Page 18 of Taming a Menace

She had a point, so I reluctantly sprang to my feet.

Once again, Key’s hand was on the small of my back.

I knew my girls were having a field day watching from behind, but I didn’t care.

I was thankful that he had been able to get us backstage to meet Carteay.

I didn’t love her as much as my sister seemed to, but it was exciting either way.

“You need daddy to carry you?” Key asked, leaning down to speak directly into my ear.

“Thanks but I think I got it.”

“Just checking, beautiful.”

I didn’t need him to carry me, but every fiber of my being wanted my legs wrapped around him.

Thankfully, there were other people around to keep my mind on the fact that Keywan was off limits.

When we made it to the back of the club, Key pushed through the doors and stepped aside to let me and my girls walk through.

There were people scrambling around making sure everything was right.

Keywan put his hand back on me before continuing to lead us through the controlled chaos.

A few people spoke to him, but he didn’t linger long enough to have a conversation with anyone.

Just beyond the small group of people setting things up for the performance, there were a couple of huge guys flanking a tiny little girl as a woman touched up her makeup.

“There she is,” Isis whispered.

That’s when I realized that tiny little thing in front of us was Carteay.

“You doubted me, big sis?” Keywan asked, looking over his shoulder.

“A little,” she admitted.

“Carrie, this is my girl and her friends that I was telling you about,” Keywan said as we walked closer.

Her makeup artists moved aside, giving her space to move closer to us. “Hey, ladies. Key didn’t tell me how gorgeous you all were.”

“You should’ve known if they were with me, they were bad.” Key chuckled.

“Thank you. You’re beautiful yourself. I’ve seen you on TV, but in person you’re even more beautiful,” I said.

I wasn’t exaggerating. Voluminous curls draped over her shoulders framing her soft cheeks and long lashes.

Pouty lips painted in dark purple curved into a smile as her eyes moved between us.

The white jumpsuit she wore clung to her slim, thick frame while snake skinned boots rose to the center of her thighs.

Diamonds adorned her neck and wrist and shined in each of her ears. Carteay was stunning and so put together. Maybe I needed a team to do my hair and makeup and help me get dressed. Well actually, I’d had that tonight with my sister.

I looked back to see where my girls were.

Isis had been talking about Carteay nonstop for the past few months since her last single dropped, now there was radio silence.

My mouth dropped when I realized that her ass was back there crying.

Patrice’s loudmouth behind had the nerve to be rubbing her back like she was consoling her.

“You OK?” Carteay asked before I could get the words out of my mouth.

“You don’t know how much I love your music.

Your song ‘One of Those Days’ got me and my husband through a rough patch when I was thinking about giving up.

He’s so good to me. It just gets hard sometimes.

He wants a baby, but both of us work so much that I don’t think the time will ever be right,” Isis explained.

“Aww come here, babe,” Carteay said, throwing her arms around my sister’s neck.

I had no idea she and Ervin were going through anything.

From the outside they always looked so happy.

She’s said that he was good to her, and from what I could tell that was the truth.

Now I understood her fascination with Carteay’s music.

Music seemed to have healing powers. This tiny little girl’s music was no different.

“Two minutes, Carrie,” someone called out.

“Which one of you ladies is this knucklehead’s girlfriend?” Carteay asked, looking between us.

“It’s Moon,” Patrice blurted, pointing a long finger at me.

“Moon, you are a saint to deal with this one.” She laughed.

“Tell me about it.” I shook my head, deciding not to correct their misinformation. It was likely the best way for Key to get us backstage.

“I’m kidding. He’s a sweetheart. Do you ladies want to join me on stage? I’m sorry I only had a couple of minutes to talk to y’all before I have to go on.”

“Are you serious?” Isis asked through her tears.

“Sure.”

“What do we need to do?” I asked.

I had never been on anyone’s stage, nor had I ever wanted to be on stage. Anxiety filled me just thinking about going out there in front of all those people. Thankfully, none of them were here to see me. No one would even notice that we were there. Still I was nervous about going on stage.

“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 the bells 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.”

“Can I give you a ride home?”

“I can’t do that. I told you I can’t get involved with a patient.”

“I’m not your patient. I’m Key, and you’re Moon, remember?”

“I almost forgot,” I said with a soft laugh.

This man was ridiculous, but he was also ridiculously sexy.

For whatever reason, I was considering his offer.

I knew better but part of me didn’t want to do better.

I wanted him at my house in my bed. How hard of a stretch would it be to consider sleeping with someone I had already had sex with, amazing sex at that?