Misguided

Chapter 2: The Morning After

Tanya was so tired and could barely wake from her deep slumber the next morning. It seemed as though they couldn't refrain from each other the night before. Their energy was magnetic, and that was evident in the way their souls connected, and their bodies collided for the very first time. They both had no desire for their lovemaking session to end, and with everything that took place just hours before, she just knew this would be the result.

Jamal was apparently already out of the bed, because she could feel the cold spot in the empty space next to her. She wondered where in the world his energy came from.

The bedroom door swung open, as Jamal was struggling to balance a tray that contained freshly made breakfast. Eggs, spinach, turkey sausage and a tall glass of orange juice adorned the platter, and were placed in front of her.

"Thanks babe." A smiling Tanya said, reaching her neck up for a kiss.

"Don't mention it... Besides, I figured you would need it after all that work we put in last night." He chuckled, making Tanya blush.

"Stop that." She commanded playfully. He was just too much. It was almost like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders last night as they enjoyed what they had both been longing for.

"Are you going in today?" she asked when she saw him putting on his grey slacks and throwing on a button up.

"Yeah. What tie should I wear, sweetheart?" Jamal asked holding up two options.

Tanya praised his look, as he dressed in his business attire and would wear his dress shoes to work. It was something about an educated black man in a suit that did her mind wonders.

"Wear the one on the right babe. It's always been my favorite. It looks good on you." She said with a smile.

"... and you always look good baby." Jamal said walking over and giving Tanya a kiss. He knew just how to make her feel great about herself.

She almost hated what she started to feel. Was it too soon to be head over heels for this guy? They had only spoken to each other in meetings or in passing in the year prior to them exploring their relationship, and had only been dating a few months. She was so scared she would put too much energy into their relationship until it consumed her, and eventually fail.

It was one of the reasons that she decided that they should wait to be intimate. There were some things about Jamal that kept her mind at bay, and there was just a piece of her that felt as though this would be a mistake. She often felt like that with men though, especially being hurt several times. She didn't want to mess up a good thing, because she couldn't mentally move forward. Erasing all of the negative energy, she thought of her best friend Ciara, and what she would say.

"Girl, you only live once. What is the harm in trying something new? You would regret it more if you didn't try at all." She shook her head as she imagined her friend's voice in her ear.

Tanya sat admiring Jamal while eating her meal. She loved his chiseled abs and honey colored skin. The sides of his head were faded real low, while medium dark curls layered the top. She also had a thing for his deep voice that had an undertone of a Trinidadian accent. She would relish in the way he would cock his head a little to the left when he would laugh. He had the best sense of humor too.

She adored how ambitious he was. He worked as a financial consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and owned a few properties across the states. He often gave back to his community, and was on the executive board of a local preschool where she worked as an Assistant Director. That was how they met. 

Jamal had a thing for early intervention and youth programs. He was always working to better himself and encourage others around him.  He was such a happy person, and Tanya was glad the two had met.

Jamal gave Tanya one of his spare keys and told her to call if she needed anything.

She was feeling real good. Not only did she have a great time with this guy, but he was leaving her with his house keys too? She had never experienced this before. Being alone in a man's house would be a big step for anyone in a new relationship.  It only solidified the level of trust he had in her, making her want to trust him more.

She assumed that came with the territory of dating a man eight years her senior. Even though he was a little older, he didn't seem to mind her tender age and applauded her for being so mature.

Like Jamal, she was a go getter. It was one of the things he took in after getting to know her. Tanya was twenty-four and had a lot going for herself. She graduated, and had a car and career to match her lifestyle. Tanya had big dreams and would attain them anyway she knew how.

When Tanya heard the door shut, she figured she would do something semi- productive for the morning. The school was closed for the day, and she didn't have anyplace to be.

Getting up, she washed the dishes and did a little tidying up. She peeked around, but wasn't snooping or anything like that... However, if something seemed to pop out, she was looking.

Tanya believed strongly that if someone decided to be sneaky, they might see exactly what they were looking for. She wasn't ready for any wool to be pulled from over her eyes just yet.

She marveled at the pictures she passed in the hallway of his daughters. They looked so happy and were adorable. One was considerably older than the other, as he was a little loose in his youth, but he loved his kids and Tanya felt that said so much about his character.

She felt a small bit of sadness for the children as both mothers had separated from their dad, and to her knowledge they did not get along. She was never a fan of single parent households, or co- parents always in a disagreement for that matter. Though if she had to admit it, she felt a little selfish considering the fact that she was happy to be in a relationship with him.

She smirked as she entered his master bathroom and took notice to the towel and washrag that Jamal placed on the counter for her. There was a note scribbled on a tiny piece of paper that told her to relax and have a great day. He had filled the Jacuzzi, and there was a eucalyptus spearmint body wash sitting at the side of the tub.

If he didn't stop now, Tanya would be busting it wide open every chance she got and begging to have his kids.

She knew that was something she could wait for though, she wasn't crazy.

As Tanya soaked in the bath, her mind floated to thoughts on this new relationship. She wasn't new to this, but it was just something about the rush that she felt around him, and the way he treated her. She didn't know why she was so sprung, but it looked as if he felt the same way too.

She finally accepted that if this seemed too good to be true, it probably was... not. She decided that she would explore their relationship, and only hoped that it would last forever.

Hopefully, she would have no regrets.