by J. Nichole
I nod my head, then turn back to my desk, trying hard not to lay my head down for a quick nap. Ten minutes is all I need right now.
Timmy continues talking about our next assignment. Although we completed our joint assignment we still bounce ideas off of each other. “I feel as though you are getting a kick out of me having zero energy. I can’t even keep up with everything you are saying right now.”
“Maybe this will help.” Isaiah walks up, places a cup on my desk, and smiles. “I should have asked you how you like your coffee.” He reaches into his pocket, placing creamer and sugar packets beside the cup. “But hopefully this will do.”
My eyes are wide as I stare up at Isaiah. I can’t think of a way to break it to him that I am not a coffee drinker. When I don’t reach for the cup, he looks at Timmy, then at me and says, “Let me guess … you don’t drink coffee?”
I smile, shaking my head. “I don’t. I’m more of a tea type of girl.”
Timmy grabs the cup and a pack of sugar. “Can’t let a good cup of coffee go to waste.” Isaiah shrugs his shoulders then looks back to me with his mouth downturned.
“Tea. I’ll remember that next time.” He turns to Timmy and says, “Enjoy the coffee.”
Before he gets too far away I say, “Thanks anyway, Isaiah.”
Timmy ogles me and huffs before pulling a seat up beside me. “Most girls would have just drunk the coffee and acted as if they liked it.” He takes a sip. “I’m willing to bet you are not interested in our chocolate dream.”
Timmy isn’t completely off in his assumption. Isaiah seems like a decent guy, and he is certainly easy on the eyes. I shrug at Timmy, avoiding eye contact.
"It's summer. A little fling won't hurt. Right?" Timmy takes another sip of his coffee. "You don't have to be serious with him."
Smiling at Timmy, I ask, “Are you ready for this presentation?”
Timmy leans back in his chair, laughing. “I get it. Stay out of your business.”
Timmy leaves my desk and I consider his suggestion of the summer fling with Isaiah. It wouldn’t be the worst thing I’ve done in my life, and a fling doesn’t mean I can’t date other guys. It’s virtually a win-win situation for me.
Except, I am still in love with Chris and I made a promise to Josh.
I have to find a hobby outside of this internship. On my way to lunch, I call Monica to check on her. Maybe she has something she needs to be done for her upcoming year in office.
“Laila!” Her voice sounds muffled but I can hear the excitement in her voice. “I miss you! What are you up to?”
“I’m on my lunch break now, but I was hoping you could help me.”
"Anything for you." I've always loved Monica. When she became my roommate in the dorms I was skeptical. She's younger and is a child prodigy. I just assumed she would be nerdy. But she's been everything but nerdy. She let me lead her junior class president campaign and she won. I wouldn't even be on this internship if it weren't for her.
“I’m hoping you have some busy work you need me to tackle before the year starts.”
Monica screeches and I move the phone away from my ear. “I have a list a few pages long of things I need to get done in between taking these summer classes.”
“Good.” Although I may be biting off more than I can chew, I welcome the distraction. “Hopefully it’s typed. Email it on over.”
I hear Monica clapping and then a ding on my phone. “It’s in your inbox!”
I laugh to myself. “I’ll review it and let you know if I need your input.”
“Thank you, Laila! I’m afraid to ask because I don’t want to lose your much-needed help on these tasks, but shouldn’t you be enjoying your summer? The internship isn’t keeping you busy enough?”
“I am enjoying my summer, and the internship keeps me busy during the day.” I hesitate before telling her anymore.
“But.” She’s just too sharp. “What are you trying to avoid?”
“There’s this guy I met.”
“Let me guess. You aren’t ready to date yet?”
“Spot on. And you would think you were the older, wiser one.”
“I get it, but let loose, have some fun. Besides, have you even heard from Chris?”
Hearing his name out loud makes me cringe. “No. I haven’ heard from him.”
She snickers. “Well fuck him then. Girl, have fun.”
