Jacquelin Thomas - Teach Me Tonight

Jillian’s lips puckered in silence.

Tamara chuckled. “Good point. I haven’t done a great job in that department, either.”

“I just want to see you happily married with a family.”

“Then let it happen naturally, Mama.”

Jillian gave a stiff nod. “Now what is this about you going to Los Angeles?”

She told her mother about the assignment and seeing Micah again.

“It sounds promising,” Jillian stated. “I can’t wait to hear all about the trip.”

Tamara pushed away from the table and rose to her feet. “There you go again. Mama, I’ll see you later.”

Jillian followed her out of the restaurant.

“Mama, why don’t you look for a man for you?” Tamara suggested. “You should try to find someone to spend the rest of your life with instead of trying to shape my future.”

A shadow of sadness colored Jillian’s expression. “I don’t think I can ever trust another man. Not after…” Her voice died.

Tamara hugged her mother. “I had a great time tonight but you are forbidden to arrange any more blind dates. You’re making me feel insecure.”

Jillian placed a hand to her face. “Oh, nooo…”

“I’m kidding, Mama,” Tamara uttered with a laugh. “I need to get home and pack.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

Before she headed home, Tamara waited for Jillian to get into her car and leave the restaurant parking lot.

Tamara rehearsed exactly what she would say repeatedly in her head for the rest of the evening and again the next morning as she prepared to leave for the airport.

Tamara flew first class from Atlanta to Los Angeles, both anxious and excited about seeing Micah again.

She hoped that he would be the one picking her up at the airport so that he could clear the air before meeting his performer. It would help the interview along if there was no tension between them.

Maybe I’m making too much of this. Micah’s not the type of man who would hold a grudge.

To quell her nervousness, Tamara documented her thoughts.

August 28th

At this very moment, I am on a plane en route to Los Angeles to interview one of Micah’s performers. I have mixed feelings about this little reunion because of what happened before we graduated college. Hopefully, Micah will put the past behind us and give me a chance to explain.

I have never forgotten that look of absolute hurt in his eyes. I have never been filled with such guilt as I experienced then. I’m not really sure an apology is enough to undo the hurt.

What if I’ve overanalyzed that moment? What if what I thought was hurt was actually something else?

I guess this is why Micah and I need to have a conversation. I miss him and deeply wish to repair our friendship.

I just hope that it isn’t too late to make amends.

Most girls had considered Micah a nerd back in the day—but not Tamara.

Sexy Chocolate.

That’s what she used to call Micah behind his back. He stood six-three, and even with glasses, the man looked good.

She remembered how the basketball coach wanted Micah to play for the school but he refused. Instead, he preferred to focus on his academics and his dedication paid off.

Micah utilized his talent and dual degrees in business and computer science to build his empire, Ross Red. She was proud of him and his accomplishments and hoped for the chance to tell him so.

Things ended so abruptly that night. Tamara didn’t know if they could ever truly mend the rift in their relationship, but she was willing to try. Micah’s friendship meant the world to her.

She settled back against her seat and closed her eyes. A thread of apprehension snaked through her body when the pilot announced they would be landing in twenty minutes.

I can do this.

Tamara repeated this over and over in her mind, trying to convince herself. Not that it was working. She was extremely nervous at the thought of seeing Micah again.

She assumed that he would be the one meeting her plane, and once they got over the awkward moments, they could talk and Tamara could tell him everything.

Thirty-five minutes later, she stepped off the plane and made her way through the Los Angeles International Airport. Tamara was disappointed when she didn’t see Micah at the gate.

Maybe he was waiting for her in the baggage-claim area.

Instead, she found a man in a dark suit holding up a sign with her name on it. She walked up to him and identified herself. “Hi, I’m Tamara Hodges.”

“I hope you had a comfortable flight,” he said. “If you give me your ticket, I’ll retrieve your luggage for you, Ms. Hodges.”

“Thanks,” she murmured. “It’s red. There are two bags. One large and a medium.”

Tamara stood near the exit doors as she waited for her driver to bring her luggage.

He navigated to Tamara and led her outside to the car.

According to her itinerary, she was booked at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles. While en route, Tamara checked her voice mail and returned two missed phone calls. She had hoped to find a message from Micah but it was to no avail.

He was a busy man—she knew that, but Tamara really thought that since he had given the interview his blessing he was ready to reconnect with her.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

Micah positioned himself in the lobby area of the hotel where a suite had been reserved for Tamara. He wanted to catch a glimpse of the woman who had broken his heart.

He checked his watch.

She should be arriving at any moment.

He sensed her presence before she actually walked through the doors and up to the lobby.

Tamara was still slender with curves in all the right places, Micah noted as he watched her check into the hotel.

He raised his newspaper to shield his face when she turned to glance around the lobby.

The way she kept looking around, Micah wondered if she was looking for him.

Probably, but it didn’t matter.

Micah determined that Tamara would not see him until he was ready for a face-to-face with her. The way his heart was racing and his eyes caressing her body—it was still too soon. He needed more time to rein in his emotions.

From outward appearances, Tamara looked fragile but Micah knew that she possessed a quiet strength—a quality that had drawn him to her all those years ago.

He watched as Tamara strolled over to the elevators and waited. Her eyes traveled the luxury surroundings once more before stepping inside.

Micah waited until the doors closed before rising to his feet and taking his leave.

His cell phone rang.

It was his secretary, Bette, informing him that his guest had arrived safely and was at the hotel. She also reminded him of his meeting with the art director that was scheduled in an hour.

“Thank you, Bette. I’m on my way back to the office now.” Micah got up, strode through the glass revolving doors and handed the valet his ticket.

The love of his life was here in Los Angeles, and he was still avoiding her. He had a wall erected around his heart, but Tamara—was a trigger for him, which is why Micah purposed not to see her until he was in control of his emotions.

Micah stood outside, waiting for his car to arrive. The valet attendant pulled the car in front of him and got out. Micah tipped him and strode around to the driver side.

He experienced a strange sensation, which caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up.

Micah turned around.

Tamara was standing inside the lobby, looking at him through the glass wall, her expression one of complete shock.

His emotions unsettled, Micah pretended he did not recognize her, stepped into his car and quickly drove away. It had been a mistake coming here, he decided.

Micah knew that he and Tamara would come face-to-face, and when they did it would be on his terms. Micah vowed to make her pay for the pain she caused him all those years ago.