Dear Drama (4 page)

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Authors: Braya Spice

BOOK: Dear Drama
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“What you mean, what I'm doing here? What the fuck you doing here?”
I took a deep breath as McCoy leaned over me and glared at Greg. “What the fuck is this?” he demanded.
“Who the fuck you cursing at?” Greg demanded.
“Greg, stop!”
He ignored Greg. “Allure, who is this?”
“He's my baby's daddy!”
“What?” McCoy slid his hand from mine.
“No, McCoy, don't.” I turned to Greg and whispered, “Greg, you better get the hell away.” Inside my heart was pounding, because I didn't know what he would do. True, he had been to all those classes, which seemed to have mellowed him out somewhat. Since he had been home, he hadn't threatened me again or popped up at my place unannounced, but this was the first time he had seen me with another man on a date. My heart sped up, and I was slightly embarrassed, but I tried to keep a straight face to show Greg I really would call his PO.
He gave me a hateful look and got up. He went to the row right behind me and sat down, making it impossible for me to enjoy my date or the movie. I knew McCoy felt the same way. Because he kept shaking his head and shifting in his seat. He refused to talk to me, even when I asked him if he was enjoying the movie, and Greg crunching on his popcorn set my nerves on edge to the point that I wanted to scream. I understood McCoy's anger, though. What if he brought me to the movies and his baby mother showed up? But then again, since I knew what it was like to have a crazy ex, maybe I would have understood. Who knows?
But those were two very uncomfortable hours. I wanted to curse at Greg and tell him to get the fuck away from us, but I didn't want to make a scene and possibly set Greg off. So I painfully rode those two hours out. But inside I was pissed. Greg needed to accept that I had moved on and we were not going to get back together, and that I was going to date, kiss and, yes, have sex with other men. He would have to.
And even though I liked McCoy, after our first date, he never called me again. I couldn't say that I didn't know why.
Chapter 3
They say you'll find the one when you least expect it. But what if you least expect it and you find a real asshole? That's how I describe how I met Lavante. It was a week after my date with McCoy. I was at the grocery store, zooming down one aisle, trying to get some food on my lunch break, when I saw him coming the opposite way. I paid him no mind at first. I just scanned the shelf for the fruit snacks Sierra loved. I did, however, catch him casting looks my way. He was dressed in an orange construction suit. Another man dressed like him, but slightly overweight and dark skinned, walked with him. Both had their name on their uniform. The one checking me out was named Lavante, and the other one was named Cedric. He stared my way and chuckled. Once I found the item I needed, I rushed to check out so I could drop the food at home and rush back to work. I didn't expect him to follow me out to my car.
“You forgot something,” he informed me with a quick smile.
“I did?”
“Yeah. My number.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes at his corny come-on line.
“How are you?”
“I'm good, and you?”
“If I can take you to dinner sometime soon ... fucking great.”
I chuckled. “What's your name, anyway?”
“Lavante.” He shook my hand.
“Well, my name is Allure, and can you slow down a little?”
He chuckled. “I'm sorry. I see a pretty girl and I go crazy. Well, would you mind if we exchanged numbers, and we can discuss going out to dinner?”
“That's fine. That I can do.” Upon closer inspection I noted he looked a lot older than me, maybe in his late thirties or early forties. With brown skin, a closely shaven head, and a thin mustache over his medium-sized lips. He had a defined body, which was very apparent in his uniform. I didn't mean to be disrespectful and look between his legs, but damn! He had a big bulge there.
We exchanged numbers. He lingered a little longer, helping me load my food in my car. Then he retreated back into the store.
 
 
It turned out that Lavante did call the following day.
“Hi. How have you been?” I asked him after receiving his warm greeting.
He was a cool conversationalist. He asked me various questions about my likes information reminded me of how long it had really been since I had dated a guy. Far too long. Lavante seemed interesting enough. He was forty-one, had worked in construction for over ten years, and had no kids. I didn't care if he did, anyway, because I had a child, but he had none.
We talked for a total of two weeks. The fact that I was able to intrigue a man nearly twice my age made me feel a little wiser than my young years. I felt sophisticated.