Monica is right, at least about Chris. “Even if I decide to indulge this summer I don’t want to get too involved. I’m not trying to be heartbroken again.”
"Tell me about this mystery man, but make it quick, I am headed to class." Monica laughs and I can imagine her face lighting up.
“He’s cute and sweet, and an L.U. grad.” I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to see Isaiah with a goofy grin on his face. “Alright, Monica, have fun in class I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up the phone before she can ask for more details.
“I happen to be an L.U. grad.” Isaiah looks at me straight on and continues, “I think I can be sweet at times.” He grabs his chin and smiles. “A few girls have said I’m cute too.” He cocks his head. “Were you talking about me just now?”
I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "You know how many guys graduate from L.U.?" Isaiah looks at me with his brows furrowed. "I'm sure at least half of them are cute and sweet." My phone vibrates in my hand and I'm sure it's probably Monica, asking about my abrupt end to our conversation.
He nods his head. “Whoever it was you were talking about seems to have you all hot and bothered.” He touches my cheek and smiles. His soft touch does more than cool my cheeks. I pull away before I get too excited. “Sorry.” He puts his hand in his pocket and leans away from me.
“Don’t be sorry.” I look down at my feet. “What are you doing tonight?”
A young, blonde intern walks into the kitchen and grabs a soda from the refrigerator. She speaks to Isaiah and winks at him before leaving the kitchen. Isaiah shakes his head. “They seem chipper. All. The. Time.” I roll my eyes and think about each of the interns being overly excited about everything. “Tonight I’ll be at Little Gym with about twenty three-year-olds.”
My eyes bulge and I pause. “You have a kid?”
Isaiah laughs, a deep gut wrenching laugh. "Me?" He points at himself. "Definitely not."
"What other reason do you have to be at Little Gym?" I remember Tanya speaking about getting Ava signed up for different activities and Little Gym seemed like the best option. Of course, that could be my inner, wannabe gymnast speaking.
“I’m an awesome uncle and my sister is taking advantage of me being back home.” He eyes me for a minute and then says, “Did you want to do something tonight?”
“I was thinking maybe you wanted to go on a date.” I smile at him and can hardly control my nerves.
"Date? Now, who is being the optimist?"
I tap his arm then say, “I should get back to my desk.” On my way back, I type out a message to Monica.
Laila: This summer I’m having fun!
Chapter Three
“Uncle Ice.” Isaiah’s niece looks at him with her eyes wide and continues, “It’s time for the next one.” Isaiah grabs her hand and runs to the next station set up on the mat. I follow behind them, but his niece doesn’t seem too thrilled to have me tag along.
“Maybe I’ll just sit over there.” I move towards the group of chairs and take a seat.
Isaiah looks at me and mouths, “Sorry.” I shake my head and smile. Although this isn’t what I had in mind for tonight, at least I’m not in the room feeling bored.
Mindlessly, I scroll through my emails and review Monica’s task list. A text message pops up on my screen from Josh.
Josh: How’s your internship?
Laila: So far so good. How’s your job?
Waiting for Josh to reply, I look up at Isaiah, laughing with his niece, and I imagine how Josh would be with Ava. My twisted love life. I’m completely in love with Chris, but he broke up with me wi
thout a decent explanation. I’ve had a crush on Josh since high school, but he’s my best friend’s brother and our timing is always off. This is the first time we’ve both been single at the same time. And now I’m here with Isaiah, but… but nothing.
“We’re all done here. Ready to go?” Isaiah is smiling down at me with his niece wrapped around his neck.
I grab my purse and stand up. “Ready.” His niece smirks at me and seems to wrap her arms around his neck a bit tighter. I guess the only but with Isaiah is his jealous niece.
We walk out to the car, and after he gets his niece buckled in her car seat he opens my door and says, “There is still time for us to have some alone time tonight.”
I turn to him and say, “What do you have in mind Uncle Ice?” His niece taps on the window, interrupting our moment. I smirk and take a seat in the car as Isaiah moves to the driver’s side.
