Teach Me Tonight

by Jacquelin Thomas

  Micah gave her a polite smile and resisted the urge to pull away. He knew Sunni wanted the media to photograph them in an embrace. She enjoyed being featured in gossip magazines and felt it enhanced her career.

  “Sunni, it’s late and I have a busy day tomorrow. I don’t have any plans this weekend—maybe we can do something then.”

  “I’d love it. I haven’t seen much of you lately.”

  He kissed her gently on the cheek. “We’ll do something special then.”

  Sunni pulled him closer to her. “C’mere, I want a real kiss.”

  “I don’t put on shows for the media,” Micah stated. “You know that.”

  He ushered Sunni quickly into the car as paparazzi appeared out of nowhere, snapping pictures of them.

  “How long have the two of you been dating, Micah?” someone shouted.

  “Are you and Sunni thinking about marriage?” another yelled. “C’mon, give us the scoop.”

  Micah held up his hands in mock resignation. “I’m afraid there’s nothing to tell. Have a good evening, everyone.” He got into the car and the driver closed the door in haste.

  “What are we doing?” Sunni asked when the car pulled away from the curb, merging with the traffic.

  Micah did not want to have this conversation. He and Sunni had been spending time together for the past four or five months. She was stunning and he enjoyed her company, but Micah knew she had an agenda. She wanted a husband.

  A rich husband.

  It was not that he was opposed to marriage because he didn’t want to marry. He wasn’t in love with Sunni, which is why he hadn’t taken their platonic relationship to the next level.

  Sunni ran a French-manicured finger along his thigh. “Micah, you know how I feel about you. We are so good together. Why can’t you see that? You need a woman like me as your wife.”

  He gave her an indulgent smile. “That’s why we’re such good friends.”

  “Micah, tell me, who did this to you?” Sunni asked.

  Surprised by her question, he questioned, “Did what?”

  “Hurt you,” she responded. “Who broke your heart? That’s the only reason I can think of that will explain why you keep this huge wall between us.”

  Micah did not respond.

  “Well, whoever she is, she really did a number on you.” Sunni ran a finger down his cheek. “I am a very patient woman, Micah. One day you’ll see that I’m not here to cause you pain. If you give me the chance, I’d make you a very happy man.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad to have you in my life, Sunni. You are a very dear friend to me.”

  “There’s that friend word again,” she said with a mock sigh.

  Micah laughed.

  The limo slowed to a stop in front of her building.

  “Will you give me a call tomorrow?” Sunni asked before stepping out of the car. “I know you talked about us getting together this weekend, but maybe we can meet for dinner. You still have to eat, you know?”

  He nodded. “That’s fine.”

  Micah stepped out of the car and walked Sunni to the door of her home. He kissed her cheek before saying good-night.

  “It would’ve been,” Sunni responded with a wink. “But it’s your loss, honey. I would’ve rocked your world.”

  Micah chuckled. “I’m sure you would have.”

  She gave him a hug and then sauntered into the building, pausing briefly to speak to the man at the security desk.

  Micah returned to the waiting limo.

  Sunni was a nice girl and he enjoyed her companionship, but Micah had not fully opened his heart to another person since college. He didn’t relish the thought of going home to an empty bed but cared too much to use Sunni in that way. Micah knew he would never give her what she was looking for.

  One heartbreak was more than enough for him.

  Tamara entered Sylvia’s Restaurant looking for her Pi Beta Gamma soror, Kyra Dixon. She was running late for their lunch date due to a traffic accident on Washington Street S.W. near Memorial Drive.

  Kyra was already seated at a table when Tamara entered the restaurant. She waved to get her attention.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late,” Tamara stated as she sat down in the chair across from her friend. “Have you ordered yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  A waiter arrived minutes later prepared to take their orders.

  “So how was your sister’s wedding?” Kyra inquired after he left.

  “Beautiful,” Tamara responded with a smile. “My sister looked so happy and in love. It was very romantic.”

  “I guess the pressure’s on for you to get married, huh?”

  Tamara laughed. “Can you believe that my mother started in on me as soon as the service ended? We’re standing there posing for pictures and she’s asking me why I didn’t bring a date to the wedding. She asked me if there was anyone serious in my life.”

  Kyra chuckled. “What did you tell her?”

  “The truth,” Tamara stated. “That I don’t have a man and right now I’m not looking for one.” She changed the subject and said, “Homecoming is a couple months away. Time moved by fast.”

  “Are you planning to attend the cocktail party on Friday?”

  Tamara nodded. “I’ll be there. Chloe wants me to cover the event for Luster magazine. I’m also thinking about doing a story on the fact that the alumni got together and agreed to donate money to restore the original administration building and use it as staff offices instead of tearing it down.”

  “Sounds good,” Kyra said. “The school needs all the free press we can get.”

  The waiter returned, carrying a tray of food, which he set down on the table. Tamara blessed the food.

  She sampled her gumbo while Kyra cut into her chicken.

  “I’m actually looking forward to homecoming this year,” Tamara announced. She didn’t add that it was because Micah might be attending.

