Worth the Wait

chapter 20


The buzzing of Tasha’s cell phone interrupted her count of the basketball equipment. She sighed in frustration, not because of the phone’s interruption, but because she’d have to count the equipment for the tenth time. Thoughts of Jared had distracted her the previous nine times. She pulled her phone from her pocket and saw a text from Shayla.

Big party in ATL this weekend. Come, you need the break.

Tasha put the phone back in her pocket. She did need the distraction. Her agreement with Jared to continue their arrangement for one week had easily turned into two. He’d turned up the heat so much, by the end of the first week she hadn’t even brought up ending things. She’d gotten caught up. The realization wasn’t surprising. All it took was a phone call or text from Jared and she was ready.

She’d been with him almost every night for the past four weeks. Now she was hooked and it was getting harder to get out of his bed and go home. He always said she didn’t have to leave, but he never asked her to stay. Refusing to spend the night was the last front she could put up to pretend she didn’t crave him, but it was useless. She wanted to stay, and he wanted her there.

If it were just sex then maybe she wouldn’t have gotten attached. But she’d learned more about Jared over the past weeks than she’d known in the years of working with him. They talked about his business, a new offer to reissue his DVD, their childhood memories, and happenings at the Rec Commission. Since the night he’d tended to her allergies, there’d been other nights they hadn’t had sex and just hung out and watched the NBA playoffs. The lines were so blurry Tasha didn’t even know what label to put on what they were doing.

But she could label what was happening to her: she was falling for Jared, and she was falling hard.

Her phone buzzed again. Cursing, she put down her clipboard and checked the message.

I’m hungry.

It was Jared. Damn, damn, damn. She knew what he was hungry for and it wasn’t food. Her face flushed as she remembered the last time he’d texted those words. He’d shown up at the Center twenty minutes later and feasted on her inside one of the storage rooms. Her panties became damp as her mind’s eye visualized what they must have looked like: her back against the wall, legs open, and Jared kneeling, dining to his heart’s content.

Tasha kicked the wall and grabbed her foot as pain sliced through her big toe. She never should have asked him for the favor. That’s why Shayla invited her to Atlanta. The birthday party for Jared’s mother was this weekend. Once Tasha had updated Shayla on her current situation with Jared and how he continued to ask her to go, Shayla had quickly pointed out it was time to stop sleeping with Jared and move on.

Her phone buzzed again and she seriously considered throwing it against the wall. Instead, she pulled it from her hip again and checked the message.

Hey girl. I hope we can catch up for lunch soon. I really need to talk to another Christian woman.

She should have thrown the phone into the wall. Monica Javers was the newest attendee at her father’s church and for some reason the woman had designated herself as Tasha’s newest friend. She was usually happy to welcome any new members to her father’s church, but Monica’s immediate connection to her was unnerving. Tasha cringed because as the preacher’s daughter, eventually she’d have to accept Monica’s lunch invitation.

She pulled out her phone one more time to check the time; it was almost six. It was the first night of the intramural basketball league so she’d stayed late to make sure things kicked off okay. Giving up on her count of equipment, she grabbed a bag of balls and left the storage room. Two teenage boys she recognized from the mentoring program nearly knocked her over as they ran down the hall.

“My bad, Ms. Smith,” said Jevaras Jones, a seventeen-year-old who had on a t-shirt that swallowed his thin frame and shorts that looked more like oversized pants.

“Yeah, we didn’t see you,” Tony Wilson, the sixteen-year-old Jared mentored, spoke up. He was a miniature version of his mentor in a sleeveless t-shirt that showed off his developing biceps and basketball shorts.

“You would have seen me if you weren’t running in the hall,” Tasha said with a scowl. She shoved the bag into Tony’s hands. “Take these to the gym. I know that’s where you’re headed.”

“You know it,” said Tony, laughing. “We got to see what these old dudes can do.”

Javaras crossed his arms and pursed his lips. “Why you don’t let us play in the league, Ms. Smith?”

“Because you boys only want to pretend you’re LeBron, or fight each other, instead of playing the game. Now take the balls and stop running in the halls,” she said, tapping her toe.

“Dang, no need to be all nasty,” said Javarus. He tapped Tony on the shoulder. “She must be PMSing.”

“What did you just say?” Tasha snapped. Tony took off down the hall with a mumbled apology and Javarus quickly followed.

Shaking her head Tasha followed. She wasn’t PMSing. She froze. In fact, she hadn’t experienced PMS or her cycle since before Charleston. She mentally counted the weeks and groaned. Six weeks had passed.

Her vision blurred and she gasped for breath. No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be happening, she thought. I’m just stressed. I’ve been late before due to stress. She placed her hand against the wall to brace herself.

“Are you okay? You look as if you’re going to faint.” A warm hand grasped her shoulder. She looked up and met the concerned eyes of Dr. Kevis Flynn.

Tasha nodded and gave him a shaky smile. “I’m fine. I just … had a bad thought.”

He still frowned as he turned her to face him. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “It must have been some thought. You’re shaking.”

Tasha grasped his hand to remove it from her chin. Instead, he turned his to clasp hers. “Something one of the mentoring kids said. It was silly. I shouldn’t take them serious.”

