by J. Nichole
The DJ switches it up and plays a line song. I ditch my dance partner and join the girls. We laugh through the song as Monica dances over her own feet. Jennifer tries to teach her the steps as we keep up with the crowd.
Monica throws her hands in the air when the song finishes and says, “I think my feet need a break.” I follow her to a nearby table.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around. Courtney is grinning from ear to ear. “Glad you finally got the message and moved on.”
Curse words sit on my tongue but I decide that this interaction will go smoother if I just keep it simple. “Guess you got what you wanted. Maybe you’ll move on now.”
She smirks. “I can leave you alone. As long as you stay out of our way.”
She turns, but before she walks away I say, “Our?”
She spins around with a wide smile on her face. "Chris came running back as soon as he broke up with you." She walks away and I feel my stomach turning and tears burning my eyes.
Monica grabs my hand. “Enough fun for one night. We should get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
From my goodbyes to the girls to our arrival in North Carolina my thoughts have been a blur. I’ve typed and cleared countless texts to Chris. I can’t find a single reason why he would go back to Courtney.
“Laila, I’m glad you’ll be doing an actual internship this summer.” My father’s voice breaks through my mindless thinking and I erase another text I started for Chris. I am excited that Monica’s connections came through but I’m not as excited about the location. Jacksonville for the summer without anyone I know.
“Yeah dad, it should be a good experience.” My lack of enthusiasm causes my dad to start one of his lectures about money and a career and I look out the window as we pull up to the stadium. Blue and gold adorn the stadium, and as the people pile in, I think about Chris’ graduation last year. Tears threaten to fall but I take a deep breath and step out of the car before my parents notice my mood.
“I’m glad you are here, and I’m sure Josh will be overjoyed to see you after he walks across that stage.” My mom smiles as she pats my back.
Josh has already sent a few suggestive text messages to me this morning. He’ll be lucky if he can cross the stage without a hard dick. I smile at the thought of him shaking hands trying to hide his bulging manhood.
Tanya and I take turns occupying Ava. Tanya passes me a few side-glances throughout the ceremony. We haven’t made nice since her return from spring break.
Tanya leans over and whispers, “I heard you have been chatting it up with Josh lately.” She rocks Ava to keep her from crying. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Too soon?”
She rolls her eyes at me and sighs. "Obviously he's your rebound guy. But you know he likes you."
My mom cuts her eyes in our direction and I lower my voice. “He’s not my rebound guy, Tanya. I’m not over Chris yet. But I’ve always liked Josh. You know that.”
We meet Josh in the front of the stadium after the ceremony and I stay back as his family surrounds him. He hugs his grandmother then makes his way towards me. Wrapping his arms around me, he picks me up off my feet and says, “Thanks for being here.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it.” I’m tempted to kiss him on his cheek but I see everyone watching.
He puts me on the ground, and turning to everyone, he says, “I have to get out of this gown. I’ll meet y’all at the restaurant.” Looking at me, he says, “You can ride with me if you want.”
Tanya speaks up and says, “I want to see your place too, Josh, can I ride?” His mother offers to take Ava to the restaurant and everyone separates. Josh describes the campus as we drive to his apartment. He doesn’t resist bragging about their facilities, professors, and students.
Tanya says, “I haven’t told mom and dad yet, but I think I’m going to come to A&T in the fall.”
In unison, Josh and I say, “What?”
“Obviously my two years are up and I have to move on to a university.” She looks at me, then away, and says, “L.U. is my alternative, but I think you’ve convinced me that A&T is a good choice.”
“Think mom and dad will want you that far away from Ava?” Between Tanya and Randy’s parents, Ava will have plenty of caregivers, but I thought Tanya would want to be nearby.
“I don’t think they would mind as much if they knew I was coming here.”
“I’d be happy if you picked A&T over L.U., but wasn’t it always in your plans to be at L.U. with Laila.” Josh smiles at Tanya. I’m sure he can sense the tension between us.
She ignores the question as we pull up to Josh’s apartment. Josh leads us to his door, and Tanya and I sit on his couch as he changes in his bedroom.
“Tanya, listen, I’m sorry that I left you hanging in Miami. I’m also sorry that your brother was home while I was there. It’s not my intention to hurt him. He has been a great distraction from my heartbreak.”
Tanya puts her hand in the air to stop my rant. “I’m cool about Miami. I’m sorry Chris broke your heart.” She looks towards Josh’s door and continues, “I just don’t want to see my brother hurt. Both of you should move slowly.” She smiles. “Believe me I’ve told him the same.”
I reach over and hug her. “I promise.” I slap her arm and say, “But A&T over L.U.? For real?”
Josh walks out and says, “Aw looks like the two of you have made up.” He winks at his sister. “Now can you stop blocking?”
After Josh's dinner he walks me back to my parents' car. "How about I take you to dinner in Fort Walton? How long will you be in town before your internship starts?"
“I’ll be in town for two weeks, and I’d like to go out to dinner with you before I leave.” I glance at my parents waiting in the car and although they are acting like they aren’t watching I know their eyes are on us. I reach up and give Josh a quick hug and he kisses my cheek.
