by J. Nichole
Nick walks through the door, and my nerves calm down. I run up to Nick and he wraps both arms around me, lifting me off the ground as he hugs me. Chris walks out of the kitchen and Nick puts me down. He walks up to Chris and shakes his hand, “How you doing, man?”
“Not too bad, but I may gain a few pounds from all this great food your mom and sister put together.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about my sister.” Nick glances back at me. “But my mom could compete with the best of ‘em.” Nick walks towards the living room. “Chris, you a football fan?”
Chris follows behind Nick and says, “Sure am. Not a fan of any of the teams playing today, but I love a good game.”
Chris and Nick relax in the living room and I finish setting the table. My dad walks by a few times, carrying different odds and ends. I can hear him mumble to himself, and I try not to laugh at him. Each time he enters the kitchen I hear my mom ask him for something else. The doorbell rings again and this time I walk over to answer it.
The Jones’ are finally here, Mr. and Mrs., Tanya, and Ava. I greet each of them with a hug and they walk into the house. After I hug Tanya and take Ava from her I close the door and Tanya stops me. “Oh Josh is on his way in, he had to grab a bag out of the car for my mom.” I try to act calm and wait at the door for Josh.
Ava plays with my face as I coo at her. Josh walks up and says, “She likes you.” He leans down to give me a hug and I pat his back then close the door.
Tanya walks back over to me and reaches for Ava. She looks towards the living room and laughs. “It looks like Nick likes Chris much more than he liked Travis.” She looks back at me with a grin. “Could you imagine them watching football together?”
I laugh at the thought. Nick hated everything about Travis. Nick enforcing the law and Travis breaking the law … they couldn’t be any less alike.
My mom emerges from the kitchen and announces dinner is ready. My mom stands at the head of the table and directs us all to our seats. Chris is to my right, and Tanya to the left with Ava bouncing on her knee. Josh is sitting opposite Tanya, but can hardly keep his eyes off of me.
My father clears his throat and says, “Thank you all for being here today. Please bow your heads.” I bow my head and close my eyes, and Chris grabs my hand. “Dear God…” I slightly open my eyes and peek at Josh who has his eyes glaring open. When he sees me looking, he smiles, showing all of his front teeth. Chris squeezes my hand as my father says, “Amen.”
I catch up with Tanya as I stuff my mouth with turkey. The guys discuss sports. Josh dishes out his stats from the season. Chris is fully engaged, leaning in over the table to hear Josh over Ava’s giggling.
When we clear the table, Ava wriggles out of Tanya’s arms and reaches towards me. I think she wants me until she whines when I try to pick her up. Chris looks down at her and she smiles. “I think she wants you.” I lean back so Chris can pick her up.
Mrs. Jones helps my mother set platters of dessert on the table. As I scoop banana pudding into my bowl Josh casually says, “I graduate next semester, Laila.” With all attention on me he continues, “I’d love it if you could come up.”
Chris stops playing with Ava and glances at me, anticipating my response. I finish my spoonful of pudding before responding. “I may be able to make that. Send me the details when you have them.” Chris coughs then continues playing with Ava.
Tanya leans over and whispers, “He’s good with her.”
The Jones’ don’t linger too long after dinner. Ava is long overdue for a nap and our mothers have early morning plans for shopping. Before leaving out, Josh reminds me of his graduation and leans in for a hug that I cut short with a pat on his arm.
I promise Chris we will escape the family as soon as the house is back in order. Instead of returning to the living room with my dad and brother, he scurries behind me, helping me clean up. I laugh and whisper to him, “Need some alone time, huh?”
He looks around before licking his lips and saying, “More than you will ever understand.”
Once the final fork is washed, I hug Nick tightly and make plans to see him before we head back to L.U. on Sunday. Chris and I head out to the car and before he can insist on driving, I jump in the driver’s seat. Reluctantly he climbs into the passenger side.
