Page 67 of Taming a Menace

“Well I appreciate that.”

“Anything for you, remember that,” I said before closing the door. Once I was back in the truck, I continued our conversation. “Come away with me for the weekend. I’m catering a bridal shower in Myrtle Beach. I want to take you somewhere where I don’t have to worry about having to hide you. I want to show you off.”

“I can’t believe I’m about to ask you this, but when is it?” she asked.

Her consideration was enough to put a big smile on my face. Even if she said hell no, I knew that I was making progress. I could work with that.

“I’m leaving next Friday and coming back Sunday evening.”

“I’m sorry. I have plans Friday.”

“Plans with your girls?” I asked, glancing over to watch her body language as she answered.

“No, my sister’s husband is trying to hook me up with one of his friends. I’m going out for drinks with him just to be nice.”

I scoffed. “Oh, well you can cancel that. We’re not about to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Entertain niggas just to be nice. The next thing you know, you will be giving him some pussy just to be nice. I’m not killing a nigga just because you’re nice. You can be nice to me for a change if you want to be nice to somebody.”

“When have I not been nice to you?”

“All the time, Moon. You’ve been making me run behind you with my tongue hanging out like a dog since the night we met. You’re making me work like hell to get close to you while some other dude is getting to you just because you want to be nice?”

“Is that how you see it?” she asked.

“Hell yeah. Make that nigga chase and beg for that pussy just like I have to. Trust me, I love to beg. That shit turns me on. I feel like I’m earning my shit. I love doing things for my lady just to put a smile on her face. Every day since we’ve met, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to keep that smile on your face. It’s an addiction. I just want to be in your life, baby. Give me that.”

She sighed. “It’s not that simple, Keywan. You know that.”

“I know that you’re making it hard as hell. You got me begging like James Brown. Please, baby. Please.”

“Let me . . . Let me sleep on it, OK? I know you have good intentions. I want to give you a chance. It’s just that I’m risking so much. You understand that, right?”

“I think you’re the one, Iyla. I think you’re the rest of me. I think you’re the sealant for all these cracks in my heart and inmy soul. I think it’s no coincidence that we’ve been put into each other’s paths multiple times. I’m your man, baby. I would do anything to make you happy. Just let me show you.”

“We’ll talk, OK? Let me just take a couple of days to absorb everything and figure out what I need to do.”

“I’ll take that,” I said as we pulled up next to her car.

“Good night, Key.”

“I’m following you home, Iyla,” I reminded her.

“You really don’t have to do that. I’m wide awake now. I don’t want you to have to drive all the way to my house then back home.”

“Well let me spend the night with you.” I suggested, knowing that she wouldn’t go for it.

“That’s out of the question.” She shook her head.

“Then don’t worry about how tired I might be. Let’s go, mama. You’re holding me up from getting my beauty sleep.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, rolling her eyes and slamming the door.

I let the window down so she could hear me before calling her name.

“Iyla, don’t slam my door like that, lady.”