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“Stupid ass bitch!” she hollered, picking up a plate from the table next to us and launching it at him. It hit the wall beam next to us, shattering into a million porcelain pieces. “I must have the word dumbass written across my forehead!”

“Timberly, what the fuck!” he hollered, ducking another hit. “Are you out of your damn mind?”

“I can’t believe this shit.” I thought as the chaotic scene continued to play out.

Earlier, my mouth had nearly dropped when the towering chocolate drop with a fresh low fade approached the table, announcing he was my date. Despite my reservations, I’d been willing to abandon my plan of having Rae call me with an emergency to bail me out and at least see where the night went. That was the last time I let a man’s looks guide my decisions.

“No, muthafucker, you’re out of your damn mind,” the girlfriend hollered back, swinging her purse at his head.

“Timberly,” the friend she’d brought murmured, folding her arms while looking around the restaurant. “Let’s just go. He’s not worth it.”

“Niesha, fuck that!” Timberly screeched back as Darien, the date in question, finally scrambled out of his chair.

Grabbing both of her arms, he pinned them to her sides, glowering at her. “What the fuck is wrong with you? What are you doing here?”

“Nigga, you can’t be stupid enough to think that one of the big-mouth bitches at the shop weren’t going to come back and tell me about you bragging to Corey about having a date when you were getting a cut.”

“I don’t give a fuck what someone ran back and told you, we ain’t together and ain’t ever been together. You’re tripping.”

“You weren’t talking all that shit about us not being together when you were fucking me last night.”

And that was my final cue to exit. I didn’t even know what prompted me to sit there so long in the first place. Maybe it was the shock of it all. But the mention of them sleeping together not even twenty-four hours before he was supposed to meet up with me lit a fire under my ass.

Downing the last of my drink, one of the few things on the table that hadn’t been thrown, I stood, ready to get out of dodge.

I momentarily thought about leaving money for my half of the bill, but as Darien forgot to mention being involved with someone, paying for my trauma was the least he could do. As I went to walk around the table, Timberly finally turned her attention toward me.

“Bitch, I hope you’re not thinking about defending him.”

My eyes widened as I paused. Everything I wanted to say was stifled by the memory of the drama I was still wrapped up in, thanks to the stupid decision I’d made months ago while confronting Shane.

As badly as I hated to let her feel as if she were punking me, walking away was the only option I had. But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say something.

“I don’t know him well enough to defend him, nor do I care about whatever you two have going on. Save that energy for your man.”

“She ain’t my girl!” Darien vehemently argued.

Scoffing, I swung my hair over my shoulder. “It honestly doesn’t matter to me either way. Enjoy the rest of your night. And please, don’t contact me again.”

Leaving them where they stood, I stopped by the coat check to retrieve my jacket and left. I wasn’t surprised to see a BBPD squad car screeching up to the scene. With a shake of my head, I wrapped my arms around myself as the valet retrieved my car.

I’d had enough dealings with them to last a lifetime.

Once settled inside my vehicle, I took a moment to process my night. Before long, I found myself dabbing away tears—not because I was hurt by what happened but because it pushed feelings to the surface that I’d tried my hardest to bury.

Yet again, I was the target of a man who was involved with another woman, not one who genuinely wanted to get to know me and explore the possibility of where things could go. Hell, I wasn’t even a prospect for a completely unattached man.

For the life of me, I couldn’t work out why the universe hated me so much. Had I screwed somebody over in a past life so badly that this was my karma?

Sniffling, I watched a few couples leisurely stroll past the parking lot. Hand in hand, they took their time. It was almost as if they had nowhere to be but with one another. Adoring looks, kisses stolen here and there, and hearty laughs tugged at my heartstrings.

I wanted to disappear.

Fishing my phone out of my purse, I called the only person I could tell about my night without fear of judgment.

“You know,” Rae answered. “I assumed that not getting the 911 text to rescue you meant your night was going well.”

“It was,” I replied bitterly. “Until his girlfriend showed up.”