Page 42 of Taming a Menace
“I don’t care what I have to do. I’m in,” Isis announced.
“Just stand there and look pretty. That should come naturally. You can dance or whatever you feel as long as you don’t try to take the mic from me and sing,” she joked.
“OK.” I nodded and smiled.
Seconds later, someone was ushering Carteay to the stage with us in tow. Key was still by my side until we made it to the curtain that led to the stage.
“I’ll be waiting for you back here. Try to have fun, beautiful,” he instructed before removing his hand from my waist and taking a step back.
Carteay grabbed Isis’s hand as she burst through the curtains and out on stage.
“What’s up? What’s up? How are y’all doing tonight at Club Glass?”
The crowd cheered as Patrice and I stood back and watched. My nerves seemed to settle a little once I was out there. It wasn’t so bad. Plus just as I suspected, not one person was paying attention to me from what I could tell.
“This is my girl, Isis. When I wrote ‘One of Those Days’ I was going through a rough patch in my relationship. It was a prayer that trouble would only be temporary. I want to dedicate this song to you, Isis. You’re beautiful and amazing, but sometimes we all have those days.”
The lights dimmed as the beat dropped. As she released Isis’s hand, Carteay began to sing. It was refreshing that she actually sounded good live. Too many singers were only good with all thebells and whistles. There weren’t enough real singers anymore, and I hated that. Carteay could sing.
Isis slinked back to join me and Patrice as the song came to an end. A livelier beat flowed through the speakers, sending the crowd’s energy through the roof. They danced and sang along to the song that the radio had been wearing out over the past month. I liked it, but I couldn’t pretend like I wasn’t getting tired of it.
Tonight while I was on stage with the actual artist, things were different. Tonight it felt like my favorite song. Me and my girls danced in the back as Carteay sang about going out with her girls to unwind. I could definitely relate to the lyrics. Tonight I was doing just that. Even though they’d practically had to drag me out, I was having a good time.
Carteay wrapped up her set with a sweet message about following your dreams even when it gets hard. Those same huge men from before helped escort us off the stage. My girls were going crazy. Even I felt like I was floating.
I could see why people got a high from being on stage because I hadn’t even performed, and I’d gotten a contact high just from being adjacent to the performer. They pulled Carteay away from us as soon as she was off stage. I guess she really only had a few moments of free time. I scanned the back of the club, and like a magnet my eyes found Keywan.
He was already looking at me when our eyes connected. This man was too much. I don’t know how many different ways I had to tell myself that. The way my body warmed when he flashed his devilish grin made me swallow hard. There was something about the stark contrast between his white teeth and smooth dark skin that just did it for me. When he licked his lips and pushed off the wall, I moved to him on autopilot.
“You enjoyed yourself, Moon?” he asked once he was standing in front of me.
“Yes, thank you so much for doing this for us.”
“Anything for you, beautiful,” he told me.
“Yes, thank you for bringing us back here. I am still in disbelief. Not only did I meet Carteay, but I went on stage with her. I’m literally freaking out,” Isis raved.
“And she was so freaking nice,” Patrice added.
“Right? I can’t get over how nice she was,” I agreed.
“Carrie is good people,” Key confirmed.
“My night has been made. I gotta step outside and call Ervin. Can I use this door?” Isis asked, pointing toward a door with EXIT over the top of it.
“Yeah it’s cool,” Key said, nodding his head.
“Walk with me, Trice. Sis, we’ll be right back,” my sister said, not giving me a chance to protest before pulling Patrice toward the exit.
“I don’t think I told you how good you look tonight, Moon,” Keywan said, grabbing my chin to bring my eyes to him.
“Thank you, but I’m pretty sure you did,” I muttered.
As usual, I withered under the intensity of his gaze. I looked back toward the exit to give myself a sense of relief, but there was no use. Gently he guided my face back to his.
“You’re welcome, beautiful. You driving tonight?”
“No, I rode with my sister.”
