Page 65 of Taming a Menace

“What did your mom say?”

“At that point I was the bad guy. She felt like it was just me acting out and being reckless again. She never even pressed to find out who gave it to me I don’t think. Leela went off to college, and my mom put me in some after school cooking classes andcounseling once a week. I never even talked to the guy. Hell, they all thought I was a sexual deviant with anger issues. I didn’t have a problem letting them think whatever they wanted to think. I never stopped fighting and getting into shit. I said I was never going to let anybody push me around again, and I never have.”

“So nobody knows you were abused?”

“You’re the first person I’ve ever told,” I said as I finally let my eyes drift closed. “I know part of you is still afraid of me, Moonie. I’m going to do everything in my power to make you feel as safe with me as I feel with you right now.”

“OK,” she mumbled.

“But understand that nobody is ever going to hurt or disrespect you on my watch. I need you to accept that.”

“Mm hm.”

I sat up straight from a dead sleep, looking around my living room like I had lost my mind. Her scent brought be back to reality before I knew what was going on. My baby was here. It wasn’t a dream.

“Iyla.”

My voice was like gravel. I had only meant to keep her for a little while, but a little while felt too good. Now I wanted her to stay forever. She couldn’t stay like this though. She didn’t have a change of clothes, and her car was still parked at that Japanese spot.

I’d been sleep for an hour. I wasn’t sure when Iyla dozed off, but she must have been comfortable because she didn’t wake my black ass up and make me take her back to her car.

“Wake up, love,” I said, shaking her gently.

“Hm?”

“Wake up, baby. I need to take you to your car. You can spend the night with me if you want, but I promised to take you back to your car.”

She stretched her arms over her head and looked around my living room wild-eyed. It seemed to take a minute for her to get her bearings but eventually she started to nod her head.

“Are you good to drive home? You can stay here until morning if you want to. You know I want you to.”

“I’m good. What time is it?” she asked.

“After one.”

“Damn. How long was I asleep?”

“I don’t know. I knocked out before you did.”

“Your ass was snoring too.” She grinned.

“My snoring must have put you to sleep because you were gone. I had to call your name like ten times to wake you up.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“That’s why I asked if you’re good to drive. You can shower and sleep in one of my T-shirts. I promise to keep my hands to myself. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“That’s sweet, but I’m fine.”

“You sure?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she assured me.

My heart sank, but I knew she needed to go home. As much as I hated to see her go, I couldn’t deny the progress we had made in more ways than one. I felt weird about the things I’d told her tonight, but something told me that anything I told her wouldn’t go any further even if we weren’t in her office.

“Hey, I appreciate you for chilling with me tonight,” I told her.

“I think I should be the one thanking you for rescuing me from my ex.”