May
Iwanted to be anywherebutthe bar. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. There was one specific place I wanted to be—home, in my bed, eating popcorn and watching TV. Instead, I was in this smoky, loud bar with my best friend Brooke and two of her friends. I say her friends because, even though we talk and hang out, it was because of Brooke. I’d never hang with them without her, and I never initiated spending time with them.
Brooke was my best female friend, and I didn’t need more than her. She was far more extroverted than I was, though, and she could talk to anyone about anything. Hell, there was no doubt in my mind that before we left this bar, she will have connected with at least one or two strangers. She wasthattype.The type to walk around the bar and engage with people whether they wanted her to or not.
Treasure set shots in front of all of us, and I didn’t bother declining. It would be the last one I had for the evening because I was starting to feel them. Of the trio, Treasure was quiet like me, but she grew livelier the more she drank. Her sister, Tamera, was more like Brooke. The balance of our personalities ensured we always had a good time, which was why I didn’t mind going out with them . . . even when I didn’t really want to.
“Ooh,” Brooke cooed, nudging me gently with her shoulder. “Your man is here.”
My head jerked and eyebrows wrinkled as confusion filled me. I looked around the brown dive bar, eyes scanning the pool tables and arcade games as I asked, “Who?”
“Don’twhome, owl. You know who.” She chuckled as my eyes landed on a table in the far opposite corner, where Kenya, my ex, and his brother Kayne were sitting with three other men.
“Kenya?” I clarified, looking back at her.
“No, crazy. Kayne!”
I groaned and crossed my arms as my eyes rolled. Kayne was my best friend and a gift that came from my brief relationship with his brother. Brooke and I met Kayne and Kenya in college. Kenya saw me first, and he immediately asked me on a date. I agreed, and though we didn’t have a lot in common, he was fun to hang out with. We went on three dates before I met Kayne andinstantlyfelt a connection with him. Not only did we have a lot in common, but we had the same morals and values too, which was why when his brother cheated on me, Kayne beat his ass.
So maybe it wasn’t 100 percent cheating, but damage was done. We were only together for about six months before he randomly broke up with me to party and have sex with multiple women for spring break. When he came back, he thought I wouldn’t find out, but word spread quickly, and one of the girlshad no problem telling me about her night with my supposed to be man. To me, he’d cheated, because we talked the whole time he was gone and planned to get back together. His logic was it didn’t count because he’d broken up with me, but that didn’t stop it from hurting, and seeing me hurting was why Kayne came to blows with his brother.
I’d never deny Kayne cared more about me than Kenya, which was why it was easy for me to deal with Kenya to keep Kayne in my life. Kenya and I were something like friends now, but it took some time for that to happen. I avoided him our last two years in college. It took about another year after that for me to feel comfortable being around him. Now, at thirty, I didn’t care about what had happened between us. We were young, he had no discipline, and I at least appreciated him calling things off before he did what he did.
“Stop calling that man my man,” I demanded, picking up my shot of tequila.
“He is though. I still don’t understand why you never dated him.”
“Did you forget I dated his brother in college?”
It was Brooke’s turn to roll her eyes at me.
She gave me a dismissive wave of her hand before knocking her shot back.
“That was ten years ago. Literally. And Kenya was an ass.Andy’all were only together for six months, and it shouldn’t have lastedthatlong. I knew you and Kayne were meant to be the moment y’all first met and spent like four hours talking about movies and music.”
Biting down on my lip didn’t stop me from smiling. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Kayne and I always meshed well. He was like the other half of me. Brooke was my best friend, but Kayne was like my soul mate. There were things I talked to him about that I’d never utter to anyone else. Piecesof myself I shared with him that I was too ashamed to show someone else. Kayne was the one I went through losses and vulnerable moments with because he made me feel safe. I loved him, and I was so grateful for him.
“Yeah, but you know I can’t do that. I’m not saying Kenya deserves my loyalty, but I’d never do anything to make things weird or tense between them.”
Treasure sucked her teeth and leaned forward in her chair. “Forget that. You are right; you owe Kenya no loyalty. He broke up with you to fuck someone else.”
“Multiple someone else’s,” Tamera added, making us all laugh.
“So yeah, he did right by calling the relationship off, but that was some creep shit,” Brooke said. “He broke up with you with the intention of being with other women and thought you’d take him back. Fuck him . . . and his brother too.”
She shot me a wink that made me shake my head at her and look away. My eyes returned to their table, and I took a moment to take Kayne Mathis in.
It looked like he’d come straight to the bar from work, because he was dressed in a tucked button down shirt and tie with slacks and loafers. He was a guidance counselor at Rose Valley Middle School, and I was a kindergarten teacher at Rose Valley Elementary. We both loved and had a passion for kids. Eventually, I wanted to be a principal, and he wanted to teach college level courses. For now, I found fulfillment with my little nuggets and planned to teach kindergarten for at least another five to ten years. That was such a foundational year, and I loved having a vital role in their development.
As if Kayne felt eyes on him, he looked around the bar. When his eyes landed on mine, he smiled. And I meanreallysmiled. It was warm and genuine, and I couldn’t help but mirror it. Seeing him so happy at the sight of me made my heart squeeze.
God . . . I really loved this man.
When he stood, my heart skipped a beat. He said something to his brother and pointed in our direction before slowly sauntering over to us.
His tall, wide build, sandy brown skin, lazy under turned eyes, juicy blunt brown lips—Kayne was fine as hell, there was no denying that. Both his ears and nose were pierced, and he had a few tattoos as well. I loved everything about him, but more than anything, I loved his kind heart. The closer he got to me, the more I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. I rocked in my seat until he closed the distance between us. The moment he used my hand to lift me from my seat and pull me into his arms . . . everything was right in my world.
Every Friday, I went to the bar with my brother and our friends. This week was no different, except the bar we’d come to. Instead of our usual spot, we tried this new dive bar that was in the entertainment district, and as soon as my eyes landed on Jayla, I was glad we did.