“Is mommy home now, Uncle Ice?”
Isaiah responds and tells his niece that she has to be a good girl to her mother. “Okay.” Her voice sounds deflated. Isaiah looks at me with a sneer on his face.
With my eyebrows raised, I whisper, “Your niece isn’t like the next problem child is she?”
He shrugs his shoulders and says, “I hear a lot about terrible two’s, not as much about three-nagers. She thinks she knows everything." I laugh at his emphasis on everything. From her behavior tonight I can believe his assessment.
I wait in the car while Isaiah walks his niece inside her home. I watch as she points at me when her mom opens the door. His sister’s face turns up and she nods her head at her daughter. Isaiah shakes his head before running back to the car.
“Did your sister sign you up for your next Little Gym session?” I look at him with a knowing look on my face.
"She wanted to meet you, but considering tonight is our first official date …” He pauses and looks at me, but I don’t respond. “I didn’t think it would be appropriate for you to meet my family.” He straightens in his seat. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression or anything. Drawing my name at work, with hearts, and running home telling your friends we are getting married and stuff.”
I double over in laughter and through tears in my eyes I look at him. “It’s too late. While you and your niece were going through the stations at the gym I already called home to mom and told her to book the pastor for our wedding.” We continue our banter until we arrive at the Town Center.
“Eating again?” I look around the town center and then to Isaiah. “I’m going to get fat hanging with you.”
“You. Fat?” He looks at me, but his eyes linger a little too long on my chest and I feel myself blush. “Not enough food in Jacksonville to make that happen.”
“Well. Thank you.” I wring my fingers around a few times. “What are we doing?”
“Movies. Not sure what’s out now, but you can pick.”
After sitting down in the theater, Isaiah wraps his arm around my shoulder. I inch in closer and hush him as he tries to whisper in my ear after the previews end. Isaiah acts interested in the romantic comedy, but when I catch him staring at me for the fourth time, I insist we leave.
“No, what type of date would this be if we skipped out?” He smiles at me, then taps my nose. “Don’t get us kicked out,” he whispers. I smirk at him as I look around at the empty theater. He looks at the old couple a few rows in front of us and says, “They look like they’d go straight to management.”
After the movie, Isaiah takes me to the dorm that I’m staying in for the summer. When he puts the car in park, I thank him for taking me out. “I was skeptical at first. Your niece is a hard act to follow.”
He grins widely and says, “Yeah, she does have me wrapped around her finger.” He licks his lips and my heart flutters. “I hope we can have a second official date.”
“Certainly. From what I hear there are a few other attractions to see in Jacksonville. I wouldn’t mind you showing me.”
He nods his head and then stares at me as he leans in closer. I close my eyes as I anticipate a kiss. Someone knocking on the window causes me to jump, and Isaiah looks wide-eyed at the passenger window. I turn around to see Timmy waving and signaling for me to roll the window down.
I roll the window down and try not to sound irritated. “I hope I’m not interrupting.” He hunches his shoulders when neither of us responds. “Saw you all sitting here and wanted to catch you before you tucked in for the night.” Timmy stands, unmoving, and I can’t help but laugh.
Isaiah looks at me and says, “At least let me open the door for you.” He walks around the car, and Timmy moves aside to allow him to open my door. Isiah gives me a tight squeeze. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I tell him, “Good night.” After Isiah leaves, I grab Timmy by the arm and we move along to the dorm entrance. “What was that all about?” I look up at him with my hand on my hip and my eyebrows creased.
“What?” Timmy looks down at me with a grin on his face.
I cock my head to the side and wait for him to give me a better response.
He waves his hand in the air and says, “Oh now you are interested in our chocolate Zeus.” He pouts his lips. “Does that mean I won’t be getting a nice cup of coffee in the morning?”
“Not unless you’re buying it.” I chuckle to myself. “I’m taking your advice. It’s only the summer. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts.”