He frowned. “Are they that bad?”

She shook her head. “No, they just don’t know when to stop playing.” She squeezed his hand and tried for a brighter smile. “See? I’m fine. No more shaking.”

He finally smiled back at her. His thumb caressed the back of her hand and, surprisingly, she was comforted by the small gesture. “Good. I thought I would have to rush you to the hospital.”

“No need for all that. Are you playing tonight?” she asked to change the subject.

“Yes, the six-thirty game. I was hoping you’d be around to watch me play.”

This time her smile came easily. “I only like to watch men who know how to play the game. I’m not into watching showoffs.”

“Oh, I know how to play.” His baritone voice lowered an octave.

Someone cleared their throat loudly. They both turned as Jared walked up. Although he didn’t appear upset, it didn’t stop her from feeling guilty. She pulled her hand out of Kevis’s and smiled at Jared.

His eyes flicked over her before turning to Kevis. “My bad, man, I didn’t mean to break up your flow, but I need to speak to Tasha about something.”

Kevis pointed at Jared. “I know you. I work out at your gym and tried your exercise program. It’s a great workout, man.”

Jared smiled and gave Kevis pound. “Glad to hear you liked it.” He looked at Tasha, jealousy clear in his dark eyes before he hid it behind a sly grin. “Do you mind if pull her away?”

Kevis shook his head. “Nah, man, but give me a second.” He turned to Tasha. “I was just about to ask the lady if she’d go out with me on Saturday.”

Tasha kept her eyes on Kevis, but saw Jared stiffen in her periphery. “You move pretty quickly,” she said.

Kevis smiled. “When I like what I see there’s no need to beat around the bush.”

“Tasha, weren’t you and your sister coming to my mom’s party this weekend?” Jared asked. When she cut her eyes at him, he looked at Kevis. “It’s in Atlanta. Tasha’s family is pretty close to mine.”

Kevis frowned before turning back to Tasha. “If you have plans for this weekend we can make it another night.”

She planned to refuse Kevis, until Jared spoke up. Pushing aside her anger with Jared for stepping in she smiled at Kevis. “The party isn’t until Saturday. How about we go out Friday?”

A huge grin replaced Kevis’s frown. “Sounds good.” He walked backwards away from her. “Don’t forget to come watch me play. Remember, I’ll score double digits just for you.”

Tasha laughed. “I knew you were a showoff.”

Kevis laughed, turned, and hurried down the hall. When he rounded the corner, Tasha whipped around to face Jared. “What was that about? I never said I was going to your mom’s party.”

He stepped back and held up his hands. “Tasha, quit playing. You know you’re coming.”

“Why are you insisting I go? I know it’s going to be hard, but you need to go and air things out with your mom. You don’t need me there to hold your hand.”

He crossed his arms. “I could call Cassandra and have her fly in to hold my hand?”

Jealously churned in her gut. He’d told her about his previous relationship with Cassandra. At first, she couldn’t understand how he could work so well with someone he used to sleep with, but now she empathized with the woman. One day that would be her, forced to work with Jared, while remembering what it felt like to be with him.

She bit her lip and inwardly counted to five. “If that’s what you need to do, fine.” She spun to walk down the hall but Jared reached for her hand. When she turned around he gently pulled her back.

“Stop. I don’t want to fight you.” His voice was soft. “I’m not calling anyone else.” He leaned down to look her in the eye. “For anything. You got that? I’m only calling you.”

Her heart rate to speed up and her stomach fluttered. That’s all it took from him, a few soft words and those soft eyes and she was pudding in his hands. “Jared, I’m not asking you to do that. I think it’s time — ”

“It’s not time,” he interrupted. “You don’t want this to be over.”

“I don’t, and that’s exactly why it’s time.”

“Because of him?” He motioned down the hall in the direction Kevis had taken.

“Not just because of him. Because I’m starting … ” Her voice trailed off.

Excitement filled his dark eyes. “Starting to what?”

“I’m starting to ca — ”

“Jared, what are you doing here?”

Tasha blinked rapidly. She’d almost told him she was starting to care. With a sigh of relief, she turned to see who’d saved her from herself. A tall, handsome guy with tan skin, high cheekbones any woman would die for, and a slim but sculpted build walked up to them. He looked familiar but she couldn’t place where they might have met.

“Devin, what’s up man?” Jared said without sincerity. He and Devin gave each other a one-arm hug.

“A few of us doctors put together a basketball team. We’re playing tonight.” His eyes left Jared and turned to Tasha.

Jared cleared his throat. “Devin, this is Tasha. She’s the assistant director at the Rec Commission.”

Tasha smiled and shook Devin’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Although, you do look familiar.”

Devin smiled warmly. “I get that a lot. Where are you from?”

“I grew up in West Columbia.”

He frowned as if he were trying to place her. “West Columbia. I had a friend in high school who used to hang out over there.”

“Kenyatta’s best friend Angie is my sister. We may have met in passing through her and Malcolm,” Tasha said.

He nodded. “Yeah, that may be where.”

Tasha took the opportunity to escape. “Well, I’ll let you two talk. I’m going to watch the first game.” She looked at Jared. “I like the guy playing,” she said before walking away.