Chapter 3, Part 1: Hesitation Does Not Equal Failure

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Chapter 3: Hesitation Does Not Equal Failure

The days rolled on for Neo and Lelani. Even after the one night that they shared hot, steamy passion between them, their relationship status was stagnant. Neo never pushed the issue because he felt if and when Lelani was ready to make that leap, she would initiate it. He continued to be the man he felt she needed, without further inquiry.

The idea of having a steady woman at his side was something he yearned to be fulfilled, and if he wanted Lelani to be that woman, he would have to hold out until her heart kicked in, overriding her overbearing superego. He never pressured her to partake in activities he felt might be used against him in the future.

Neo had made plans to spend the evening with Lelani. The upcoming Heat basketball season would keep him busy and he wanted to celebrate what free time he had left before his work dragged him back and forth across the country. His plans were to spend a quiet evening on South Beach, discussing whatever came to mind and enjoying the company of his promising future.

He pulled up in front of the dormitory and exited his SUV, heading inside the building. He entered the lounge area to see a loud crowd that had gathered for what seemed to be a private party. Contrary to his thoughts, Neo soon realized that the events before him were the makings of a fight mob, circled around a pair of upset contenders ready to match hands.

Neo stepped up a few stairs to get a better look into the crowd. Lelani and another woman were in the middle, face to face, arguing loudly. Arms were flaring in the air tryning to provoke the other to throw the first blow. Neo immediately jumped over the railing and pushed his way through the crowd. He squeezed his way to the middle of the makeshift ring and hauled his friend off with a struggle.

“Put me down! She really got to straighten me tonight!”

“Naw, you don’t need to be in here fightin, Lani.”

“Hell naw! Put me down, Neo!”

“Not til you calm the hell down!”

Tempers flared as the crowd starting booing in disappointment. The spectators were upset that Neo had broken up the altercation. Neo continued to drag Lelani outside the dormitory into the courtyard. Her face was flushed with blood and her chest was heaving in anger.

“What’s wrong with you?” Neo questioned her. “Are you trying to go to jail?”

“If that’s what it comes to, then hell yeah!” Lelanl was furious and wasn’t letting anything stop her from returning to the scene.

“Man, I’m not gonna let you fight.” Neo said firmly. “Let’s go, you need to cool off.”

Neo ushered Lelani to his truck. Her breathing was still labored although most of the color in her face began to return to its normal hue. Neo turned the ignition and sped off. Lelani flew back against the seat, concerned that if he hadn’t left so abruptly she might try to jump from the moving vehicle to return to the dorm.

They rode in silence to the boardwalk. Lelani chirped out the SVU practically slamming the door shut. She found an area of guide rail that was free from bird droppings and wood rot. She folded her arms upon the banister and laid her head on top of them. The tears that had been collecting in her eyelids began to stream down her face and arms. A few moments later she felt Neo’s warm touch upon her back.

“Hey, you gonna be alright?” Neo’s deep voice was filled with sincerity. “What happened back there?”

“Tayla Gibbons is what happened. She hates me. Always has.”

“Who is Tayla Gibbons? And why would she hate you?”

“Tayla and I went to rival high schools. She graduated a year behind me.”

“So what. That was years ago.”

“Not for her.” Lelani took a short pause. “She also happens to be my ex’s half sister.”

“Ok that still tells me nothing. Come on now, tell me what’s up.”

Lelani continued to tell Neo about how Tayla was connected to her. Her story dragged on like a soap opera.

“Tayla and Andre, my ex, have the same father but Andre was raised by his mom. Dre’s mom was his dad’s side chick when she got pregnant. Andre had always knew that and he made it a priority to stick up for Tayla cuz he felt like she was the only family he had after his mom hauled ass. So since like grade school, they always stood up for each other.”

“But ya’ll grown now.”

“ Tayla carries resentment for any chick that breaks her brother’s heart, especially me. Me and Dre got some serious history.”

“Look, Lani, I understand that you have history, but to me that doesn’t really matter if you’re living in the present.”

“What does that mean?”

“Are you done with all that? Are you ready to move out of that?”

“I’ve been done with that shit.”

“Then live for now.”

Trying to console Lelani, Neo lifted her head from her arms. He gently wiped the tears from her face, then held it in his hands. He innocently kissed her forehead, pulling her closer to his body. She felt his heartbeat pounding in his chest. His smell filled her nostrils and flowed into her mind. He continued to stroke her back and embrace her.