“What are your plans today?” Lavante asked me after we were chatting for a good twenty minutes. I found out he was from Louisiana and he was forty–one years old and had been single for a year.
“I don't have any,” I said.
It was a Saturday. My only option was to go to the mall and spend money I didn't have, and then spend the rest of the weekend regretting it.
“I was wondering if I could see you today. Maybe we could go to lunch and continue our intriguing conversations, pretty lady.”
I blushed. He thought I was intriguing?
Wow.
“Yeah, that would be okay.” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice.
“What would be a good time for you?”
I thought for a moment. I would have to shower, style my hair, get dressed, get Sierra ready, and have Creole pick her up. Greg still had two weeks before he could start getting Sierra on the weekend. “Well, it's ten now, so how about two?”
“That sounds fine with me.”
I hung up with him then I called Creole.
“What?” she answered rudely.
“Creole, I need you to pick up Sierra. I'm meeting Lavante for lunch at two.”
She let out an annoying screech. “He's going to get that two-year dry-ass pussy!”
“Shut up. We're just going to lunch to talk and get to know each other.”
“I'll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Thanks, Creole.”
I swung into action. When I caught myself rushing, I slowed down. I actually felt nervous. I almost laughed at myself.
What do I have to be nervous about?
I thought
.
He was just a man. But I really liked him, and I wanted to impress him. And this had been the longest that I had talked to a guy since Greg.
I picked out a pink and white dress for Sierra to wear with her matching jacket.
“Where am I going, Mommy?” she asked. My daughter was such a good kid. Even though she was only three, she helped me with chores and was as sweet as pie. Although it was hard being a single parent, my daughter made it so easy and joyous for me. I had no regrets about her coming into the world. She really was the best thing that had happened to me.
But one thing I always struggled with was the guilt of it not working out with her father and me. I didn't want my daughter to come from a broken home, because I feared it would affect her and she would have the same fate later on. But then again, it would be better to raise her in a broken home than in a home with violence. I knew if I had stayed with Greg, the beating and the disrespect would have never stopped, and to continue to see me getting abused would have been hell for her growing up. She would choose a man just like her father. And that would kill me, so I knew I made the best choice I could for my baby girl and for me.
“To Creole's.”
“Yea!” She clapped. She was such a cutie, with her golden brown skin, almond-shaped eyes, and a for real, for real, button nose. Her hair was super thick and long for a three-year-old.
I planted a kiss on her cheek. “Come on, let's do your hair.”
True to her promise, Creole arrived on time, snatched the booster, and grabbed her goddaughter by her hand. “Don't forget to use a condom,” Creole joked.
I ignored her, then closed and locked my door. I showered, threw on a dress that showed my long legs and a pair of strappy heels, and let my skinny individual braids hang down my back.
I met Lavante at the California Pizza Kitchen in Long Beach, near the marina.
After we ordered our food, I showed him a couple flicks of Sierra from my camera phone.
As he studied the flicks, he asked, “So who do you think your daughter takes after?”
“Well, let's see ... she gets her looks from me and her stupidity from her father.”
He chuckled at the comment. “She's beautiful, just like her mama. Now I know when we have kids together, they are going to be good looking.”
I blushed. His comment was sweet. “Thanks, and I'm kidding. She is a really bright little girl.”
I was about to put my cell phone back in my purse when I saw I had a text. I opened it up and saw it was from Creole. It read, ‘Did he bend you over yet?'
I laughed.
“What?” he asked.
I erased the message and put my phone away. “Nothing. Just some crazy text I got.”
“Do you want to have any more children?”
“I'd like a son.”
“Why?”
“I want to raise a prince, that's why. Add another good man to the world's short list.”
He laughed again. “Here we go. So you think we're all trifling niggas, huh?”
“No, not at all. I know the man of my dreams is out there somewhere. If I thought like what you just said, what hope do I have for my daughter? I've been in only one relationship in my life. It was a bad one. But I'm not bitter or anything.”
“Good. Don't ever be. So if you could have a man the way you wanted, designed for you even, how would you want him?”