“Thanks again for coming to A&T I know it had to be hard for you to step on enemy territory.” He laughs and opens the door for me. Leaning in he says, “Thank you both for coming to my graduation.” My parents look back at him. “Thank you for the gifts too. I’ll put the gift card to good use.” They say congrats again and we are on the road back to Florida.
“Hello, Laila?” The man’s voice sounds familiar. “This is Bryan.” I run through my memory, trying to recall any guys named Bryan. Just as I remember he says, “Chris’ brother.”
"Hey, Bryan. Is everything okay?" I take a seat on my bed, taking a break from unpacking my luggage.
“Oh, yeah. I know Chris and you aren’t together right now.”
“Right now? Unless you know something I don’t, Chris and I are done.”
"Chris didn't tell us what happened. But I know whatever it is it's eating him up. We were hoping we could see you this weekend. I was calling to let you know his dinner will be at Marie Livingston's tonight."
"I'm not in Tallahassee. I came home last weekend."
“Damn. Listen, David and I are helping him drive his furniture back to Tennessee tomorrow. If I remember correctly your house is on our way.”
Before Bryan can suggest anything, I interrupt him. "Maybe you should ask Chris what his deal is because I honestly don't know. I heard he was back with Courtney."
Bryan laughs, then apologizes. “I highly doubt that, Laila. He can’t stand that girl, and after all she has pulled I doubt they are together.”
Bryan sounds like he knows more about Chris' past with Courtney than I do. "What exactly happened to them?"
"Something about a faked pregnancy, and just pure crazy." He sighs. "My mother would have a fit if he was bold enough to get back with her. Especially after how Courtney threatened you." He pauses as if the story is finally coming together. "I'll ask him what's going on." Bryan asks me to consider seeing them, and then we hang up.
For a few minutes I consider meeting up with Chris but then I put those thoughts out of my head when I remember th
e day he broke up with me.
Stepping over my luggage, I rummage through my closet for an outfit for tonight’s dinner with Josh. My phone dings with a text message.
Josh: I’ll be there in an hour.
Laila: see you soon.
I grab a black maxi dress and head for the shower. My mom stops me before I close the bathroom door. “Hey sweetheart, we are headed out.” A look of concern crosses her face and she asks, “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m going out to dinner with Josh tonight.” I would expect her to smile at the sound of his name, but she frowns.
“You know Laila, at first when I heard about you taking the internship in Jacksonville I was sad that you wouldn’t be home with us for the summer. But now I think it will be best for you to be away from both school and home. Maybe have time to enjoy yourself.” Her eyes glisten as her lips curl into a smile. “Enjoy being single.”
I nod my head in agreement. “I think you’re right mom. I will take this summer to enjoy being single.”
She reaches her arms out and I walk into them, resting my head on her shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Laila. Two years down, two more to go.” She kisses my forehead and releases me from her embrace. “Have fun tonight.”
The doorbell rings and I check my hair one last time before answering. When the door swings open, the butterflies that were dancing in my stomach are put to rest. We stare at each other for a minute before Josh reaches out his arm and says, “Let’s go beautiful.”
The restaurant is packed with couples waiting in the foyer to be seated. We approach the hostess stand, and I’m happy he called in a reservation.
“You only have a week here before you leave, right?” Josh asks.
Between bites I respond, “Yeah, then off to Jacksonville.”
Thinking about his next words, he places his fork down. "I hope you don't have many plans. I don't start my job for a few weeks and I want to make the most out of this week before you leave."
“What do you have in mind?” Hiding my smile, I continue eating.
"Eating, the beach, go-kart racing." He pauses, cocking his eyebrow. "Remember the festival we went to summer before last?"
How could I forget? That was the weekend Tanya lost her virginity to Devon. “I do.”
“Think you’d be able to come home to accompany me this year?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Instead of walking back to the car Josh holds my hand and guides us to the beach. A cool breeze is blowing off the ocean and my body shivers. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, tucking me close into his body.
We find a pavilion to sit under, and we sit, looking out at the ocean. “I never realize how much I miss the beach until I’m back here.”
Josh rubs his hands up my arm, warming me with his touch. “Funny how that works. You don’t realize how much you miss something until you either lose it or are reconnected with it.”
Josh tells me about his last year at A&T and we laugh about his teammate’s infatuation with Nicole. Apparently, he still asks about her on occasion.
Dusk turns into dark skies and the moon casts a beautiful shadow over the ocean. The chill in the air is brisker, and I lean into Josh for warmth.
“When you graduate do you think you’ll move back to good ol’ Fort Walton Beach?”
Looking up at him I say, “I haven’t put much thought into it, but it’s always an alternative.”
“I didn’t think I’d be back here.”
“If you could be anywhere else where would you be?”
“At this moment there isn’t anywhere else in this world I’d rather be.”
We make eye contact and Josh leans in for a kiss. His lips are softer than I imagined, much softer than Chris’ lips, but our tongues struggle to find a rhythm and our teeth clank against each other. I laugh under my breath then reach behind his head and deepen the kiss.