Their connection was broken when a ship horn sounded in distance. She intertwined her fingers with his and set out down the beach. The waters soothingly clapped against the shore, creating a peaceful soundtrack for the event. Conversation was minimal but completely unnecessary; the body heat spoke silently between them. Neo broke the vocal silence.

“Hey, this is great, huh” He paused in the sand.

“Yeah, I guess. Thanks for pulling my ass out of that situation.” Lelani obliged. “But I know its not the end of that.”

“Why not? You saying you not gonna let it go?”

“Naw, its not that. My housing is in jeopardy. I was put on probation awhile ago for missing meetings and neglecting my responsibilities as an R.A., thanks to Tayla.”


“So what you saying? They might kick you out the dorms?”


“Exactly.”

“So what are your plans if that happens?”

"Don’t know really. Get an apartment off campus, I guess?”

“Sounds like a good plan to me. You know, if you need help with your search, I’m always here.”

“I know. Thanks.”

The two continued their stroll as the evening progressed. They stopped at a beachside restaurant to enjoy a meal. Neo invited her back to his apartment as an alternative to the dorms. She apprehensively accepted. After arriving back at Neo’s apartment, the two lounged on the patio and took in the breathtaking night lake vista, sipping an alcoholic concoction that Neo had waiting for them.

Despite the explanation that Lelani had given him earlier that evening, Neo suspected that her problems ran deeper than the tiff involving her former lover’s sister. The look in her eyes as she gazed out onto the lake was something he knew he should be concerned about. She sat, hunched over with her chin on her knees without saying much.

Her actions in the remaining awake hours were questionable, including declining his invitation to his bed and a t-shirt to change into. Lelani merely slipped out of her shoes and curled up on the couch. She let out a simple yawn and closed her eyes. Neo quickly showered and returned to check on her before going to bed himself. He draped the throw from the back of the couch over her body, turned the lights off, and headed back into his room.

The moonlight shone through the cracks between the window blinds as Neo relaxed in his bed. He contemplated what was keeping Lelani so reserved and upset about her past. Was there more that she was neglecting to tell him? Would pushing her to talk to him push her further from him? Not understanding what the real situation was, Neo reluctantly drifted off to sleep, hoping that Lelani would open up to him soon.


As the weekend begun, Lelani awoke to frying bacon and running water. She sat up to see Neo in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She stroked her fingers through her hair to fix the strays on her head. Lelani was never a morning person and knew that her appearance was shabby.

“Oh don’t try and fix it now. I’ve already seen it.”

“I’m not a morning person, boy.”

“Really?!? I would have never guessed.” Neo said sarcastically.

“You laughing. Its not funny. Not everyone can wake up with they A-game.”

“Shit, A-game? Looking like that, you’d barely make 3rd or 4th string, ma.”

“Keep talking shit,” she threaten innocently.

“You like grits and bacon right?”

“Yeah, is that what you got going on over there?”

“Something like that. Got some toast and fresh fruit, too. That ok?”

“Yeah. Sounds good. Let me get cleaned up first.”

“Make yourself at home.”

Lelani excused herself to the bathroom. Neo dressed the table with breakfast, arranging fresh flowers as the centerpiece. He wanted Lelani to feel relaxed and not agitated about last night. He opened the window to let in the cool morning breeze and awaited Lelani’s return.




A few miles away, Dayshawn rolled out of bed. A slim brown skinned girl lay rumbled in his sheets. He checked over his firm body as admired himself in the long mirror hung on the closet door. The night had ended well for him and he knew that it was all due to his irresistible looks and undeniable talk game; the proof was still lying in his bed.

Unlocking the door to his bedroom, D crept quietly out into the hallway. He could hear his roommates already starting their weekend downstairs in the common room. He put on his best swag and prepared for the praises from his friends.

He entered the common area of the three-bedroom unit & headed straight for the kitchen. He pulled a glass from the cabinet, reached into the refrigerator and poured himself a glass of orange juice. The other guys sat in front of the TV, thumbing their respective controllers of the video game.

“Big D! Man, you was wildin’ out last night.”

“Naw, that was ya’ll fools. I was just being me, man.”

“So what’s up with you and Torrance? She is fly, son.”

“Yeah, but it ain‘t nothing serious. But she is seriously one thing though…”

“What’s that?”

“A straight freak! And she’s paid. Best of both worlds.”

“That bitch ain’t given your ass no money, man. She don’t seem like the type.”

“She might not to ya’ll but ya’ll ain’t me!”

