Page 42 of Loyalty, Lust, Love
An hour later, dinner was over, and the dance floor was packed. Tatiana had declined Lynx’s offer to dance, so they sat alone, watching everyone else.
“Listen, this really ain’t my type of thing, but it’s the only high school dance I’ve attended. This is the last big event of high school before graduation, and I don’t want to look back on tonight with regret. Is sitting around moping what you want your memories of senior prom to be?” he asked Tatiana.
“No, but?—”
“You said you broke up with him because he cheated on you. Why are you sad about losing a nigga who would do something like that?”
“I don’t know. I just… he’s the only guy I’ve ever been with, and even though breaking up with him was the right thing to do, I’m still sad I got played the way I did.”
“Well, I’ve never dated anyone seriously, so I can’t relate to how you feel. What I do know is I wouldn’t let anyone ruin my senior prom. Let’s dance.”
Lynx didn’t want to leave her sitting at the table alone, but if she’d declined his offer to dance a second time, he would head to the dance floor to join his friends, and that was precisely where she’d be.
Thankfully, Tatiana stood and took his hand, letting him guide her through the crowd. A line dance song began to play as soon as they stepped onto the dance floor. For someone who would be labeled as antisocial by most, Lynx could dance.
“Do you know this one?” he asked and received a nod in response.
Lynx pushed Fateema to the back of his mind and enjoyed his time with Tatiana and his other friends. He even managed to put a smile on Tatiana’s face. An hour later, they were tired, hot, and sweaty.
“You want to go to the concessions and get something to drink?” he offered.
“Umm, do you mind if I wait for you at the table? These shoes are killing me.”
“No problem. I’ll meet you over there.”
While Lynx and Tatiana made the most of their night, Fateema did the same. She’d forgotten about Rodney's earlier comments, and once they’d eaten dinner, he was nothing but a gentleman. He pulled her onto the dance floor, and they danced until the prom court had to be announced.
“I’ll be right back with a bottle of water for you,” Rodney said after walking her back to their table.
“Thank you.”
When Rodney and his friends arrived at the concession window, his obnoxious personality returned.
“Man, she is putty in my hands,” he told his friends. “I probably won’t have to ask for the pussy. She’ll be begging me to take it.”
“Fateema doesn’t seem like the kind of girl to give it up on the first date,” Vincent said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her with any guys besides her friends.”
“I have ways of getting what I want.”
Unbeknownst to them, Lynx stood in front of them and heard every word. It took a lot of restraint for him not to turn around and punch Rodney in his mouth. After receiving two bottles of water, he rushed back to Tatiana.
“Here you go,” he said, giving her the water before sitting down.
“Thank you.”
Lynx couldn’t get the conversation he overheard out of his mind and had no idea how he would tell Fateema. No matter what, there was no way in hell he’d allow her to leave with Rodney tonight.
“Hello,” Tatiana sang while waving her hand in front of my face.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve been talking to you. What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“You don’t have to tell me, but don’t lie.”
He sighed and nodded. “You’re right. I do have something on my mind, but you may not be the right person to talk to about it.”
