This November

Chapter 30

He wanted to spend every day getting to know Anthony, but he did not want to overwhelm him.

Anthony liked some of the same things he liked and he found that interesting. Besides basketball, he liked music as well. He played piano, guitar, and drums. He was gifted even, in piano. He showed him some videos of him playing and he was quite good.

He wished he had him at his place and could show him his baby grand piano. He would love for his son to have it and play on it one day.

They weren't ready for him to have Anthony overnight, and right now, he lived in a small hotel suite. He had to decide if he was going to stay in St. Louis or go back home to Atlanta.

The two things he loved were right here in St. Louis. He couldn't leave.

He stopped by to see his sister and maybe smooth things over with her.

"Davina, I know you're still mad at me, but you didn't even give me a chance to explain myself."

His sister let him into her place, but now she gave him the silent treatment. He walked over and sat beside her on the couch.

"Lil sis, it hurts that you are treating me this way. I wish I could change your low opinion of me. I fucked up. I shouldn't have let Star...you know, do those things to me."

"You're a disgusting turd! I hate cheaters." She pushed him away. "Nothing you say will make me think differently."

"I know, I know, but look...it was only oral sex. I didn't sleep with her. I didn't want to sleep with her, even though she wanted to. I love November, you know I do, it was an accident."

"An accident? Your dick in that girl's mouth? Yeah, okay."

"You don't understand because you're not a guy!"

She rolled her eyes, stood up, and stomped. "That weak ass excuse doesn't work for me. You're still the same old Malik that thinks you're God's gift to women, fuck them and leave them, a trail of tears behind you. You fucked up Star, that girl is nothing but a little freak now. And Aida, look what you did to her life. Now look what you're going to do to November?"

He hung his head in shame and let his sister make him feel like scum.

"What did Nova do to deserve this? She was right to avoid your ass all these years, till you broke her down. Now you have the one girl you didn't taint in high school, you're tainting her now. What do you think she will do when she finds out what you did?"

"She's not going to find out. She can't."

"Oh, she will! I will tell her."

He jumped up from the couch. "You wouldn't!"

"Oh like hell, yes I will."

If Nova found out he cheated on her, it would be over. There would be no reason to stay. He would see his son every few months, not build a proper relationship with him, and maybe he would hate him.

"You tell her, or I will. Let her make that decision if she wants to stay with your ass."

He thought long and hard about that. Maybe if he was honest with Nova, told her what happened and that it would never happen again, he had a chance. Maybe she would be understanding. They could work through this one issue.

No, he had to make things stronger before he told her.

He made his decision.

After he left his sister, he headed to Roosevelt High School. He knew it was the last week of school, and he also knew Nova had a half day. He was not there to see her.

He went to the administration office to see Dr. Foster.

"Knock, knock!" He knocked on his old principal's open door.

Dr. Foster sat at his desk, on a phone call, but looked up when he saw him. He frowned when he saw him, then held up a hand to him motioning he was on the phone. He started to leave but he called out to him.

"Malik, no, just hang on."

It was sort of eerie to Malik sometimes, Dr. Foster could have been his father, if his mother was Black and his father was white instead. They had the same blue eyes. And when his hair was loose and long, it was blonde curls for him as well. Other than that, there was no resemblance, but he often imagined someone like Dr. Foster was his father instead of who he was stuck with.

Dr. Foster ended his call and then motioned for him to come inside the office.

"Sorry to bother you, Dr. Foster."

"Come on Malik, I told you to call me Carter. Have a seat, what brings you by here?"

It was kind of weird coming to see this old, white guy that probably could not relate to some of the issues he was going through. He could have gone to his father, who knew a thing or two about cheating, but not true love. He could have talked to his friends, but they could not understand his feelings for Nova.

Dr. Foster, Carter, was there for him helping him through a lot of things in his teen years. He respected his opinion more than others.

"I'm really sorry bothering you, I know I'm not one of your students and you're busy with-"

"Spill it, Malik, just say whatever it is."

He sat in the seat across from Dr. Foster.

"I'm in love with November Washington."

Dr. Foster simply sat back in his chair, his face reddened, his brow furrowed. His hands came together, tented, his two index fingers touching his chin.

This was all kinds of unprofessional. Dr. Foster was Nova's boss after all. They worked together. He hoped he did not get her into any kind of trouble talking about their personal lives.

"Malik, I'm not sure what you want me to say about this."

Maybe in his old age, Dr. Foster wasn't the best to ask about relationship problems. Over ten years of listening to teens and their minor love squabbles, easily fixed, he couldn't help him with his. He noticed he did not still wear a wedding band, so he wasn't married anymore. He was hoping he could still help him.

"Here's the thing...I have to leave for L.A. soon, and I don't want to leave Nova here. I need her to come with me."

"Malik, I don't think-"

"The only way I can think of her saying yes is if we're married!" he blurted out. "I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Dr. Foster said nothing, just sat there stone-faced.

"Dr. Foster?"

"Malik, I don't think you should be having this conversation with me." He stood abruptly, so fast he knocked over his chair. "I have a lot of work to do, closing the school year, can you...see yourself out."

"Dr. Foster," he stood, wanting some kind of sign he was making the right decision. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

Dr. Foster ushered him to the door, without a word, till he said. "No, I do not."