  “It’s going to be nice.” Kyra stuck a forkful of macaroni into her mouth. “I can’t wait. It’s always good to see old friends.”

  Tamara agreed.

  They continued making small talk as they finished off their meal.

  “I need to get back to work,” Tamara murmured, checking her watch when they were done eating.

  “I can’t believe how disciplined you are,” Kyra declared. “If I worked at home, I think I’d be doing everything else around the house instead of focusing on my job.”

  An easy smile played at the corners of her mouth. “I like getting paid.”

  “As if you need the money,” Kyra retorted with a chuckle. “Tamara, who are you trying to kid?”

  “My mother has money,” she corrected, pushing away from the table. “I don’t.”

  After paying the check, she and Kyra rose up and walked out of the restaurant.

  They paused at her car to hug.

  “It was so good to see you,” Tamara told her. “We should get together more often”

  Kyra agreed. “We need to do this again real soon, soror.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Tamara responded. “Talk to you later.”

  Tamara got into her car and drove the two miles to her home in midtown.

  The telephone rang as soon as she walked through the front door of her apartment.

  “Hello,” Tamara uttered.

  “Hey, this is Samantha.”

  Tamara broke into a smile when she heard her editor’s voice. They had recently discussed her becoming the features writer for the entertainment section.

  “How would you like to interview Justice Kane?” Samantha asked. “You would have to fly out to Los Angeles for his album release party.”

  “I’d love it,” she responded. Justice Kane was a performer signed to Micah’s record company, Ross Red. If she did a great job on the story, this would better her chances in getting the position.

  Tamara was sure that he would be attending the party so she considered this a sign. She would finally get that chance to m
end her friendship with Micah. She knew that he never married and had read about his relationship with the model.

  I had my chance and I blew it.

  Micah hadn’t only been her tutor but he’d been her friend—her best friend. They had spent a lot of time together. She and Micah used to attend the college football and basketball games together; there were times they went to the movies, clubs and even attended church together. Micah would even join Tamara on her visits to see her grandmother.

  “This has to be a sign,” she whispered.

  Tamara knew that wanting to see Micah again had so much more to do with the fact that she was still in love with him. She had tried for years to get Micah out of her system, but to no avail—he still owned her heart.

  She winced at the memory of how cruel she had been to Micah and desperately wanted the chance to explain why she had been so fearful of getting involved with him.

  She prayed that once they sat down and talked he would understand and find it in his heart to forgive her.

  Chapter 2

  Tamara wanted to share her good news with someone, so she called Kyra later that evening. “Hey, girl…you won’t believe where I’m going this weekend,” she said when her friend answered the phone.

  “Where?” Kyra questioned.

  “Los Angeles,” she announced. “I’m covering Justice Kane’s album release party. Luster magazine wants me to do a story on him. Can you believe it?”

  “That’s great,” Kyra responded with excitement. “Tamara, this is the kind of story you’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Hey, isn’t Justice Kane with Micah’s record company?”

  “That’s why I’m so excited,” Tamara told Kyra. “I’m hoping to reconnect with him. I really miss our friendship.”

  “We used to have some good times back in the day. I used to try and get you to party with us, but you wanted to stay home and read. The only time we could get you out was when Micah asked you. Why didn’t you two ever get together?” Kyra inquired. “I know you had feelings for him back then.”

  “Micah was my tutor and my friend,” Tamara stated. “That’s really all it was. I had too many issues for anything more.”

  “So you didn’t have any feelings for him?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Tamara answered. “Kyra, I was crazy about Micah, but the timing was all off and things just never worked out. You know how it goes.”

  “I always felt that something was bothering you,” Kyra said. “It was just a feeling though because you were always walking around with a smile and you seemed really happy…still, I felt there was something.”

  Tamara considered Kyra one of her best friends, and they were close, spent time together often, but there were things from her past that she never shared with anyone—including her soror.

  She had never told Kyra what happened between her and Micah on graduation night and decided against mentioning it now. Deep down, she didn’t want anyone to know just how gullible she’d been back then.

  “So what about now?”

  “Kyra, he’s seeing someone,” Tamara responded. “His relationship with Sunni has been plastered all over the tabloids and People magazine.” She tried to sound as neutral as possible.

  “Tamara, you know that you can’t believe everything you read in the tabloids. Micah says that he and that model are nothing but friends. At least that’s what he told Kevin.”

  Kyra’s words delighted Tamara. She silently prayed that her friend was right because the thought of Micah being involved in a serious relationship with another woman bothered her to the core.

  “Whatever their relationship, I hope she doesn’t trip if Micah and I grab a few minutes to sit down and talk when I get to Los Angeles,” Tamara said.

  “Tell him that I said hello when you see Micah,” Kyra responded. “I’m so proud of that boy. He came from the Greenwood projects, and look at him now. He left us back here in Atlanta and really made a success of his life. Now all he needs is the right woman to share it with.”

