Page 43 of All Out of Love

“Not sometimes,” said Toya. “In this case, every time,” she said, and they both laughed.

But their gaiety was soon interrupted by a visitor at their table. Toya immediately saw the resemblance. It was Grayson’s father, the man she was depending on to help her legal situation.

But as soon as she saw him, and by the way he was staring at her, she knew her hope was as flimsy as her confidence.

Grayson didn’t bother to stand up. So neither did she. “Hello Father.”

But Sebastian was still staring at Toya. “So this is the woman with the gold between her legs? So this is that jailbird Quineisha?”

“First of all,” Toya said, “I’m not a jailbird. Second of all,” she added, “my name is Jameesha Latoya Morgan. It is not Quineisha.”

“And you know it,” Grayson pointed out.

“I don’t care what her name is. Why is she here? Why is she at my club?”

“Last I looked it was my club too,” Grayson said. Then he added: “She’s my girlfriend. That’s why she’s here.”

When he said the g word, Toya could just feel the hate oozing from his father. “You must be joking! You could have Charlotte. You could have Dena. But instead you want this hood rat hoodlum you had to drag out of a jail cell? Have you taken leave of your senses, Grayson?”

Some of the patrons at other tables were glancing over. Toya would have thought that would be enough to stop his rage. He lowered his voice, alright, but that rage was still there. “This is her first and her last visit to my club. Do I make myself clear, Grayson?”

“The only thing clear is your nastiness,” Grayson said. “And she’ll visit this club any time she wishes to visit it. Good day, Father!” He said it with a lowered voice, too, but with clenched teeth.

Seb was about to snap right back at his son, but he was interrupted. “Governor Carrington!”

It was a tall man walking toward their table. “I thought that was you!”

Seb put on his best smile, even though Toya and Grayson could still feel his hatred, and then he turned toward the guest. “Hello, Parker. I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age!”

Parker glanced at Toya and Grayson. Even he seemed a bit embarrassed. But he smiled and gladhanded Seb and then both men made their way toward the smoking room.

“So that’s your father,” Toya said.

“Unfortunately yes.”

“That’s the man that’s going to help me stay out of prison?”

Grayson exhaled. “Unfortunately yes,” he said.

“That man would rather help a dog than help me. And guess what? I would rather help a dog than help him.”

“Good,” Grayson said. “And you keep it that way.”

Toya looked at him. “Keep what that way?”

“Never let your guard down,” he said. “And don’t worry about your situation. That’s for me to worry about. And I’m not worried.”

Toya didn’t know how he did it to her, but she smiled. Somehow being with Grayson made her feel safe. And protected. “Yes sir,” she said.

Then Grayson snapped his fingers to signify they were ready to order, and a waiter hurried to their table.

But as they waited for their food to arrive, Charlotte walked in. And as soon as she saw Grayson, she hurried over.

Toya didn’t know who she was. But she could tell by his body language alone that Grayson knew her well. “Hello Charlotte.”

“What are you doing here?” Charlotte asked. “I haven’t seen you at the club in I can’t remember how long. And who’s that?”

As soon as she said those words so dismissively, Toya braced herself. Here we go again, she inwardly said. Do these people wake up and choose hatred?