Page 40 of Verse Two
I nodded. “I wanted to meet with you today because she let me know that you made it seem like we were still dating. I know you spin that narrative to more than just her, too. Stop doing that shit, Tae.”
She smirked. “Or what? You ran into her and are trying to fulfill some childhood fantasy with the one who got away, right? It won’t last, and I’ll be right here when it falls apart, to remind you that I’m the realest woman you’ve ever had,” she said, leaning in.
I sighed. “Dylan and I are together, Tae. I ain’t about to?—”
The next few moments happened fast as hell. Cutting me off, Tae gripped my neck from behind and pulled me toward her open mouth.
Her boldness had me paralyzed for a second. Not because I wanted it, but because I wasn’t expecting her to take it there at this bar. I didn’t kiss her ass back, but I did hesitate a second longer than I should have. I swear, it was only because I was trying to decide whether to mush her crazy ass in the forehead or push her out of her seat.
Deciding that neither of those was a good look, I put my hand on the back of her chair and moved it away from mine as I pulled away.
Wiping my mouth, I said, “What the fuck, Tae?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t act like you ain’t like it.”
I stood and pulled my wallet out. Once I retrieved two crisp twenties, I tossed them on the bar and looked at her.
“You’re disrespectful as fuck, but it don’t even matter. I wish you well, Tae, but this shit with us is over.”
I didn’t say anything else, because I was likely to cuss her ass out. I didn’t know why I expected anything else from this woman, but the fact that she put her lips on me right after I told her who I was committed to had me heated. I walked away, ready to put her and this entire situation behind me.
I knocked on the front door, then took a step back as I checked my phone again.
I had called and texted Dy a few times today, but she hadn’t answered any of them. I knew she was spending time with all her people, so I wasn’t really stressing it, but I was happy to be picking her up now. As far as I knew, she still planned on going to Paris on Sunday, so I needed my time with my girl.
After a few seconds, her mother opened the door. I smiled, but the angry look on her face stopped me cold.
“Good evening, Miss Dana,” I said, unsure if her anger was directed toward me or not.
“Why are you here?” she asked, looking me up and down.
The fuck?
What about her feelings toward me had changed since I saw her last? As far as I could tell, Miss Dana was in full support of me being with her daughter. Now, she looked like she wanted to cut my ass.
“I’m here to pick up Dy,” I said, my frown deepening. “Everything aight?”
Kissing her teeth, she said, “Hell no, everything ain’t all right. My baby is gone.”
I took a step backward. What was she talking about?
“Gone?”
“Yes. Gone. To Paris. She saw you today, on your date with that girl, ya know.”
Shit.
I shook my head. “That wasn’t a date, Miss Dana. I called LaShontae to?—”
She cut me off. “So it wasn’t a date, but y’all were sticking your tongues down each other’s throats in broad daylight? Honey, hush. Miss Dana ain’t no fool, and she ain’t raise one either.”
“I get how that must have looked to Dy, but I promise you it wasn’t like that. I’m in love with your daughter, Miss Dana, and I’d never disrespect her like that. Can I come in and explain?”
“No, you?—”
“Let ’em in, baby. I wanna hear how he’s gon’ fix this up,” Reggie said. He was now standing behind Miss Dana and opening the door wider.
“Whatever.” Miss Dana rolled her eyes and turned toward the hall. Reggie didn’t look any happier to see me than his wife did, but he stepped aside so that I could enter their home. I followed him into the living room and watched as he sat next to his wife on the sofa. I elected to stand as I began explaining.
