“That’s the thing I want you to strive for, Brandi. You don’t have to take things from a man just for the sake of having one. You’re worth more to yourself than that, aren’t you?”
“You and Dad have always made me think that.”
“That’s what we want for you, and Brian also.”
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need a man to do that for me. But when the time is right, well, I would like to give my all.” She wanted to give her all to Tim, but wasn’t about to start that train of thought again and become depressed.
Mrs. Miles walked to the window. “Men are funny people. They don’t see things the way women do. Just know that your father and I are on the same page as you on this Eric thing.”
“I’m not going back to him, but Dad wants me to be civil to him to save he and Mr. Fontaine’s relationship.”
“Jeff doesn’t want to make you do anything you don’t want to do, but he and Peter have been friends forever. They’re always in one another’s face, either on the golf course or at the games. Nothing will break them up, not even Eric.”
“I want to date other people, and Dad dislikes other races. I couldn’t bring anyone here who is not black.”
Mrs. Miles stared questioningly at her daughter. “Is there someone you’re not telling me about?”
“I thought so, but now I’m not so sure.”
Mrs. Miles moved closer to Brandi. “Who is he?”
“No one, Mom. Can we drop it?”
“No, apparently he’s someone you want to be with, but aren’t, for some reason.”
“I didn’t want to talk about him, but I suppose you can see him on my face. His name is Tim and he’s…white, Mom. How could I have brought him around here with Dad being a racist and all?”
“Brandi, your Dad is not a racist.”
“Really now? Then what would you call not tolerating your daughter dating a white man?”
“He had a hard time growing up around white people. He was the only black student in school until Theresa and I got there. Times were different for blacks back then.”
“Not all white people are bad.”
“No one race is all bad, Brandi. Your father’s a hard nut to crack. Don’t ask me why.”
She eyed Brandi. “What’s going on with this man you’re interested in?”
“Nothing, and that’s the problem. He didn’t want to further the relationship. He had his reasons.”
“Married?”
“No, just not into relationships, so he says. The thing is, he and I are not together either, and Eric and I are definitely through.” She looked at the clock on her dresser. “It’s getting late and I have studying to do.”
“Are you sure you and this Tim guy are over?”
“As sure as I’m breathing. Take my word for it.” She switched gears but ultimately left the conversation about Tim, one way or another. “Anyway, Dr. Polaris is going to help me redo my paper since he’s a published author. I can get a better perspective from him.”
“Good. Concentrate, do what he says, and you’ll be fine. Dinner will be on shortly. You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you’d like to talk, you know where I am.”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
She watched her mother leave the room and then lay back on the bed. The last thing she wanted to do was concentrate on English Comp. That would bring her straight back to Timothy Edward Polaris. She was doing everything possible to free her mind of him.
CHAPTER 4
Eric gets everyone’s attention by arriving forty minutes late. And he got every female’s attention with his incredible good looks. He knew his dark brown eyes were lady-killers. As for Tim, he just checked his watch and continued his lecture.
As fine as Eric was, Brandi didn’t understand why she would be so attracted to Tim. But he was not your typical ‘pretty boy.’ He was sexy, fine, sensitive and intelligent, a combination she had not seen in anyone. This attraction bothered her and caused her all kinds of problems.
Eric found a seat in the row directly behind her, the better to watch her like a mother hen would. However, to Brandi, he was a jackal on the hunt. There was nothing protective about him.
It was not long before the females in class were drawn back to the magnetism exuded by Tim.
Eric had said not a word during the lecture, but tried getting to her afterwards. She was surprisingly civil to him, having thought about what she and her father had discussed. Had it not been for the Stacey Neal thing, she may have been still dating him, but for how long, she did not know.
He caught up with her leaving the lecture hall. “Brandi, wait up.”
“What is it, Eric?”
He lowered his voice. “Look, I know you’re pissed at me, but can I just talk to you for a few minutes?”
“I don’t know. There have been a lot of bad words exchanged.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I’m sorry about everything. I’m not any good without you. Why do you think I enrolled in this class?”
“You shouldn’t have done it for my benefit, but yours, to further your program.”
“I’m here for that, too, but I can’t help missing you. Yes, I screwed up, I admit that. I want to make it right with you this time. You’re my girl, and I want what our parents have with each other—a lifetime.”
“That’s a lot to hand to me right now, and quite frankly, I’m too busy to even fathom another relationship, especially with you.”
“We can start slow. Anything you want, Brandi, I will do it to get back with you.”
She looked at her watch, then back at him. “Look, I can’t talk right now because I have to meet with Dr. Polaris about something. Maybe we can talk later. I’m not promising anything, though. I will at least hear you out—again.”
“When?”
“I don’t know; take your chances.”
Without adding anything, she walked towards Tim’s office. Eric watched for a minute then walked on.
By 2:30 that afternoon, Brandi was standing in Tim’s office, holding her C paper and looking around the spacious room. Only PhD’s get the big offices, she thought to herself.
He rushed in, “Sorry I’m late; someone stuck a knife in one of my tires.”
“Really? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s my baby I’m concerned about.”
“Do you know who did it?”
“I have some ideas, but that’s another story. I’m glad you came so we can get started on your paper. You want anything to drink, coffee maybe?”
“No thanks, I just want to get this paper over with.”
“You sure you’re up to it? After yesterday…”
“I don’t know what was wrong yesterday, but thank God it’s over.”
“Fine. Let me see the thesis.” He removed the lid from the Starbucks foam cup and began sipping his coffee. “Glad you like Defoe as much as I do.”
“I don’t, not really, but I did enjoy Moll Flanders.”
He surveyed the text briefly. “The thesis is general. Maybe you can concentrate more on what aspects you liked about the book and character. You centered more on the book itself—like a synopsis of it. That’s not what I wanted.”
“I really didn’t understand what you wanted. I thought I did when I sat down to write the paper.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You know I would have gone over anything you were having problems with.”
“I know, but I just didn’t want to impose.” Or be close to a man who would have nothing to do with me.
Brandi picked up the paper, sighing. “I don’t know what to do with this, Tim.”
“I think it would be good if you decide what you want to focus on, character or plot.”
“I like characterization.”
“Male dominated. Let’s go with that. What do you really know about Moll Flanders?”
“Well, the book is generally about a woman’s survival in late-17th century England. It was mostly a capitalistic society. Because of that she took to drastic measures just to survive.”
“Right. So center on the person. Moll herself was way ahead of her time. She had to be exceptional; think of the measures she took. She was a complex character who adored having all the things women yearn for.”
“You really love this period, don’t you?”
“It really gets me going. I like it, studied it a great deal. Same can be true for you. You’re smart and you know a lot about literature, Brandi. You simply need to fashion your papers to meet your professors’ expectations.”
“I’ve never been fond of 16th and 17th century fiction. Can you skip me to 18th century?”
“You’re extremely smart; I know you can do this. If I let you skip ahead, others will want to, and they may not be as ready as you are. You don’t want me doing extra work, do you?”
”No, I don’t.” Only for me, with me.
“Think about your point of view for the paper.”
As she thought, Tim’s mind wandered. He thought about what they did after dancing the night away at The Entrapment. He hated thinking about her, but couldn’t help himself. Brandi’s body was off-limits to him, and the sooner he got that through his head, the better off he knew he would be.