“Nigga, please.”

Dayshawn finished his juice and proudly made his way back upstairs. Before going back to his room, he stopped to listen through the door. On the other side was silence, meaning that last night’s companion had not awaken. He slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open. Torrance was still soundly asleep in the same position. Her legs interwoven in the sheets and her head resting gently on a pillow.

Knowing that he did not intend to make anything official with her, Dayshawn allowed Torrance to spend the night out of pure strategy. For the moment, she was his number one draft pick and until he grew tired of her, he would treat her as if he wanted something more than just what she could offer him sexually and financially. His game couldn’t have been more on point.

He made his way across the room into his personal bathroom. There, he began running water in his shower and prepping his countertop with personal hygiene products. He took his time bathing and perfecting his look for the day. Just as he finished, Torrance turned over. She smoothed her hair and pulled the sheets over her body.

“Hey, why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Uhh, don’t know. Why you got somewhere to be?”

“Not really. Just got this photo shoot later tonight in West Palm.”

“Oh, ok.”

“Its gonna be real nice. Dallas has a few new girls that he wants to shoot.”

“Damn, I bet he enjoys his job.”

“Who Dallas? Why you say that?”

“Man, any nigga who takes pictures of fine ass women for a living is livinig the good life.”

“Its not like that…trust me.”

“Damn, I wish I could go and see for myself how much fun he’s not having.”

“Then come with me. Come to West Palm with us.”

“For real? I mean, I don’t want to be a distraction for the ladies.” He said while looking at himself in the mirror, primping.

“Naw you wouldn’t be. Plus, we usually go to some real nice chill spots afterwards. Ya know, VIP and all.”

“Shit, when we leaving?”

“Around 2. I’ll swing back through and pick you up.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Torrance pulled herself together and left Dayshawn’s place with plans to return later that day. Whenever Dayshawn saw an opportunity to meet new women, he always jumped on it. This was his chance to make some new additions to his roster. His charm and swagger was one that was incomparable to any other man’s.

Given the fact that D had never been exposed to the modeling atmosphere, he wasn’t expecting any more than just a flock of beautiful women. Torrance and D arrived in West Palm Beach just after five o’clock. They passed through a neighborhood lined with luxurious houses and upscale scenery. The journey ended at a gated mansion affixed at the end of street.

A long, winding road led up to the residence. As with the other homes, the landscape was immaculate. Dayshawn had lived in Miami majority of his life and had never seen anything like what his eyes were viewing at that moment. His dream of becoming a world renowned ladies man could never afford him the luxuries that he saw before him. He desperately wanted to meet the person who owned this property so the he could ask him how he’d come to possess such a beautiful home.

D stepped out of the car and adjusted himself as to be presentable to his future mentor. He walked around to the back of the car to assist Torrance in carrying some equipment into the shoot. Once at the door, Torrance placed the make-up kit on the doorstep and knocked. Moments later the door opened to reveal a statuesque dark skinned woman dressed in an orange bikini, sarong, and heels .

“Hey there, Anja. I’m Torrance with BPI. We spoke on the phone earlier this week.”

“Jeah. I remember. Jo boss, Dallas, tiz already inside. Please, com in,” Anja said with a heavy island accent .

“This is my friend Dayshawn,” Torrance said nodding in D’s direction.

“What’s up?”

“Berry delighted to meet chu. I’m Anja Ellis.”

“So where should I set these things down at?”

“Dey’ve already started shooting by ‘da pool. T’er is refreshments in ‘da kitchen. Please, help jo’self.”

“Thanks again, Anja, for this. I’m sure that this will help our ladies in a very big way.”

“No problem. Always willin’ to help.”

Anja escorted the two out poolside. Outside, there were people everywhere, all dressed in swimwear or white linen clothing. Dayshawn did a mental count of all the girls he assumed to be models…2...3...4. There were two more girls standing by the cabana bar chatting with the bartender. Even though there was so much eye candy and plenty of other women of interest, his eyes were still affixed in Anja. She had taken a spot on a lounge chair near the makeshift waterfall. Anja’s body was that of a woman in her early twenties, firm breast coupled with a toned abdomen.

He was quite sure Anja was at least in her late thirties, judging by her home and its décor, but she wasn’t as young as he wish she would have been. His dreams of conversing with a male mentor shifted into thoughts of lust for Anja. How could he ever pull a woman with Anja’s status or beauty? His thoughts of devising a new scheme were interrupted by a familiar voice.