Read Online Ex-girl to the Next Girl by Daaimah S. Poole - Free Book Online Page B

and we’ll talk,” I said as I paid for his Heineken and walked away. I was on my way to find Toya when I saw the man from earlier who kept looking at me like he knew me. This time he came up to me and touched my waist.
    â€œDo you know me?”
    â€œNo, but I would like to get to know you. I’m Demetrius and I have been looking at you all night. I saw you walking toward the door—are you about to leave?”
    â€œNo, not yet.”
    â€œWell, dance with me.” Demetrius pulled me to the dance floor and pulled me closer to him. I loved his assertiveness. Our bodies swayed as we danced off the hypnotic beat. A woman’s voice was singing about waiting for her man to come home. After our dance, we exchanged numbers.
    Â 
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    By the time the night was over, I had met three guys. Quentin was extra sexy, and with guys named Jermaine and Demetrius added to the list, I should have dates for the rest of the week.
    Monday morning was business as usual. I didn’t want to go in to class, but if I didn’t show up, who would? I began writing my lesson on the board as the students began coming in and unpacking. Tyreek Freeman was back, and a man was with him. The man approached me and said, “Excuse me, can I see you in the hallway?”
    â€œSure, one moment,” I said as I instructed my class to pull out their journals. I stepped out of the classroom and closed the door behind me.
    â€œHow can I help you?” I asked as a nosey student walked by.
    â€œI just wanted to talk to you and apologize for Tyreek’s behavior. Listen, Ms. Clark, I know my wife gets slick with her mouth sometimes. But you’re not going to have any more problems out of this boy the rest of the year—is she, Reek?” He turned to his son and stared at him.
    â€œNo,” Tyreek said as he held his head down.
    â€œNo, what?” his father asked as he moved closer to his face.
    â€œNo, sir,” he said, looking down at the ground.
    â€œLook at her and tell her that you are sorry for disrespecting her.”
    Tyreek looked at me and repeated what his father had said. His father put his hands up like he was about to grab and shake him but held back and said, “Ms. Clark, one phone call. One phone call is all it takes. Don’t call my wife—she lets him get away with too much shit. Call me. I’ll be up here.”
    â€œOkay, I will,” I said. The class was on the other side of the door, listening intently. Mr. Big and Bad Tyreek was crying. This was the perfect time to embarrass him, but I didn’t. I felt sorry for him. As soon as his father turned the hall corner, I told him to go to the bathroom and get himself together and then come back to class.
    I went home and turned on Oprah, while I made out my lesson plan for the next week.
    The phone rang and I answered it and heard Erick saying “Hey baby I miss you. Can I come over?”
    I thought about it for a minute. I could let him come over and spend the night, but then he will think we are back together and I don’t want to confuse him.
    â€œI don’t think that is a good idea.” I said.
    â€œWhy not? I miss you.”
    â€œNo, not right now, Erick. I have to go. I’m doing something,” I said as I went back to my lesson plan. He called me right back, but I turned the ringer off.

Chapter 8
    Kim
    M y district manager was getting on my last damn nerves. She was spending too much time in my office monitoring my every move like she is the C.I.A. She was riding me for no reason, saying that she had to check on a few accounts. I was fed up fucking with her and my job. I didn’t say anything else to her, I just grabbed my bag and car keys and went toward the door.
    â€œWhere are you going?” she asked. You know everything. So you should know why and where I’m going, I thought.
    â€œI’m taking an early day.”
    I went home, turned the heat on, and sat on the sofa