Page 37 of Taming a Menace

“I see that.”

“See you don’t even know what you’re getting yourself into,” I teased.

“Yes I do, and I like it.”

“Well come on,” I said, turning and taking off running.

I didn’t stop until my feet were splashing in the water. I screamed when my feet left the ground as Keywan swept me up bridal style and spun me around.

“Put me down,” I ordered.

“You know I got you,” he said, quickly kissing my mouth then my nose before placing me on my feet. “I like you like this, Moon. This is the girl I fell in love with that night.”

I didn’t miss his declaration, but I also didn’t acknowledge it. I knew he was likely caught up in the moment and didn’t mean what he’d said. Instead I focused on the obvious.

“I was drunk that night, Keywan,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You were magnetic. You were as fascinating as you were beautiful. Yes you were tipsy, but you said you could hold your liquor, and you proved it. You were classy but sexy. You were so funny and charming that you made me laugh and smile all the way home.”

I squatted on the ground and started to gather wet sand to mix with the dry. Keywan surprised me when he got on his knees in front of me and started piling sand up too.

“I tried to find you,” I revealed. I never looked up from my project as I spoke. “After a couple of weeks, I couldn’t get you off of my mind. I searched for your website, and it was down. I couldn’t find you anywhere on social media. It was like you’d vanished into thin air.”

“I did,” he said, with a chuckle.

“Apparently so.”

“I went to prison a couple days later. I already knew that I had court that following Monday for my sentencing. That was part of the reason that I didn’t press you harder for your number.

I really didn’t even have any business asking for it, but I couldn’t resist. I wasn’t trying to set up a booty call. I wanted to know you.”

“You’ll tell me anything,” I said, keeping my focus on my project.

Keywan reached out and grabbed me, pulling me on top of him as he fell backward in the sand. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. I tried to fight against his hold but there was no use.

“Stop fighting me, lady, literally and figuratively.”

“I’m not fighting you, Keywan.”

“Yes you are. You said you were trying but you still have this wall up. Let me in, Moonie.”

“I don’t know about that now. You destroyed our castle.”

“It wasn’t big enough anyway. We need at least six bedrooms. Our kids need their own space.”

“Six bedrooms? Do you know how old I am? I don’t have the time or energy for five kids.”

“Six kids. The twins can share a room.”

“Six kids? Now I know you’re crazy.”

“I’m going to help you with them, Iyla. You think I’m not going to be a present father?”

“I think they aren’t going to let us put a baby crib in our room at the nursing home.”

His head dropped back as he howled with laughter.

“I’ll bring them up there to see you then. I’m not old, so I won’t be in there with you.”

“You would really put me in the nursing home?”

“Not unless I just couldn’t take care of you. I could see you being a mean ass patient.”

“Oh wow. I see what you really think about me.” I pouted.

“Stop trying to be dramatic. You know daddy is playing with you. Let me up so we can get this sand off of us.”

“Say please,” I sang before dropping a kiss on his lips.

“You know I like to beg for it.” He winked.

His eyes bore through me as his hands gripped my ass. I put my hands on the ground so I could push myself up and off of him, but he held me in place. I couldn’t help but to laugh. I felt so silly when I was around him. All I did was laugh and giggle.

“Stop playing,” I fussed.

“I thought you wanted to give these folks out here a show. I was ready to go.”

“Whatever, let me up.”

He moved his hand, allowing me to get up. I sprang to my feet and took the few steps it took to get my feet in the water again.

“Come in the water for a while,” I suggested.

“Naw. I’m about to rinse off then go over there and lay down until about four thirty. I need to be at the venue by five thirty.”

“You are not too cool to get in the water, Keywan.”

“I might not be, but I’m not messing with that water or the sharks in it.”

“Really, Key? You’re scared of a little water?” I asked, splashing him with water just to get under his skin.

“Oh you wanna play dirty?” he asked, laughing as he splashed me back.

We went to war splashing and trying to dunk each other’s heads in the water.