“A decent guy. Just someone to appreciate what I have to offer. Really, Lavante, I don't have a list of high demands. I just want someone to love me.
Man,
for that I don't think there is anything I could deny him.”
His face turned serious. “I'm looking for a good woman too. Something serious.”
Good,
I thought. We were on the same page.
“Is there anything else you want to add to the list?”
I poured my heart out to Lavante because I felt safe telling him what I wanted. “I want a man who wants what I want, and has goals in his life. I hope I'm not asking for too much, but the most important thing is for a man to be up front about how he feels, and I'll give him the same, regardless of what it is. Just tell me.”
“No. You're not asking for too much. A real woman should have her own set of standards and not accept a man's bullshit. And if he is not treating her right, she should make him kick rocks.” He flashed me a smile. “You sure you don't have anything else to add, Miss Lady?” He winked.
This time I laughed. “I'll get back to you if I have anything else to add, but that's pretty much it.”
“Really? No ten stacks to spend or a Gucci bag?”
“No. I'm straight. Just a decent guy.”
He stared at me and said, “I'm that guy. Don't trip. You in good hands, baby.”
The server walked to our table with our food. As he sat my sausage and pepperoni pizza in front of me, I spied a guy who looked exactly like Greg strolling to the front entrance of the restaurant, alone. My heart started pounding. The server then sat Lavante's fettuccine Alfredo in front of him. As the man walked inside the restaurant, my eyes could no longer deny it was Greg.
I blurted out, “Shit.”
“Something wrong with the food?” Lavante asked me.
I turned my face toward Lavante but continued to look at Greg from the corner of my right eye.
I have to get out of the restaurant before Greg sees me with Lavante,
I thought
.
I feared Greg would do something stupid and trip out. I knew that I should be able to do what I wanted, but just in case he acted stupid, I didn't want to scare Lavante off.
I quickly came up with an excuse. “Uh, Lavante, what time is it?”
He looked at his watch. “Two forty-five.”
Greg was now across the dining area, talking to the hostess, with his back to me. I had to get out of there. My eyes passed over the dining area. With luck, I could make it to the back-door exit without him seeing me, since our booth wasn't far from it.
“I have to get home. I forgot to give my daughter her medicine. It's antibiotics, and if you miss a day, it throws the medication off.”
“Oh, antibiotics. It must be serious... .”
I stopped listening after the word
serious,
because I saw that I had convinced him. I nodded. “Well, I gotta go. Thanks.” I gave him a quick smile.
I made a beeline to the door, keeping my head down and briskly walking. Once I made it to the door without Greg seeing me, my hand reached for the knob.
“Allure!”
My hearted started pounding. I thought about my date with McCoy and how Greg had sabotaged it and had messed stuff up between McCoy and me before I even got a chance to get to know McCoy.
I turned around slowly and saw Lavante holding up my purse. From the corner of my eye I saw Greg's head shoot up at the mention of my name. He stopped walking behind the hostess who was taking him to a table in the same section as Lavante. I had to get out of there!
I jogged over to Lavante, snatched my purse, and slipped through the door.
Once I was outside, I ran to my car, not even back into the restaurant to see what was happening. I jumped in my car, started the ignition, and pulled my car out of the restaurant's parking lot. I prayed Greg didn't go up to Lavante and question him. That would probably push Lavante away from me for good, just as I was trying to get closer to him.
The next thing I knew, I looked in my rearview mirror and spied Greg's car in pursuit of mine. Well, at least I knew he wasn't confronting Lavante. I was pleased about that, but certainly not comfortable with him following my ass. Damn! I increased my speed, feeling my heart slam in my chest. He honked his horn wildly and pulled into the lane beside me.
I glanced at him as he made a motion for me to pull over. I shook my head, indicating no.
“Who is that?” he yelled out the driver's window.
I ignored him and kept driving, making him more furious.
“How could you bring him to our spot?” he demanded.
What the fuck is he talking about?
I thought. We had been there only once before. I jumped into another lane and went faster. He followed after me. I jumped on the ramp for the freeway, hoping he would give up and leave me the hell alone. He didn't. A look in my rearview mirror showed me he was close on my heels.

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