Page 26 of Cause When You Love Someone
“New day, same shit.”
“You are right about that. Look who’s walking over here with her homegirls.”
My stomach churned when my focus landed on my ex-girlfriend, Taylor. We hadn’t been in the same room in two years, and our last conversation was crammed with disrespect and confessions that solidified our end.
“Ishmael, I’m going to get another drink. I’ll berightback,” Essen declared once Taylor was within arm’s reach.
Taylor’s dark complexion sparkled under the high lights, and her curves were wrapped in a fitted black dress. Her shoulder-length hair was slicked back, giving a clean view of her high cheekbones and the diamond studs in her ears. Nothing about her appearance revealed the deceitful heartbreaker I knew her to be.
“Taylor Hedges,” I professed.
“Ishmael Harden.” She beamed when speaking my name. “It is good to see you. I see you’re still the flyest man in the club.”
I glanced down at my purple label tux and velvet slippers like I didn’t know what I had on. “When did you get in town?”
“I flew in this morning. One of my clients is hosting a pop-up shop downtown.”
“And you decided to come here?”
A flush of red touched her cheeks as she placed her hand on my thigh and blinked over to where her friends waited. “Don’t be like that, Ishmael. You don’t miss me?”
“Have I called you?”
“No. You didn’t respond to my messages either, but you’ve always been bullheaded.” She pointed to where Church and Blaze slow danced in between other couples. “I didn’t come here for you. I came to celebrate one of the head honchos. If I remember correctly, he introduced us.”
“That’s right. I also remember you hating this place. Now, you’re here with your homegirls. I do commend you on beingbold enough to be in my face after I made it clear we don’t have shit to talk about.”
She scrunched her shoulder against her neck. “Well, I got married, embarrassed, and divorced in the matter of a year. I have to be bold, or I’ll drown in depression. Anyway, what’s new with you? Are you still changing hobbies like you change your underwear? I always loved that about you.”
I scoffed. “You still get a kick out of throwing that word around.”
“You still get a kick out of calling me out. I didn’t know how much I needed that in my corner until you weren’t there.”
“This isn’t the time or place to havethatconversation. You look good, and I’m happy you’re doing well. Leave well enough alone.”
The connection between us was never something to rave about, but it was fulfilling until we both stepped out on each other. Her work life introduced her to a man she was willing to leave me for, and her distance challenged my confidence and self-control.
“All right. Before you shoo me away,”—she dug in her handbag and retrieved a key card—“if you’re not busy tonight, come see me.”
I stared at the plastic, then back at the desperate woman. There were a lot of mistakes I’d made twice, but fucking with Taylor wasn’t happening. The minute she left me for another man, I knew we were broken beyond repair.
As the heartbreaker strutted away, Essen returned and gave Taylor a nasty look as they passed each other.
“Yuck! I still can’t stand that bitch.” Essen groaned. “Are you good?”
“Of course. Taylor’s presence doesn’t shift my energy.” I motioned to the entrance of the club. “But shit likethatbreaks my fucking heart.”
There weren’t many things that rattled my composure, but spotting my drunk mama and her hobosexual stumbling into the club boiled my blood. I thought to slip out the back door as if I didn’t see them, yet the fear of them getting into trouble kept me stagnant.
“How the hell did she get in here?” I wondered aloud.
“I’m sure she told security she’s related to you.”
I deserted my seat. “That makes it even worse.”
Fire coursed through my legs as I eliminated the space between me and the woman who birthed me. So wrapped in her own world, she didn’t acknowledge my presence until I grabbed her arm.
“What the—Ishmael?” A drunken snarl spread over her face. “Why are you manhandling me?”