I jumped on his back and tried to pull him down into the waist deep water with me.

We fell over when he tried to dump me. I laughed like hell when he splashed water in my face then jumped up to run.

I chased him and jumped on his back again.

We were frolicking and playing like little kids, and I couldn’t have been happier.

I had never had so much fun just existing.

We didn’t have to spend a lot of money or go anywhere extravagant.

It just felt good being around him. Maybe this was what it was all about.

When I got out of my head, things with Keywan were effortless.

If this was what I had to look forward to maybe I had been worried for nothing.

Keywan carried me on his back as he walked over to the lounge chairs he’d drug out there for us to sit on.

By then I didn’t mind sitting down. I was exhausted.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had run for any reason at all.

He sat me down on one of the chairs then grabbed a towel off the back of the other.

“See that wasn’t so bad. No sharks,” I said.

“Hmph, not that we could see anyway.”

“I don’t want to hear that, Mr. Glover. You weren’t even thinking about sharks. You were frolicking and playing just like me.”

He scoffed. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never frolicked in my life.”

“Yeah right. You know you were having fun.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t have fun. I said I wasn’t frolicking.”

“Whatever. Now you can get your beauty rest.”

“Scootch,” he said, nudging my side as he scooted onto the lawn chair with me.

“Uh-uh, we’re too heavy to get on this thing together.”

“No we’re not, ma’am. You can’t be no more than a hundred and seventy-five pounds. I can bench press your ass.”

“First of all, where did you get your statistics? Second, thank you for the compliment but try two twenty.”

“I can still bench press your little ass. It don’t matter how much you weigh. We’re up here now,” he said, getting comfortable and resting his head on my chest as if I hadn’t told him to get up.

“When we crash to the ground don’t say a word,” I warned him.

“I wasn’t planning on it. I’m about to lay on these pillows and catch me a few winks. I got all the cushion I need for the fall. I’m good.”

“Whatever.” I giggled.

“I’m for real. I’ve never felt as good or safe as I feel laying right here on these big, pretty titties.” He laughed as he snuggled deeper into my bosom.

“Shut up!” I said, joining in on his laughter.

“I’m laughing, but I’m dead ass. I feel like I’ve been working hard all day and came home to perfect peace. That’s all I ever wanted. Tell me you don’t feel good right now.”

“I do,” I confessed.

“That’s all I want for us. We can be good together, baby. I know it.”

“I hear you. I’m having a good time. I always enjoy your company. The risks that we’re taking are just always at the back of my mind.”

“Get ’em out, love. Whatever I gotta do to protect you from the backlash of everything, I’m willing to do.

I’m not just talking shit, Moon. I wanted you way before the court mandated me to therapy.

I dreamed about you every night for three years praying that I could just make it back to you. That’s all I wanted to do.

“My life had gotten so dark at that point.

I had been battling depression for a while by the time I met you.

It was my last job before I had to turn myself in.

While I was with you, I was able to forget all my problems. You made me feel good and hopeful about my bleak future.

You gave me something to look forward to when I came home.

I wanted your light and your energy surrounding me as much as possible.

“I knew when I had the chance I would do everything in my power to make you mine and keep it that way. You might have been a little drunk at some point during the night, but you left an impression on me that will last a lifetime.”

“I wish I would have given you my number that night,” I confessed.

“I don’t. I wasn’t ready for you. I might never be ready, but I’ll work every day to get there. Wanting to get back to you gave me something to look forward to. See this?” he asked, holding his forearm up to show me the myriad of tattoos covering his forearm.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

He shifted his weight until his index finger landed on a spot where he wanted me to focus. Realization set in when I saw the tattoo of a moon.

“I got this as a reminder to come back for you. See you think I just be talking out the side of my neck, but I fell for you that first night. I knew I was about to go away for a while, so I wasn’t in a position to pursue you.

I also knew when I made it back out here that my home would be wherever you were. ”

I was speechless, so instead of trying to think of a response to his speech, I kissed him.