A Taste of Temptation(6)
“I know, Queens’ chief of police.”
“This Saturday we’ll make a day of it, just you and I. We’ll get the books, then go for your favorite, seafood pizza.”
“I’m dieting.”
“How can someone who wears a size six be on a diet?”
Even she had to smile at that one. “Okay, one slice, but that’s it.”
He walked to the door, pausing with a questioning look on his face.
His reflection was in her mirror. “Are you okay, Dad?”
“Yes, but I still need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure.”
“It’s about Eric.”
She retrieved the brush. “Dead subject. Your words normally enlighten me. Why now are you bringing him up? I would just as soon puke.”
“I know you would, and I sincerely understand. It took all the power I have not to kill him.”
“Then why are we still discussing him? You aren’t suggesting that he and I start seeing one another again, are you?”
He sat down on the bed. “Why would I want that for you? A man who sleeps around on my daughter has no place in my house or my life. But as you know, his father and I are good friends. Peter feels really bad about this, but he’s worried about his son, too.”
“What for? They know he’s a louse. They raised him.”
“True, but Peter sees what this break-up has done to Eric. He mopes around, hardly goes out. He’s basically depressed.”
“Then he should find comfort in the loving arms of Stacey Neal, as he has done many times before.”
“I understand, Brandi, but can you be civil to him?”
“Come on! Is this what you want?”
“I want you to do what you think is best. I told Peter that I would run it by you and see how you feel about it. Look, baby, I’m not asking you to do it if you don’t want to. He messed up royally, and the only reason his back is not broken is because his father begged me not to do it. Peter and I go way back, before you and Eric were even thought of. We don’t want strife between the families.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Strife between the families? “This sounds like The Godfather! I don’t know about this. He really took advantage of me, made me feel like a fool. I feel bad for him, but he messed up, not me. I like Mr. Fontaine, but this is a little too much to ask. I’ve gone on without Eric.”
“Is there anyone else?”
“There was, but he and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“Who was he? Do we know him?”
“No. He’s white, and I know how you feel about me dating other races.”
“Brandi, now wait a minute…
“Isn’t that true? Had I brought him around here, you would have burned the house down to get rid of him. Besides, he’s not into relationships, or so he says.”
“Nothing is wrong with staying within your own race, Brandi. Is it so bad to want that?”
“No, but it is wrong to practice racism. I just can’t understand how you can work in that station with cops of all races knowing how you feel about them.”
“We work well together, and they don’t come into my house to date my daughter.”
His statement angered her, even though she had heard it before. “Dad, I love you, but that’s backwards.”
He wondered what was wrong with his baby girl. She had never bucked him before. “Brandi, who was this man you didn’t want to bring around here?”
“Just a guy; a guy who liked me and I liked him. It didn’t last long.” She knew they could never have a relationship even if she transferred back to NYU. He had made his point very clear.
Her father had not given up. “I only want what’s best for you. I don’t want you with Eric. Despite the fact that I would prefer you date black men, I know you will do whatever you want to do—you always did.” He kissed her forehead. “At least be civil to Eric when he’s around. Can you do that for me?”
“Okay, okay, whatever.” All along, she knew she and Eric were ‘not happening’. Same for her and Tim.
The following Tuesday, Eric showed up in Tim’s lecture hall and took a seat behind Brandi and Tiffany. He put his books on the floor and nudged Brandi. “Hope I haven’t missed too much of his lecture.”
She thought her eyes had deceived her. She caught herself staring at him. “Eric, what the heck are you doing here?”
“Can’t a guy get signed into class without someone getting suspicious?”
“Yeah, but not if it involves you.”
“I’ve got to get back in school, Brandi. I can’t sit in the house all day.”
Tiffany interrupted. “Shut up, for crying out loud! I can’t concentrate on dream boy with you two going at it. You want him to put you out?” She glanced at Brandi. “Yes, he would put you out, too, if he had to. We have a test coming up and I plan to do well, both of you cool it.”
Realizing Tiffany was right, Brandi turned to Eric. “Since you are almost two weeks late, the least you can do is shut up and listen to the guy.”
Eric whispered in Brandi’s ear. “I’m sure you and Tiffany have cornered the market listening to him. I can see drool on your desks.”
“Do I need to move?”
“Sure, get closer to him. Isn’t that what you want, anyway?”
At that, she grabbed her books and moved down a few aisles. Tiffany looked at Eric. “Happy now?”
“Maybe.” His heart did not feel happy that Brandi moved, but he did not follow her. Instead, he glared at Tim, who seemed to have captivated everyone but him.
CHAPTER 3
Brandi and Tim exchanged glances during class, but nothing more. Every time she looked into his honey-colored eyes, she felt herself melting, remembering how they were together. They seemed like a perfect match. Yes, Tim had it together with a great career, looks, and probably a ton of money to go with that career. But he was still a man, and the men in her life were known to fabricate things. She wanted to trust him, but the Jacob issue was still that—an issue.
She had wanted many times to talk to him after class, discuss how she was hurt by his name pretense, even though she understood his reasons. But she didn’t. Things were already bad enough, no need to make matters worse. She had stayed clear of him, fearing that being close to him would send her into orbit. Each day she practically ran from his class to avoid confronting him. Friends noticed her unwillingness to hang around after class and questioned her about it. Her only response would be, “I hate being late to class, and you know my other courses are across campus.” It was a cop-out and they knew it. So did she, but it had to suffice for as long as her excuses sounded faintly plausible.
For Tim, his problem wasn’t that Brandi was African-American—she was desirable to him no matter what, but he had to avoid her. He would not go out of his way to see her, but her in his presence every Tuesday and Thursday caused him to treasure those days. She always sat in one of the last rows in the lecture hall. He knew why—avoidance. He had to live with it, and given his history with relationships, he wasn’t about to subject her, or anyone else he cared about, to the kind of life he had led for so long. He had to see her, though, and on that day.
Time was up and Brandi, as usual, tried rushing past him to get away, but she had a test to turn in. Eric was headed her way and she quickly got in line despite the dread she felt. Eric caught up with her. “Did you pass the test on your own, or did your Mr. Tim help?”
“Take a hike, Eric. How well did you do, since you’ve been in here only a week?”
“I can handle pretty boy’s tests. Let’s get something to eat. I’m hungry.”
“Go alone. I’ve got things to do.”
“Like what, him?”
“Could be.” She walked off and caught up with Tiffany, leaving Eric at the back of the line.
That day, she was destined to see him because no way was he going to take that exam from her without saying something to her; she knew him too well for that.
Others were ahead of her. She could see him calculating how long it would take her to get to him. She had always been one to face up to reality. She couldn’t survive the remainder of the course without speaking to him. He would surely notice if she gave her exam to someone else to turn in. He would get to her later no matter what. That’s how professional he was.
Before Tiffany turned in her exam, she glanced at Brandi. “I know what you’re doing by letting everyone ahead of you. It’s about time you faced him.”
“Am I that transparent?”
“In a word, yes; even he knows it.”
“Just turn around and give him the paper, Tiffany. You see his hand reaching around whoever that is in front of you.”
“Should I wait in the hall for you, or do you plan on spending the honeymoon in here with him?”
“I swear, if you embarrass me…”
Tiffany turned away from her, smiling into Tim’s face. “And how are you today, Dr. Polaris?”
“I’m great, thanks. Yourself?”
She looked back at Brandi then answered, “Peachy, just peachy; glad the exam is finished, though. I’m sure I didn’t do as well as others,” casting a glance at her cringing friend.