Come With Me

Mae

The waitress brought our fresh drinks. I noticed her smiling at Tyson. He handed her a fifty and told her to keep the change. She winked before walking away, purposely exaggerating the sway of her hips. “I learned some hard lessons after I got started in the business.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not only did people start noticing me for the wrong reasons, but I figured out I was not a good boyfriend.”

I laughed. “You figured out, or you were told?”

“Both. Relationships take work. They take time. The few girlfriends I did have let me know I was too reserved, too withdrawn. I wasn’t present literally and figuratively.”

“I’m sorry,” I said but I wasn’t the least bit sorry. I was glad women didn’t want him. That was a terrible thing to think, but it was true.

“It’s okay. I realized I didn’t have the energy to take care of a woman. I am barely capable of taking care of myself. A woman deserves better than me.”

“That’s not true,” I told him. “Any woman would be lucky to have you.”

He took ano