me, they were bad.” Key chuckled.
“Thank you. You’re beautiful yourself. I’ve seen you on TV, but in person you’re even more beautiful,” I said.
I wasn’t exaggerating. Voluminous curls draped over her shoulders framing her soft cheeks and long lashes. Pouty lips painted in dark purple curved into a smile as her eyes moved between us. The white jumpsuit she wore clung to her slim, thick frame while snake skinned boots rose to the center of her thighs.
Diamonds adorned her neck and wrist and shined in each of her ears. Carteay was stunning and so put together. Maybe I needed a team to do my hair and makeup and help me get dressed. Well actually, I’d had that tonight with my sister.
I looked back to see where my girls were. Isis had been talking about Carteay nonstop for the past few months since her last single dropped, now there was radio silence. My mouthdropped when I realized that her ass was back there crying. Patrice’s loudmouth behind had the nerve to be rubbing her back like she was consoling her.
“You OK?” Carteay asked before I could get the words out of my mouth.
“You don’t know how much I love your music. Your song ‘One of Those Days’ got me and my husband through a rough patch when I was thinking about giving up. He’s so good to me. It just gets hard sometimes. He wants a baby, but both of us work so much that I don’t think the time will ever be right,” Isis explained.
“Aww come here, babe,” Carteay said, throwing her arms around my sister’s neck.
I had no idea she and Ervin were going through anything. From the outside they always looked so happy. She’s said that he was good to her, and from what I could tell that was the truth. Now I understood her fascination with Carteay’s music. Music seemed to have healing powers. This tiny little girl’s music was no different.
“Two minutes, Carrie,” someone called out.
“Which one of you ladies is this knucklehead’s girlfriend?” Carteay asked, looking between us.
“It’s Moon,” Patrice blurted, pointing a long finger at me.
“Moon, you are a saint to deal with this one.” She laughed.
“Tell me about it.” I shook my head, deciding not to correct their misinformation. It was likely the best way for Key to get us backstage.
“I’m kidding. He’s a sweetheart. Do you ladies want to join me on stage? I’m sorry I only had a couple of minutes to talk to y’all before I have to go on.”
“Are you serious?” Isis asked through her tears.
“Sure.”
“What do we need to do?” I asked.
I had never been on anyone’s stage, nor had I ever wanted to be on stage. Anxiety filled me just thinking about going out there in front of all those people. Thankfully, none of them were here to see me. No one would even notice that we were there. Still I was nervous about going on stage.