Timmy nods his head and throws his hand out for a high-five. "That's what I'm talking about. Live it up, Laila." He wraps his arm around my neck and we walk side by side until I reach my room. "So give me the details."
Shaking my head, I unlock my door but don't invite him into the room. "Not tonight sir. First thing in the morning. I promise."
He sighs heavily and walks away. “Good night, Laila.”
I finally look at my phone after tucking it low in my purse earlier when I was texting Josh.
Josh: Job is going well. Just not sure if this being back home thing is going to work.
Josh: How’s Jacksonville. Missing me yet?
Josh: You’re still coming home for the concert, right?
Josh: Laila, you there?
It's almost eleven. Hopefully, Josh is still awake.
Laila: Sorry about that, I was out and didn’t look at my phone.
Laila: I still plan on coming for the concert.
My phone rings, and of course it’s Josh. “Don’t you have to be at work early in the morning?” Something about his voice makes me smile deep inside.
"Not early, but I should probably get to bed soon. What about you? Shouldn't you be counting sheep?"
“I think I was mid-dream when a stream of texts started rolling in. I don’t think I could have typed out a good reply quick enough to make them stop.” I can hear his smile through the phone and I can imagine his deep dimple sinking in.
"Ah, so you are half-asleep now? What type of truths can I get you to divulge?" I laugh, thinking about what I could ask him. I'd like to know if he is still waiting around for me or if he is enjoying his summer, as I am.
“I’d tell you the truth wide awake.” He pauses for a minute and I think he is falling asleep.
“Josh, you still there? I should probably let you get back to sleep.”
He perks up and says, "No, I was waiting for you to ask me a question." I hear shuffling in the background. "But only if I can ask you one in return."
"That's only fair, right?" I lie on my bed and contemplate asking him a serious question when I'm not sure if I would want to know the truth. "Alright, are you dating anyone?"
“You already know the answer to that question.”
Do I?
"But since you asked I'll ease your mind. I'm not dating anyone. I'm still waiting for you to get over your ex."
I feel relieved that he isn't dating anyone but super guilty that I am. I wait for him to ask his question and I sense him hesitate. Probably for the same reason. He doesn't want to hear the truth.
>
“And what had you out so late tonight? Or shall I say, who had you out so late tonight?”
I cringe, but as promised, I tell him the truth. “I was out on a date.”
“I guess it’s true what they say, ‘truth hurts.’”
The truth felt horrible coming out of my mouth, and I'm sure it hurt him hearing it.
“Is it serious?” he asks. “I don’t want to wait around if you don’t ever plan on giving us a shot.”
“It’s not serious. I don’t want you to be my rebound guy. When we give it a shot I want my heart to be ready.”
“At least you said when. We should both get some sleep. Call me this weekend?”
I promise to call him this weekend. Although I should crawl under the covers, I lie awake, wishing my roommates were here to offer some advice. Monica would probably tell me to stop playing with Josh, Jennifer would probably tell me to have fun and stop worrying about the guys’ feelings. Nicole, I don’t know what Nicole would say. She hasn’t had a good track history in the love department.
Instead of guessing, I give Nicole a call. “What’s up chick? You sleep?”
Nicole laughs and says, “You’re the only responsible one this summer. Well, you and Monica.”
“If you aren’t asleep what are you up to this late at night?”
“I don’t think you want to know.” A male’s voice echoes in the background. “But what are you doing up?”
“I had a date tonight.”
“A date with who?” The male’s voice gets closer to the phone.
"Alright, I'm going to make this quick for you. Obviously, you're busy." I laugh at the guy in the background attempting to whisper something to Nicole about her panties. "I went out on a date with a guy, but I talked to Josh after, and I feel guilty about the date. I need some advice."
“You’re still in love with Chris. Want to give Josh a try, but this new guy is closing in on you.” She summed that up pretty well. “I say you chill out and let your heart mend.”
My mouth falls open. That’s the last thing I expected Nicole to say. “Let my heart mend?” I move the phone to look at the display to make sure I’m still on the phone with Nicole.