Brother's Keeper✔️

57. Black Magic Plans

Taj POV

It was getting closer to graduation and he was nervous. He felt like something would go wrong.

His mother and brother were coming down to see his graduation but that was the only family he had. Some of his fraternity brothers would come down and he looked forward to that. He still had not decided about which school to go to for graduate school. He knew he wanted to stay in Illinois, so ISU and U of I were his best options.

He did not want to go home to Chicago. 

He also needed money to pay for graduate school. Both had scholarships for grad programs, but they were competitive. He would also need a graduate assistant program that paid. How was he going to do this?

Good thing he worked in admissions with one of the best. Even though it was Sunday, he could call Jossie and she would give him any information he needed.

"Hey Jossie, you have a minute to chat with me."

"I can't right now. I am headed into the office."

"On a Sunday? I bet hubby doesn't like that."

"Boy, have you heard? Wait...sorry, I don't know why you would have heard."

"Heard what?"

"We lost two students last night. It's all over the news. I have to get to the office and help notify all that I need to."

"Okay, I'll meet you there."

He did not need to hear more. He quickly dressed while he turned on the news. They were not releasing any names, but he bet Jossie knew. He knocked on Brian's door.

"What's up?" Brian opened the door dressed in his pajamas.

"You hear about the accident involving two students last night? I'm going in the office and see if Jossie needs help with this."

"Shit," he said as he rubbed his face. "Let me know if it's anyone we know. I have to man the hotline in a few. Maybe some peeps will call feeling the impact of that. This is major."

"Yeah, I know."

He grabbed his phone and texted Temira, wanting to make sure she was okay.

Hey, you good?

Yes, why?

Thinking of you

☺️

He smiled at that. As he made it to his car, he decided to call her instead of continuing to text.

"Did I wake you?"

"No. It's almost eleven o'clock in the afternoon, why would I still be asleep?"

"I don't know, some people sleep in."

"Not me. I'm up and finished a workout and had breakfast and now I am retwisting my locs."

"I have to head into the office for a bit...maybe after we can hang out."

"You're trying to inch your way into my life, huh?" She giggled at that. "I like it, Taj, you're sweet."

"See you later. I'll call."

Soon as he made it to the office, he saw Jossie crying as she talked on the phone. He tossed his bag down in a corner and sat in front of her desk. This was very bad.

"Okay, okay, I'll check on you girls later. Gather up and be together."

Once she hung up, she looked at him with red-brimmed eyes.

"Jossie, if you need to take off and let me-"

"It's Malinda Thomas. And Terrance Branch."

Never would he think it would be two people he knew. "Are you serious? No, sorry I said that."