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won’t kidnap him for too long. I just want him to give us that male perspective about some things. Plus, this isn’t about me, this is all for you, so change your self-righteous attitude.”
    Veron shrugs like she’s unconvinced with my explanation.
    “Okay, what’s going on now?” I say to Veron, whose eyes are still stuck on the action behind me.
    “Can’t you hear Francine cussing him out? He’s handing her a wad of loot and convincing her to get in the cab. I guess he had to pay the piper.”
    “She’ll be all right. If she loves him she’ll forgive him.”
    “You make it sound so easy, Demetria. If that’s the case, I should forgive Ferris, but you advised me to kick him to the curb.”
    “That’s because I know you can do better than him. Don’t waste your time with a part-time lover. If dude was around every day checking for you, then he might be worth waiting on. But that every-blue-moon dick is not worth the investment.”
    “Do you always have an answer for everything, Demetria?”
    “Sure do. Because I’ve been there, done that.”
             
    We end up at Bennigan’s on the South Loop near Reliant Park.
    “Damn, why you gotta pick Bennigan’s?” Mike asks.
    “What’s wrong?” I ask.
    “I was banned from Bennigan’s. Not this particular one, but still…”
    “Mike, you’re such a fool. How can anyone get banned from here?”
    Mike shrugs sheepishly but says nothing else. Veron’s first to the entrance of the restaurant, and she puts her hand on the door, but I clear my throat and stare her down, and she lets Mike go first. He swings the door open for us, and we all walk into the place, where the hostess seats us in a booth.
    “What was that all about?” says Veron, who’s seated next to me.
    “A real woman never opens her own door. Always let the man step ahead of you and do it for you. And if you ride with him in his car, don’t get in until he opens your door.”
    “What’s the big deal? I’m pretty capable of opening my own door, Demetria, and it is the twenty-first century.”
    “It’s not about that; it’s all about respect.”
    “You’re serious?”
    “Yes, Vee. You gotta be clear about what you want, and don’t back off or compromise.”
    “What about men who are so rude and selfish that they won’t open the door for you when they clearly see you coming?” she asks.
    “Call ’em out,” Mike says.
    “Hell, yes,” I agree. “I do it all the time. I say, ‘I thought God stopped creating men with no manners.’ Who cares if they’re pissed off—if a man can’t even open a fucking door, no way he’s gonna be fucking me.”
    Veron is staring at me so intently I shrug and roll my eyes so as not to let her scrutiny bother me.
    “Get a grip, Vee. You’re in training every second you’re with me, so take careful notes.”
    “But how did you learn all this? I mean, I feel like I’ve been living life letting all the important things slip by me.”
    “Well, you know, with your mom’s passing away when you were a teen, you’re gonna miss out on some vital info.”
    “What happened with your mom?” Mike asks.
    “I don’t talk about it much, but she died of an aneurysm when I was fourteen. But before she died, Mama was too strict. She wouldn’t let me date, go to the mall with my friends. I had to do group dates if anything, with church kids mind you, so that time of life was a bit messed up. I’m no victim, but a few things about men have totally slipped past me, and that is embarrassing, frustrating.”
    “Hey,” I tell her. “I’m not trying to be mean, but you really think I was born knowing how to deal with men? Be for real. It takes time and experience, Vee. But that’s what I’m here for. Just make sure and pay close attention so you may apply everything you’re learning from this moment until you take your last breath.”
    “Veron,” Mike interrupts. “Tell me more about yourself in five sentences.”
    “What?” she