Page 108 of Taming a Menace

Unable to stand any longer, I plopped down on the steps and hoped that she took me out of my misery by coming to the door. A few minutes passed before the door opened and Iyla stepped outside. I was unsteady as I stood to my feet.

“What are you doing here? Have you been drinking?” she questioned.

I held my finger over my mouth to shush her before speaking. “Ms. Fisher, I love you. I know it’s wrong to fall in love with your therapist, but I’m in love with you. I can’t help it. It just happened. Now that our sessions have ended, I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m going crazy without you.”

“Key, you shouldn’t have drove here. How much have you had to drink?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that I’m in love with you. I’m obsessed with you. I think of you every waking moment. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise I’ll never hurt you, but anyone who stands in the way of our love can get it,” I vowed.

“Sit back down. Let me get you a bottle of water.”

“I’m not sitting down. Tell me you love me, and I’ll go,” I said, pulling my phone out of my back pocket.

I sent a text to Iyla’s phone. When it dinged in her hand, she looked down at it before looking back up at me. I shook my head. Plausible deniability. I needed her to act oblivious to my growing feelings for her.

“Our sessions have ended. I’m not sure why you showed up at my house, but I have to ask you to leave.”

“I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back for you,” I said, staggering back to my truck.

I didn’t know if Iyla was playing along or if she really wanted me to leave her house. All I knew was that my plan was in motion. Like I had already told her, I wasn’t waiting around on her to handle shit. I needed to take matters into my own hands.

When I made it to my truck, I saw that Iyla was still standing outside. By the time I closed the door, she was going inside. My phone rang taking me by surprise. The fact that it was her was an even bigger surprise.

“What are you doing, Keywan?”

“I needed video evidence. In the morning I’m going to my therapist and telling her that I’ve been stalking you. I’m going to tell her that I need inpatient treatment because I’m obsessed with my counselor. I have to fix this for you, Moon.”

“I’m resigning, Keywan.”

“Don’t do that, Moon. Don’t go back to him.”

“I’m not going back to him. I just had to do something. I can’t have him popping up on my job like that.”

“I understand, but that won’t stop him from reporting you to the board. I have to make sure he has nothing to report.”

“Don’t do anything to put yourself in jeopardy, Keywan. I’m not letting you do that.”

“You have to let me fix it my way,” I told her.

“It’s too late. I’ve already decided. He’s not going to stop. Somehow he researched you and found your company. There was a picture of us dancing at that bridal shower with your company tagged in the photo.”

“What?” I felt like the world was spinning and I was standing still.

“I messaged Kelly and got her to remove it, but he has a screenshot of it.”

“What do I need to do to fix this, Iyla? Let me fix it, mama.”

“Don’t stress yourself. Drive away but don’t go far. I’m turning off the cameras so you can come inside and sleep whatever you’ve drank tonight off.”

“My baby is always taking care of me.”

“Keywan, shut up and back out of the driveway. I’m shutting the camera off now. Just pull right back up and come inside.”

Twenty-One

Iyla

It was one o’clock in the morning, and I was standing in my driveway waiting for Keywan to get his drunk behind out of his truck. As hard as it was, I had done a good job of avoiding him over the past week or so. I had to admit that I missed him, but I had to stand firm. I didn’t know what else to do.