Page 48 of Kayla's List
“There’s a reservation under Achebe,” I tell the hostess once I enter.
“Yes, it will be another fifteen minutes, sir. Your party is at the bar.” I nod and head toward the bar, but I stop cold when I see something that I never thought I would.
Kay and Warren are sitting at a table not even a hundred yards from me. My eyes have to be deceiving me. There’s no way in hell my girlfriend is cheating on me with her ex at the same restaurant where he broke her heart.
“No fucking way!”
22
Self-Care
KAYLA
It took a lot of courage and one of Shelby and Emani’s super pep talks for me to make a reservation and then follow through with coming to this restaurant tonight. The girls wanted to come with me, but I needed to do this on my own. I need to take control of my life and stop letting bad memories rule over me.
I am determined not to let my past stop me from living my life. I’ve done that long enough and I know it’s just a restaurant. A simple place that one bad thing happened, and there are literally thousands of other restaurants in the Dallas area, but it’s the principle.
I have spent my entire life avoiding things and purposely being invisible so that I wouldn’t have to face my fears. I’m almost thirty years old, and I refuse to hurt because I don’t like conflict. Hell! Nobody likes conflict!
I have ordered the calamari appetizer, and I am crossing things off my list, feeling proud.
#7. Try different foods.
#19. Take yourself on a date.
I smile, but when I look up from my phone, the smile is automatically replaced with a scowl.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I growl out my words. I can’t believe this man has the audacity to invite himself to sit down at my table.
I haven’t seen Warren since the art show. He hasn’t been by my office or sent me any emails. I thought he’d finally gotten a clue since he’d met Anderson, but I guess not.
“I told you we needed to talk,” Warren says calmly, and I frown even deeper.
“How did you know I was here? Did you follow me?” I question, and my eyes go wide because I recognize the smug look on his face. “You followed me!”
“I did what I had to do.” Warren shrugs, and I swear I have no idea what to think.
“Warren, you have to stop this,” I plead. “It’s over.”
“I just need one last favor. I can’t tell my parents that we broke up. You were the only girl they liked. I just need you to pretend once more.”
I shake my head. I met Warren’s parents once. They hated me. His mother looked down her nose at me the entire dinner. She would squint her icy blue eyes at me whenever I said a word. I thought maybe she didn’t like me because I was black, but her husband is black, so I don’t know what her problem was. Warren convinced me that his mother would warm up to me and not to worry about it.
“Warren. It. Is. Over!”
“You heard her, Warren.” The deep growl sent the usual shiver down my back. I did my best to keep a neutral expression on my face. I didn’tneedsaving, but I’m glad Anderson is here.
Then I look up and see the fury in his eyes.Oh shit!
“Kay, we’ve known each other forever. After all the things that I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me after one misunderstanding.” Warren’s expression is equally as furious as Anderson’s, and I come to my own conclusion.
“Warren, I need you to seek therapy immediately. This is crazy. You are a gay man. I will not be a part of any ruse to keep you in the closet.” I stare him in the eyes, not backing down.
This whole scene is ridiculous. In the past, I’ve seen Warren with plenty of women. I’m sure most of them would be happy to be kept in the dark about his sexuality. Hell, if he found the right woman, she would be happy to be his beard. But I know one thing, it won’t be me!
Warren still has that determined expression on his face and that crazed look in his eyes. I really don’t know what’s going on with him. But it’s no longer my responsibility.
“Kayla, you owe me!” Warren’s red face and clipped words tell me there’s no reasoning with this man. I get up from my chair and place my napkin over my half eaten appetizer.