“The boardwalk should be fairly empty right about now.”
Chris looks over at me and says, “Right about now we can have an audience as long as it’s not your parents.” He pauses then continues, “Or Nick.”
“Audience?” I arch my brow. “You plan on putting on a show?”
Chris reaches over and places his hand between my thighs and squeezes. “With all this pinned up energy I have, I will have you singing my name.” My body reacts to his touch and the desire I hear in his voice. I roll down the window to let in the cool ocean breeze.
Chris begins to rub circles through my pants sending tingles through my sex. My lips part as I release a soft moan. He begins rubbing faster, and then he leans over and plants a kiss on my neck. He sits back in his seat as we approach the bridge but he doesn’t end the invasion between my thighs.
“I like your family, and your friends.” I mumble an inaudible response. “I think you should come home with me over Christmas.” I’m shocked at the offer. When inviting Chris for Thanksgiving I didn’t expect reciprocity. The thought of spending a long weekend without him was unbearable and bringing him home was for selfish gain. “You could probably come home for a couple of days then come up to Tennessee with me for the rest of the break.”
My hormones were already racing but now my heart is outpacing the throbbing between my thighs. I pull into the first parking spot I find at the boardwalk. Without observing our surroundings I climb over the center console and straddle Chris. I take hold of his face with both hands and our mouths collide violently, our tongues trying to find a rhythm.
His hands are resting on my hips and my urge to have him deep inside of me is overwhelming. I fumble with his belt, and then his zipper. His manhood falls into my hand and before I can continue, Chris moves my hand. He pulls away from my kiss and his head falls back against the seat. “I forgot the condoms in my bag at the house.”
My eyes narrow and I groan. I climb back into the driver’s seat. Defeated, I avoid eye contact as I say, “Always the responsible one.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Finals are next week. What do you mean you don’t have time to study?” I look across the table to Danielle, who hasn’t looked up from her notes since we started.
Jason continues his excuse as I roll my eyes. “Alright, well, if you can get over here before the night is over we can give you your sections.” I hang up the phone and go back to highlighting my study guide.
“Jason doesn’t take school seriously.” Danielle starts softly. “I can’t afford to mess up this opportunity to get a degree.” She looks up from her books.
“I’m in the same boat. If I fail any of my classes I’m sure my parents will cut me off.” My mom may be forgiving, but my dad with his perspective on money and spending would surely be sure I suffered for being wasteful.
Danielle’s face sours and she looks away. “My parents can’t afford to send me money. I worked hard to receive several scholarships to cover my expenses.” She taps her fingers on the table. “If I lose those, I’m back at home. I’ll be a disappointment to my entire family. I’m the first to go to college.” She looks at me with tears forming in her eyes.
I look at her in amazement. God has an amazing way of reminding me how fortunate I am. I take for granted the fact that my parents can send me money. "You're amazing, Danielle. I'm sure you are going to make your family proud."
Danielle blinks away her tears and a tiny smile crosses her face. “I appreciate that Laila.” She grabs her pen and turns a few pages in her tattered book. “Tonight is going to be a long night. Especially if Jason doesn’t show up to claim his sections.”
“Right, we better get back to it.”<
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After a stack of notecards, pages of notes, and fumbled responses to Danielle’s questions, we call it a night. Leaving the library, Danielle asks, “Whatever happened to that professor?”
I look at her with wide eyes. “What happened to what professor?”
“The one you wrote the article about.”
“Oh, Professor Douglas.” How could I forget about Professor Douglas? “Forgive me, after that long study session my mind is mush.” I tighten my jacket around my chest. Late at night is about the only time we get a break from the humidity and the chill remaining confirms our pathetic winter has arrived. “He isn’t on campus anymore and the cases against him are innumerable.” Danielle’s mouth drops.
"Yeah, it's surprising, to say the least." We reach my car and I wave to Danielle. "I'll see you tomorrow night."
