Page 77 of Promised To A Menace

Lha’Kayla turned toward me, her eyebrows lifting when she realized who was standing beside her.

“You do know you didn’t have to do that, right?”

“I know.” I handed the cashier my card before looking back at her. “Didn’t mean I wasn’t going to.”

She glanced between me and the cashier, looking a little caught off guard.

“My mama raised me to look out for women,” I added. “Even if it ain’t my woman. I’ma still do something nice for her.”

And I meant that shit. My mama had always taught me that being a man wasn’t just about what you could provide for somebody you were sleeping with or in a relationship with. If you were in a position to help, you helped. Simple as that. I wasn’t expecting Lha’Kayla to owe me a damn thing because I bought her some food.

Besides, I’d already wanted to get to know her before she walked through that door. Buying her dinner wasn’t about to change that.

“Well, thank you, and yo' mama taught you right.” She smiled.

“Yeah, she did.” I nodded. “But how you been doing?”

“I been good, just chilling.”

“That's what's up. How did that essay go you were telling us about last night?”

I remembered her mentioning something about an essay she had to write for one of her classes when we were over at Cas's house.

“I don't know yet. I'm still waiting on my professor to read over it and get back to me.”

“Oh, okay. Hopefully, you get a good grade on that shit.”

“Hopefully.” She laughed.

We stood there talking for a little while before the cashier called my order number. I walked over to the counter, grabbed my food, and came back to where she was standing.

“Why are you still standing here? You got your food already.”

“I know, but I'm waiting on you to get yours. Didn't know it was a crime for a nigga to make sure his future woman gets to her car safe.” I smirked.

“Future woman?” She laughed.

“Yeah, you heard me.”