He turns his body towards me and the kiss becomes well tuned our tongues creating a rhythm unique to us.
When we come up for air I say, “That was more than I expected and all I needed.”
“I’ve been waiting on that kiss for a while now.” Josh's lids are heavy and he leans in for another kiss but I lean away from him.
“Josh, I can't. I'm not over Chris, and this.” I point between us. “Deserves to be right. We've always had bad timing and I don't want to rush into it before I'm ready.”
Josh looks away and when he looks back at me the lust in his eyes is replaced by hurt. He reaches for my hand and I allow him to hold on for as long as he needs. “Promise me one thing. If you and Chris don't work out you will give us.” He points between us. “A chance before dating anyone else.”
I mouth, “I promise.” He leans in and pecks my lips then pulls away before the peck can become anything more. Our hands remain clasped as we sit and listen to the waves.
Summer Fling
Love 101
By J. Nichole
Not the Last Page
www.notthelastpage.com
To my college years, and the friends who helped to make those years memorable. To my alma mater, I’ll forever love thee!
Chapter One
In a room of more than twenty interns, I’m the one and only black girl. There's a black male across the room. At second glance, he's brown. Maybe Hispanic. The intern coordinator is explaining our assignments for the first week, but listening to her is challenging.
Going to L.U. has spoiled me with the pleasure of being surrounded by blacks of every shade. “If you have any questions you can email or call me.” The intern coordinator flips her blonde hair over her shoulder and walks around the room, passing out our instructions.
“She didn’t mention anything about extra-curricular activities.” The guy sitting beside me sits back and smacks his lips. “All work and no play makes for a cranky Timmy.”
I look at him and smile. His sandy brown hair is combed to the side, and his skin is damn near perfect. He's sitting with a straight back and his legs crossed at the ankles. "At least it's only an eight-week internship."
He fans his hand in the air and says, "Eight weeks of hell if she expects us only to work." He reaches for my hand. "I'm Timmy. What's your name?"
I shake his hand and say, “I’m Laila. Laila Jackson. Nice to meet you.”
We receive our packets and flip them open. Scanning through the instructions, I realize we need a partner for the first assignment. Neither my job last summer nor writing for the school paper required partnering with anyone. This should be interesting.
Timmy taps my shoulder, grabbing my attention. “Partner?”
Why not? If nothing else, he will make this entertaining. “Sure. Where do you sit?”
The intern coordinator dismisses us, and Timmy tells me to follow him. His desk is on the opposite side of the building. The building has a few floors and more than three-hundred people working here. In the first couple of days, I’ve met the few people who sit around me, but I don’t expect to meet many of the employees here.
Timmy speaks to a few people in passing, addressing them by their first names. He looks at me and says, “What’s your story, Laila? If we are going to be partners, we might as well get acquainted.” He points to his desk and grabs a chair, placing it next to his.
“I just finished my sophomore year at Lee University.” His face lights up and he looks around the corner.
“Do you know that fine man that works here? I met him the other day.” He rolls his eyes up as he thinks. “I think his name is Isaiah.”
I chuckle and say, “Fine man?”
Timmy smacks his lips. “Girl, as if you didn’t know.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I smile coyly. “I don’t know an Isaiah. Does he go to L.U.?”
“I think he said something like that.” Timmy types his password into his desktop, then looks at me. “What else should I know about Ms. Jackson? Are you single?”
"As a matter of fact, I am. What about you Timmy?"
/>
“I’m single and ready to mingle. Oh, and I’ll be a senior next year at University of Florida.”
We discuss our assignment, which is to identify annual summer festivals for the What’s Happening Jacksonville summer edition. The best articles will be published as a feature in the magazine.
After working for a few hours, my stomach begins to growl, and Timmy insists we visit the cafeteria. The Hispanic guy I saw earlier is in line ahead of us. He turns to us and with a beautiful accent he says, "Hello, I'm Julian. Do you like it here so far?"
We introduce ourselves to Julian and then order our food to take back to our desks. When I get ready to return to my desk, I hear someone say my name, and I see Timmy waving. He points to the man standing beside him and says, "Laila, this is Isaiah."
Isaiah and I make eye contact and I faintly remember seeing him around campus. His dark skin and body seem difficult to forget, but when I see him smile, I remember where we’ve met. “We’ve met before. Right?”
He squints and says, “I don’t think so. Timmy was just telling me you go to L.U.” He pauses then says, “Wait. Yes, I remember meeting you in front of the Econ building at the start of the year.”
“Yeah.” I lift my bag of food in the air and say, “I don’t want it to get cold, I should get to my desk. Timmy, I’ll stop by your desk when I finish.”
Isaiah walks beside me. “Mind if I walk you to your desk?”
“No, I don’t mind.” I admire his fresh haircut and super casual attire. “I didn’t realize you were in journalism.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not. I was an IT major. I work here in the IT department.” He smiles, showing his crooked teeth. “If I remember correctly, you were in a relationship.”