The Question of Him

man of my word

The next two weeks are like this. Terence comes over and spends the night a few times. We'd take Amiyah to the playground after school. He even volunteered to pick her up from school when my meeting ran late once. She had definitely grown fond of him. It feels good to have him back, or at least for those two weeks. He left for California today but promises he'll come see us for Thanksgiving.

Today I decided not to go into the office after dropping him off at the airport. It's Friday and I need to catch up on sleep. My mind often drifts to P in moments like these. I haven't heard from him since he said he'll get in contact with me so it left me stuck on what to tell Vincent and the girls. I decided to only tell them about the flowers and appreciation note. I didn't mention the new job I agreed to because I was beginning to think he had changed his mind. I mean it's going on week three and no call, no letter? What else am I supposed to think?

I get Amiyah from school at one and we pick up lunch then come back home. Like the last couple of weeks she insists on painting with her new set. She's been very determined to improve her skills. She mentions a few times that she misses Terence and hogs the phone when he calls to say he made it back home.

It's now almost nine and Amiyah is knocked out on the other side of my bed as A Different World reruns play. She loves sleeping in my bed on the weekends for some reason.

The phone rings as Whitley rushes to freshen up then get back in bed with Dwayne. I pick it up quickly so it won't wake her and whisper, thinking it's Terence, "Didn't I tell you ten o'clock sir?"

"I don't remember us discussing call times Ms. Camille."

His voice sends shivers down my spine and the hairs on my neck stand up. How does he always manage to leave me speechless?

"I'm sorry, I thought..I didn't know you had my number. How'd you get it?" I'm still whispering.

"Well it took me a few days but I found your number in the phone book."

"Really?" I get up slowly and quietly walk out to the living room. "You could've called the office anytime and-" His boyish laugh stops me and I put two and two together. "Of course you didn't look in the phone book. Did Briana give it to you?"

"No, no. I pretended like I was your brother and got your number from someone in your building. I'm sorry I'm calling so late, it's been a long day."

"It's fine, really. I'm sometimes a night owl."

"Good. I'm calling though to set up an appointment. There are things we need to go over before you officially step into this position and of course we need to discuss a salary. I also think it's best if we don't get seen publicly anymore."

"Oh..alright, well how will we meet?"

"I can come to you tomorrow. I think I've kept you waiting long enough."

Tomorrow? I didn't have any plans, however my very observant daughter is going to be here and I don't want her telling anyone a male parent was at my house. When I don't answer right away P thinks I've changed my mind. "Are you having second thoughts about the job?"

"No, it's nothing like that. What time will you be coming by?" Hopefully Tessa doesn't have anything to do tomorrow.

"Whatever time is good for you Phara."

"Uh-um..is one okay?"

"It's perfect. Give me your address and I'll be there at 12:59."

Something tells me he is dead serious. After I've given him my address, he mentions the demo I wanted to hear. "I found it in my vault the other day so have your cassette player ready." He chuckles.

"I can't wait now. Thanks for even looking, I didn't know you remembered."

"Of course I did. It's hard to forget someone like you saying anything."

Someone like me? Was he flirting?..okay Phara, stay cool. "Well, you'd be surprised how much my daughter claims to forget when I tell her to do something."

Every time he laughs it brings butterflies to my stomach. I know it sounds childish, but it's true. And even though I found out he's not married, it's still stupid of me to have these feelings for a man I'm going to be working with. I've never done anything like that.. What am I doing? I tell Terence one thing and now look at me admitting I have feelings for a man I barely know-hell, no one really knows a guy like this.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Y-Yeah.. see you then. Goodnight P."

"Night Phara."

I'm first to hang up. I sit back on the couch and do some breathing exercises I learned in therapy. I don't want anything confusing me or making it difficult to do my job. I eventually doze off because the phone wakes me up.

"You sound like you were sleep."

"I just fell asleep. Anyway, how was your day?"

"I went to a long seminar on Hume and Descartes. I would tell you about it, but you'd be asleep before I could finish my first sentence." He jokes. In truth we both know I would make it to at least his third.

"Sing it to me then."

"Nice try. Go to sleep and call me in the morning, alright?"

"I will."

•••

It was 12:58 as I stood at the door. The front desk called to say my guest was coming up like I'd asked them to and now I was weirdly nervous. I'd never been the nervous type. This man was bringing things out of me that I didn't know was there.

Knock, knock, knock.

12:59 on the dot. I quietly look through the peephole and he's dressed down in a black turtleneck sweater and coat with dark sunglasses. I step back and take a breath before opening the door for him.

"Right on time." I tease, stepping aside for him to enter. He smiles and shrugs. "What can I say, I'm a man of my word."

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