She says, “Same place and time.”
My phone dings a few times before I can fully exit the parking lot. Messages from my roommates fly in, and the first I read is from Nicole.
Nicole: That crazy bitch!
I scroll through similar messages from Monica and Jennifer before I call Monica to get more details. “What’s going on?”
“We had a visit from your stalker.” I hear Nicole and Jennifer yelling in the background. “She egged our front door and drew your name in ketchup on the doormat.”
I pull into a parking spot as I continue the conversation. “How do you know it was her?”
Jennifer yells in the background, “Who else would do some crazy shit like that.”
Monica sighs. "Well, your name was also crossed out. Unless you have more enemies we don't know about seems that it has to be Courtney." The noise in the background dulls. "Okay, those two are plotting all types of revenge. Seriously though, Laila, do you think we should get the cops involved?"
“Give me a minute and I’ll call you right back.” I hang up with Monica. Staring at my phone I begin a text message to Chris, then erase it. I then click his name to call him.
“Hey, babe.” Chris has been pulling late nights since we’ve been back from Thanksgiving. He’s snuck me into his schedule when he can, but we’ve both been busy preparing for the end of the semester.
“Courtney is at it again. She egged our door and drew on our doormat.” Before Chris can react I continue. “What does she expect to gain from all of this?”
“Laila, I’m not a fan of the wait and see approach you seem to be taking.” My approach avoids getting his mother involved before I’ve had the opportunity to get to know her. After she swooped in to help last year I felt like a burden on her.
“I agree, I should reconsider, but I’d prefer to call the cops not your mother.”
“I don’t care if you call the cops, just get someone involved.” Chris huffs. “I swear if I knew ol’ girl was this crazy I would have never stepped to her.”
Even with our schedules, I’d rather be in Chris’ arms instead of heading home to the chaos that my roommates are sure to surround me with. “Can I come by?”
“I wouldn’t be good company babe. I need to finish up these papers.”
I sigh but don’t let Chris know I’m disappointed. “Alright, get back to it. Love you.”
“I love you too, Laila. Let me know what you decide to do.”
I have to stand back from the door to avoid stepping in the ketchup on the doormat. The girls are sitting in the living room looking like they’ve been plotting world domination. I don’t meet anyone’s eyes as I apologize profusely for having them in this mess. “I’m so sorry.” I walk to the kitchen to gather cleaning supplies.
Nicole joins me in the kitchen. “We have all types of plots planned for revenge.” She grabs my hand. “But none of it makes sense. What if her revenge is worse, or she tries to hurt you?” I meet Nicole’s eyes and the sincerity I see is astonishing. Nicole isn’t the one to be levelheaded.
“Alright, let’s call the cops before I clean the door.”
The cops arrive and after describing the events that transpired over the past year, they take pictures of the door.
After handing me a police report, the young cop looks at me and says, “Listen. There isn’t much we can do unless you want to file a restraining order. We see all types of jealous ex stories. I can’t say any of this is normal, but it certainly isn’t out of the ordinary.” He looks to the girls who are hanging on each of his words. “I suggest you do not interact with her if she appears, but if she continues to harass you call us immediately.” He smiles, and exits as the girls ogle him.
I shrug my shoulders as I close the door behind him. “At least I called.”
Nicole falls back on the couch. “And thank you for that. That man right there was perfection. Did you see those deep dimples, his smooth skin?” She closes her eyes. “And the way his muscles bulged out of his uniform.”
I laugh at her. "I don't think I noticed all of that. I was busy listening to what he had to say about crazy exes."
“I was waiting for you to pounce on him.” Monica grins at Nicole. "You know we don't have the same taste in men. I don't know if you have a type, but he was universally sexy."
Nicole interrupts Monica. “I have a type. Sexy. That’s the only criteria.” Her smile disappears. “But he had me speechless.”
Jennifer adds her two cents. “I’ll have someone to penetrate my dreams tonight.”