  Tamara had to hide her inner feelings as a sense of inadequacy swept over her. She thought about Kyra’s words and wondered if after all this time had passed if she had anything to offer Micah.

  Like everyone else, Tamara had her own share of past pain and trauma but she had worked past the betrayal of trust, discovered her wholeness, the experience shaping her in a way that no other has.

  She learned early on that along with happiness, life brought pain. Her grandmother had taught Tamara that in order to heal, she had to forgive and that forgiveness is essential as a means of personal transformation.

  Tamara still had seeds of unforgiveness rooted in her. She desired forgiveness, but until she could forgive she would never be completely free.

  She and Kyra stayed on the phone for almost an hour, talking about their college days and the upcoming Pi Beta Gamma fundraiser.

  After promising to get together soon, Tamara ended the call, then stood up and walked over to the window to stare out at the beautiful Atlanta skyline.

  “I miss you so much, Micah,” she whispered.

  Amused, Micah hung up the telephone, but not before Samantha, the editor of Luster magazine, thanked him for the fifth or sixth time during their conversation.

  He took a deep breath and tried to relax now that the initial part of his plan had succeeded.

  He and Tamara would finally come face-to-face again after ten years. Micah wasn’t sure how he would feel about seeing her again, so he decided that this meeting would have to happen in a place he could control. It would give him the upper hand.

  Micah called and arranged to have Tamara attend the party at the Vanguard Club in Beverly Hills. However, she would have to deal with him first before he allowed her access to Justice Kane.

  He wanted a glimpse of the woman Tamara had become, but he also wanted to settle an old score.

  His heart bore a permanent scar seared by her rejection. The fact that Micah still harbored deep feelings for Tamara only fueled his anger more. He struggled with loving her and knowing that she thought he wasn’t good enough for her.

  A few days ago, he typed in her name while online out of curiosity and found a photo of her on Luster magazine’s Web site. That’s when he came up with the idea for the interview and a way to get back at her.

  Tamara looked much younger than her thirty-two years and from the looks of it, wore her shoulder-length hair natural and without chemicals, the warm brown color complimenting her light chocolate complexion and hazel-green eyes.

  She’s still beautiful, he thought to himself.

  Micah forced himself to remember the way she had treated him. A computer science major in college, he was the quiet, shy geek who tutored Tamara in math during her freshman year—their friendship birthed out of the tutoring sessions.

  He had always thought Tamara was sweet, caring and felt extremely comfortable around her. Micah had even believed that she thought of him as more than a tutor. During their time in college, Micah never once saw signs of Tamara being a snob or elitist—she had always been down-to-earth.

  His mouth tightened as he thought about graduation night—the night that Micah made the mistake of confessing his feelings for her. He had even planned to propose marriage; however, he never got that far.

  Tamara rejected Micah, telling him directly that she would never date anyone like him. She didn’t need him to tutor her anymore. She had landed a job with the Atlanta Daily Journal so she had no more use for him.

  It was then that Micah realized he did not know her as well as he had initially thought. He never knew she held even the tiniest interest in writing. Micah knew that she kept a journal, but to him that did not necessarily mean she wanted to be a writer.

  It had come as a complete surprise when Tamara announced she was going to work as an entry-level journalist with the newspaper. Her degree was in business and not journalism.

  If they had been as close as Micah thought they were, why would she keep her
love for writing a secret? What else had she been keeping from him?

  Micah Ross was fine.

  Tamara laid a back issue of Ebony with Micah gracing the cover down on the chair beside her.

  She kept that issue on her coffee table since its release two years ago.

  Micah pretty much looked as he did back in college except that he no longer wore those black-framed glasses that Tamara used to think were so sexy on him.

  His skin was the color of dark chocolate, smooth and free of facial hair. Those dark brown eyes of his were so intense that she believed they could pierce through stone.

  Her heart raced at the prospect of seeing him again.

  “I’ve got to talk to you,” she whispered to his likeness on the magazine. “Micah, I feel bad about the things I said to you on graduation night. I really hope you’ll give me a chance to apologize and explain why I reacted that way.”

  I never should have listened to those other boys. I realize that now.

  The telephone rang.

  Tamara checked the caller ID before answering. “Hello, Mama.”

  “Sweetie, are you busy right now?”

  “No, what’s up?”

  “I’m here at Lexington’s Restaurant. Since it’s right down the street from your neighborhood, why don’t you come have dinner with me?”

  “Give me ten minutes,” Tamara told her. “I’ll be there.”

  “See you then,” Jillian stated.

  Tamara went into her bathroom to freshen up. She looked down at her jeans and decided on impulse to change clothes. Her mother would be dressed up—Jillian was always dressed in designer suits and expensive shoes.

  I’ve never seen my mother in a pair of jeans or a sweat suit, she thought with amusement. Dressing down for Jillian meant a pair of khakis or linen pants.

  Tamara changed into a black linen sundress, silver sandals and accessories. She knew that her mother would approve, as the dress was a gift from her.

  She arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes later.

  Her mother was already seated. Tamara almost turned around and left when she realized that her mother was not alone.