“Okay. Let me get two number ones, a side order of nachos, two of your apple pie slices, and two strawberry milkshakes,” he ordered.
Ayla tapped at the screen, selecting each item.
“Is there anything else?” she asked once she had everything on the screen.
“Nah, that’s it.”
“Okay. Your total is $50.75,” Ayla concluded. “Please have your payment ready at the first window.” She turned to start putting everything together when Ramona, the manager, appeared.
Busy trying to fulfill the order as quickly as possible, Ayla frowned at the odd expression on her face. Ramona was cool. She had like three years on her and was a mother of two, but they got along well. Unlike other women who Ayla interacted with, she wasn’t a mean girl. Because Ayla was brown-skinned andvery naturally beautiful, she drew unwanted attention all the time, even when she sported her thin framed glasses. At twenty-four, she had this innocence about her, more than likely because she was still a virgin. She didn’t see the world or people the way everyone else did. A gift and a curse, according to her sister.
“What? Is something wrong?” she asked, pulling a batch of fries from the hot grease and setting them aside for the order.
“Why don’t you go take a break? I can take care of this.” Ramona stepped in.
“What?” Ayla laughed. “I clock out in like thirty minutes.”
“You have to pick up Dane, right?” Ramona checked with her, grabbing the two sandwiches for the order that had come down the line. “Why don’t you leave early, and I’ll clock you out.”
“What is wrong with you?” She frowned, scooping fries into their individual carriers.
“Okay, look. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you?—”
She couldn’t finish her sentence before Ayla’s gaze drifted past her to the pick-up window. Her hand trembled at the sight of Qassen, her boyfriend of the last year, pulling up with another woman in his passenger seat. Heart thudding anxiously in her chest, she had to remind herself to breathe.What is he doing here? And who the fuck is she?When the girl smiled shyly in his direction, and he reached over to stroke her chin before leaning in and planting a soft kiss against her lips, Ayla’s teddy bear brown eyes misted. Disgust flipped her stomach, and she gripped the counter to keep from sliding to the floor.
“I’m sorry, girl.” Empathy crowded Ramona’s face, taking Ayla out of her state of shock.
When she pushed past her with Qassen’s order in her hand, she mushed the button to open the window and slung the food out into his car. Fries and condiments fell in his lap, and his jaw locked in anger before he even turned to address her. Shock mixed with a tinge of regret flitted through his light-brown eyes,and the girl next to him immediately cocked her head to the side with attitude.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Shit,” Qassen grumbled under his breath. “I thought you had the day off.”
“Clearly.” Ayla’s brows bunched together, and she tucked her arms across her chest. “What the fuck is this, Qas?” When she let her eyes wander past him, she saw the girl’s swollen belly under the seatbelt draped over her.
“Qassen, who is this bitch?” his little light skinned counterpart demanded.
“I’m his girlfriend!” Ayla spat, bracing herself on the window and grilling him.
Qassen was the star of the basketball team for Roosevelt University, which they both attended. The two were on different ends of the spectrum as far as popularity. Qassen was fine with Ayla not being known or having a lot of friends. She went to school and work while managing to stay out of the mix. Apparently, the perfect combination for a nigga who had other bitches to entertain. The only reason he’d put in so much time with her to begin with was that he’d heard she was a virgin and wanted to be the first to tap it.
“Hmm, that’s funny, because I’m his fiancée.” His girl held up the hand with her ring finger, showing off the fat rock that had been placed there only a few short months ago. “I’m also about to be the mother to his firstborn. So, this is damn sure news to me.” She rubbed her belly smugly.
“You dirty, lying ass bastard!” Ayla grabbed the two shakes off the counter and slung them at them.
The strawberry blend went everywhere, including ol’ girl’s face and hair.
“Shit, Ayla! My fucking car!” Qassen yelled about the precious leather inside his black Genesis.
“I’m gon’ whup your ass!” His girl unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to climb over him to get to Ayla at the window.
“Shit, Leah. Baby, calm down!” he pleaded, grabbing her waist as Ramona placed herself in front of Ayla as a barrier.
“You basic ass bitch!” Leah spat, still struggling against Qassen holding her back. “All you rat hoes are the same! Looking for a come up because he just got drafted! Well, ain’t none of you bitches ever taking my spot! I’ve been the one holding him down since fucking high school!”
“Girl, you need to leave!” Ramona pointed past Ayla to the exit. “Just go. I’ll take care of this,” she urged.
Yanking her apron off, Ayla stormed to the back to gather her things. She should have known shit was too good to be true with him. The minute she burst through the locker room doors, she screamed and tossed her apron. Right now, she wanted to punch something. Pacing in front of her locker, she took a breath with her head lifted to the ceiling. Her ringing cell pulled her from her rage filled thoughts, and she picked up her apron to fish it out.
