Phaedra motioned for me to get busy, and she shot Taylor a look, but I wasn’t sure what it meant.

I escorted Taylor back to his table. He was sitting alone this time.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I said. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have one of your famous Cherry Cokes, please.”

“Coming right up,” I said through my teeth.

“Hey,” he said, tapping the bottom of my elbow before I took a step, “are you mad?”

I paused, glancing over at Dwayne. “I had it covered.”

“I believe you.”

“So, you didn’t need to step in,” I hissed.

“Probably not.”

“Stay out of my business. I don’t need your help. Ever.”

He relaxed back in his chair, unfazed. “Okay.”

“That’s it? Just okay?”

He chuckled. “I understand.”

I could feel him watching me as I made my way to the drink station.

“I’m sorry,” I said, stopping at the author’s table. “What can I get you to drink?”

She shook her head, her eyes bright. “This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks. I’ll have an orange juice.”

“I’ll have the mango sunrise,” her assistant said.

I nodded and continued my trek. Dwayne held out his cup in front of me, and I plowed through it, spilling tea all over him and me.

Instinctively, I raised my hands, palms out, and stopped on my tiptoes even though it was already too late. “Oh my gosh, I’ll get you another one right away.”

“Goddamn it, you bitch!” he yelled at the same time. His chair complained against the tiled floor as he stood, towering over me.

“All right, now, you’ve pissed me off.” Taylor’s strained voice carried from his seat across the room.

In the next moment, he was next to me. He put Dwayne into a headlock and guided him toward the door.

“No! Stop! Please!” I begged.

Each word was mixed with Dwayne’s protests.

Everyone in the room was frozen, staring at Dwayne flailing his arms and trying to push Taylor back but to no avail.

I covered my mouth, and Kirby watched helplessly from her podium. Just before Taylor made it through the door, Phaedra blew her famous two-fingers-in-the-mouth whistle, one that could be heard even in the high school football stadium full of people. I winced at the shrill noise.

“Knock it off!” Phaedra commanded.

The room was silent. Both Chuck and Hector were staring from the window. Dwayne stopped struggling, and Taylor released his neck.

“No one throws my customers out but me!” She marched over to Dwayne, narrowing her eyes. “Did you just verbally abuse my server?”

“She spilled my fucking tea all over me!” Dwayne said, pointing at me.