We were seated and requested our drinks. Seconds later, the bile swirling in my throat threatened to surface.
“Uhm, Baby. I’m gonna run to the restroom.” I didn’t even give Zoo a chance to assist me out of my chair before I hauled ass toward the restroom. The first open stall was mine. I ran into it and emptied the contents of my stomach.
The fuck?Weak, I hung my head and palmed the stalls walls, trying to keep myself from falling on this nasty floor. Just glancing down at the toilet had me throwing up again. The porcelain was clean, but the fact that some other woman’s ass had been on it had me vomiting yet again.
Ugh! I’m never eating here again!This little restroom run ruined it for me, and this was my favorite steak joint. Once I’d gathered myself, I flushed the toilet, came out of the stall, and mugged the woman standing at the sink staring at me through the mirror. Hopefully, she didn’t recognize me. The last thing I needed was someone spreading shit about me to the newspapers. I’d barely dodged the whole Zoo being shot incident, and I wasn’t trying to be in the news for anything else other than basketball.
Rummaging through my bag, I located a travel-size bottle of Listerine that I carried whenever I went out to eat. Swigging the whole bottle, I swished it until my whole mouth screamed for release.
“Are you okay?” the lady asked. I gave her a death stare that had her walking her creepy ass out of the restroom.
I cut the water on and splashed my face a few times, hoping it added some color back to my skin. It appeared as though I’d been drained of a few years in just an instant. Pulling myself together, I made peace with the woman looking back at me.
“Girl, just take the damn test. Zoo won’t be upset, you won’t be upset. Just get it over with. You don’t need another damn sign.”
Penelope London. Pregnant.My mind screamed.
Gripping a wad of paper towels, I left the restroom. Immediately, fire surge through me at the sight of some woman in Zoo’s face. He was smart enough not to be smiling at her or anything, but he should’ve told that bitch to scram the second she approached him.
How crazy do you sound? You don’t even know what they are talking about.
Fuck what they were talking about!
Zoo saw me coming and pointed my way. The woman glanced my way, briefly smiled, then hustled off as I approached. I started to follow her ass, but Zoo grabbed my hand and helped me back in my seat.
"Leave it to you to be over here flirting and I wasn't gone fifteen minutes."
His face balled up. "I wasn't flirtin’ with no-damn-body."
"Okay"—I shrugged—"if a nigga was smiling in my face—”
"Don't put that shit in my head," he interrupted.
"Like I was saying," I overtalked him, "you would be ready to shoot the building up."
"Iwouldshoot the building up," he clarified. "Make no mistake about it, I don’t play like that.” His ass shot me a lopsided smile.
"This shit isn’t gonna work,” I mumbled, irritated.
"What won't work?" Zoo's voice escalated, drawing attention.
"Us," I answered. Tears formed for no reason at all.
"Shawty"—he chuckled—"I wasn't even doing shit. That bitch was asking about this chain, the chain wit’ yo fuckin name on it," he explained. ‘Oh, that’s so sweet, you’re wearing a chain with your girl’s name on it.’" He made his voice high pitched. I hid a smile ‘cause I wasn't about to laugh at his ass.
"Stop calling people bitches, Zoo."
"Now you’re defending her ass after you just accused me of flirtin’ with her?"
"No," I said, "but I'm not about to be around here looking stupid. If it's anything in you that wants to put your dick in another woman, spare me." I was on one, feeling the old Penelope resurface.
In an instant, Zoo was out of his chair and kneeling on the side of my chair. His hands enveloped my face, bringing me to look at him.
"I only wanna put my dick in you."
I smacked my teeth and tried to turn my head away from his lips, but he held fast.
"I wasn't flirting. I'm not that nigga. You're the first woman I ever even considered flirting with, and I'd still do that shit again. You got me outchea wearin’ yo’ uglass name around my neck. If that doesn't tell you I'm ten toes down for you, then what is it gon' take? You want me to cry? ‘Cause I'll cry." This nigga started sniffling. By now, too many eyes were on us.
