I swallowed hard. “Well, what if what I want is something you can’t give me?”
“Tell me what you want, and let me determine what I can and can’t give you.”
More time.
An upcoming date.
One more orgasm for the road.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“You know what I noticed?” he asked, rubbing the tip of his nose to mine. “You open up more when we’re touching,” he said, just before his lips covered mine.
As our tongues touched and the kiss deepened, I realized he wasn’t wrong. My feelings for him always felt like they were about to spill out of me when we were together.
We said goodbye, and after closing the door behind him, I immediately showered and went to bed. I hadn’t had regular sex in years, so to have been so thoroughly taken care of had taken a lot out of me. I wanted to sleep in on Monday, but because I’d been gone all summer, I had to wake up early to set up my classroom first thing in the morning. I was only able to get in for three hours because the principal had cookout plans that afternoon. So I did a lot of work in a limited amount of time. Between that and my time with Lamar, I was exhausted. I was halfway to sleep before eight o’clock and still sore Tuesday.
“‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,’” I quoted Malcolm X to my students as I did at the beginning of every school year. “Raise your hand if you’re ready to prepare.”
They quietly looked around the room. But then slowly, everyone lifted an arm in the air.
And that was the last moment of silence I had for the rest of the day.
Lamar Anderson:How was the first day of school?
Jazmyn Payne:It’s seven-thirty and I’m already in the bed.
Lamar Anderson:Damn! That bad?
Jazmyn Payne:It was loud. Half the kids didn’t do the summer reading. And it was a lot of yelling for no reason.
Lamar Anderson:Why were you yelling?!
Pulling the covers over my shoulder, I snickered into my pillow.
Jazmyn Payne:Not me! The students! How are you feeling about tomorrow? It’s the first game practice, right?
Lamar Anderson:Yes. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the longest days so I’m sure I’ll feel like you do now.
Jazmyn Payne:You’ve been killing it all summer. The fact that the season is starting, I know practices are about to get more intense. But you got this! Even if it’s late and I go to sleep early, let me know how it goes please.
Lamar Anderson:Thank you, I will. I know you’re tired. Get your rest and I’ll hit you up tomorrow.
I started to put my phone on the charger when I realized I had an email.
“Oh shit!” I exclaimed in a whisper, sitting straight up in bed.
The property manager emailed me a confirmation. It wasn’t a misprint or a wrong address; the credit on my account was real. My rent was paid for the next four months.
18
Jazmyn Payne:What type of workout is this, Nina? I said I wanted to increase my flexibility not do a floor routine in the Olympics!
I sent a photo of my sweaty face to the group chat after a failed attempt to do the last move.
Nina Ford:I am so weak right now!
Aaliyah James:Ever since you got home, you’ve been glowing! I love that for you. You deserve these wins!