“I’m glad you all found him attractive, but I hope he doesn’t have to come back. Ever.”
Nicole looks to the paper in my hand. “Maybe not for Courtney. But I’m sure I can find a purpose for his handcuffs.” We all laugh at Nicole. “I’ll just borrow his number from you.”
I place the paper on the counter and grab my supplies. “Better clean the egg before it dries.” Jennifer and Nicole look to me then disperse from the living room.
Monica stretches her arms. “It’s getting late. I better get to bed.”
I pout my lips but don’t complain. After all it’s my mess to clean up.
“I just turned in my last paper. Where are you?” Chris’ voice is laced with excitement. I wish I could be as excited but I still have one last exam to take before my vacation can begin.
“Where I’ve been for the past week. This damn library.” My response came out more direct than I intended.
“When is your last exam?”
I look at my watch and exhale. “In two hours.” Fortunately, I finished my economics exam with no help from Jason. But because I couldn’t put as much time into my other classes I’m nervous about this exam. “Can I call you when I finish?”
“What building is it in?”
“The Journalism building.” I shuffle my notecards again. If I knew I could focus with Chris in my space I would invite him to quiz me on the material, but that wouldn’t be productive.
“Alright. Good luck.”
With my study guide in my hands, I walk into the Journalism building. With my head down while reading, I walk to the classroom without looking up.
“Ready for your test?” I look up and avoid bumping into Professor King. She smiles, cautioning me to watch where I’m going. “I’m sure you’ll do fine, Laila. Take a minute to breathe a bit before you start the test.”
Taking her advice, I slide my study guide into my bag and inhale a deep breath. “Thanks, Professor King.”
“If you have time can you stop by my office before you leave the building?”
“Sure. I’ll see you when my test is over.” She steps out of my way and I continue to my classroom.
The professor lays the papers on my desk and I say a silent prayer. My heartbeat quickens as he gives us instructions about the test and final grades. Before he lets us begin he wishes us well in the journalism program and tells us he enjoyed having us in his class this semester. When I turn the test over, I begin reading the first question and my nerves are calmed as I recall the answer from my notecard.
I text Chris on my way to Professor Kings’ office.
Lai
la: I’m done!
I stuff my phone in my purse, and then I knock on the office door. “Come in.”
Professor King stands up from her desk and sits on a couch that I hadn't noticed on my previous trip to her office. She pats the seat next to her and says, "Sit with me?"
I sit beside her and wring my fingers together. Something about this visit doesn’t seem right. “Is everything okay?”
She stares at me, then bites her lip. “I won’t beat around the bush, Laila. As I said before, I know you had a good relationship with Dr. Douglas.” I narrow my eyes at her. She blurts out, “He’s sick,” then averts her gaze from me to the door.
Obviously he’s sick. What kind of man can abuse his position to get his rocks off? I nod my head at Professor King.
“Wrong choice of words. His health is failing.” As she continues to tell me about his condition I remember him telling me he wasn’t doing well. The current circumstances don’t allow me to sympathize with him, but then I was concerned. “Just thought you should know, in case you wanted to visit him.”
I snap my head in her direction. “Visit him? After everything that has been divulged about his behavior?” I shake my head. “Probably not a good idea.”
Professor King stands. “I understand.” She removes her glasses and I see her eyes are moist.
“Through everything, I have been trying to remember the man he was to me. And that man who earned my respect, as a colleague, is the man I choose to remember. I empathize with the girls who have come forward.” She shrugs. “But I am a forgiving person.”
I stand beside her, and before walking out I say, “One day I hope to be more like you.”
Walking past Dr. Douglas’ office, I stop and look in the empty space. “You alright?” I look up at Chris, staring down at me intently.
“How’d you know where I was?”
“You told me what building you were in, and when you said you were done I was waiting for you outside but decided to come in when you took a while.” He looks into the office. “This was his office, right?”