A Love Like This (Book 1) (6 page)

I put on reading glasses, power on my laptop and prepare to take notes on Dr. Katz
’
s lecture.
 
Every time I glance over at Tucker I feel feverish so I concentrate intently on
 
my notes forcing myself not to use the legal pad as a fan. When Dr. Katz
’
s lecture is complete Tucker stands to speak.
 
I look to my left and to my right and see that there are only girls on the front row.
 
They all lean forward with their eyes fixed on Tucker. He starts to speak, his face all business,
 
“
When you leave class today I want you all to take a minute and observe your surroundings.
 
I want you to pay attention to the people on campus, the vendors,
 
the
 
merchants on Telegraph Road and the passersby on the streets.
 
These are the people that your future businesses will serve.
 
I want you to see yourself as agents of change and think about the needs of others in everything you do.
 
Think of ways to improve lives while following your passion.
 
I know it sounds clich
é
 
but if you do what you love you
’
ll never work a day in your life and if your goal is to bring about change the whole world will benefit.
”

The class applauds and a few female students stampede to
the front of the class
. I try not to notice them laughing and touching his arm.
 
I busy myself
by
packing my books and laptop.
 
Before leaving the room I take a quick glance in Tucker
’
s direction.
 
I know it sounds stupid but my knees go weak when I see that he
’
s looking past
all the groupies and watching me.
 
I leave the A&E building
with a smile
and walk to the center of the university on a cloud.
 
It
’
s like my eyes are opened for the first time. I am taken
aback by the architecture of the old buildings.
 
The pillars on the library alone are worthy of any museum.
 
I can
’
t believe I didn
’
t notice it before.
 
I didn
’
t even notice the giant clock that looks like Big Ben even though
 
it
’
s visible from everywhere on campus.
 
I reach the protestors in the quad and see that they are all holding signs about saving the redwoods.
 
A small thin bearded man wearing a colorful hemp hat hands me a flyer
 
about the university
’
s plan to cut down the ancient redwood trees in order to build a new sports center.
 

“
You should come down to the rally tomorrow night,
”
 
he says.
 
The man smells like incents and pot.
 

“
Thanks, I
’
ll think about it,
”
 
I say glancing at the flyer before shoving it in my bag.
 
I start to walk away but stop short spin around and take a closer look at the group.
 
I blink rapidly not sure of what I
’
m seeing.
 
I had read about students protesting social repression by coming to school naked.
 
I thought it was a myth but there they are
right in front of me totally
naked.
 
Well not completely.
 
Some of the protestors are wearing shoes and a few have on backpacks and hats.
 
I avert my eyes and rush towards the west entrance of the school.
 
How could I not have noticed boobs and balls right in front of me?
 
I set off towards the cafeteria looking around wondering what else I
’
d missed while my head was down.
 
I buy an apple and oatmeal to go and find a place to sit on a grassy hill near a giant bear statue.
 
I take out my new journal and watch the student
’
s speeding by in every direction.
 
I write,
 
‘
It
’
s my first day of
 
class
 
at UC Berkeley.
 
 
I
’
m pretty sure my roommate
’
s certif
iable.  P
eople come to school naked
 
and I
’
ve spent my entire first class lusting over the
 
student teacher.
 
Everyone walks
 
around this place
looking
 
as if
 
they have it all figured out.
 
It
’
s my first day
 
and I
’
m already filled with uncertainty.
’

Chapter 3

 
 
 
 
 
I see Tucker everywhere
 
and he
’
s always accompanied by a gaggle of giggling girls.
 
I
t’s unbelievable how
silly
some woman can act
.
 
Of course I
’
m no better. H
e smiles at me and I get all flustered.
 
Right now I
’
m standing in the doorway of the library watching the rain come down in buckets.
 
I
’
m about to make a run for it and brave the rapids when I hear
 
a deep sexy voice boom from behind me.
 
 
“
Waiting for a boat,
”
 
he says.
 
I turn and there he is again flashing those dimples at me.
 

“
No I
’
m waiting for a chivalrous man to sweep me off my feet and carry me to my room,
”
 
I blurt before I can stop myself.
 

Tucker steps closer to me.
 
I open my mouth and rack my brain for something clever to say.
 
He bends down and scoops me into his arms then steps out into the rain quickly walking towards the dorms.
 
I really should protest but my face is just inches away from his and all I want to do is rest my head on his shoulder and pledge my undying love.

“
Are you ok?
 
He asks looking over at me. You look as if you might be having a stroke.
”
 

“
I
’
m rarely at a loss for words,
”
 
I say,
 
“
but you caught me off guard.
”

“
Was that chivalrous enough for you?
”
 
 
Tucker says as he gently lowers me to my feet under an awning.
 
He inhales deeply before removing his arm from my waist.
 

“
Did you just sniff me?
”
 
I ask with phony indignation.
 
His face reddens slightly which makes me feel more comfortable for some reason.
 
 
 
“
So do I tip you?
”
 
 
I ask.

He rakes his fingers through his damp curls, raises an
eyebrow
and gives me a sheepish grin.
 
Tucker reaches for my hand and a ball of fire forms around my belly
 
button and gets lower as he pulls me closer.
 
 
“
Yeah you can tip me but I don
’
t want money.
”
 
 
He opens my hand and brushes a finger across my palm.
 

I swallow hard and ask,
 
“
Then what do you want?
”
 
He pulls me a little closer and my heart races.
 
We are standing toe to toe and Tucker is gazing into my eyes like a scene from a soap opera.
 
He opens his mouth to speak but before he can say another word he
’
s interrupted by one of the groupies.

“
Oh Doctor Bradley,
”
 
her shrill voice cry
’
s out like nails on a chalkboard,
 
“
you
’
re so gallant.
”
 
 
Of course she
’
s a tall gorgeous blond who I now officially hate.
 
She walks right between us as if I
’
m invisible.
 
I pull my hand away from his and ball my fists but I
’
m pretty sure the university would frown on me beating a giant debutant.
 
So I turn to walk away seething with anger.

“
Leila
 
wait,
”
 
he says reaching for my arm.

I pull away,
 
“
I
’
ll see you around Doctor Bradley,
”
 
I say with a hint of sarcasm which I hope hides my disappointment.
 

Back in the dorm room I change out of my wet clothes and take out my journal.
 
I write,
 
‘
No more lusting after Tucker.
 
There are too many other women to
 
contend with;
besides I need to keep my eyes on the prize.
’
 
 
I close
 
the book resolute and
start studying
 
with new found determination.
 
When my eyes start to cross from reading for so long
 
I close my book and call Keisha.
 
She tells me that her oldest son
little DJ
made
the honor role
despite the fact that
he curses like a
Def Comedy Jam
comedian
and is constantly fighting.
 
She also tells me a bunch of funny stories about the crazy things
 
her kids have done since I
’
ve been gone.
 
She asks what I
’
ve been up to and I tell her about my classes and assignments.
 
I don
’
t bother mentioning Tucker.
 
I know the first thing she
’
ll say is,
 
“
aren
’
t there any
 
brothah
’
s
 
in Berkeley?
”
 
 
Even though I
’
ve never dated outside my race I don
’
t have any qualms about it.
 
 
Everyone should find love where they can.
 
We talk for hours and by the time I finally get to bed I
’
ve forgotten all about Tucker and the debutant.
 

However, my anger resurfaces the next morning.
 
I
’
m sitting up in bed wishing I had taken a swing at the blond.
 
I climb out of bed and step into my slippers thinking of everything I should have said to the girl.
 
But the anger dissipates and fades to a distant memory when I see a package that Sarah must have left on my desk in the middle of the night.
 
It
’
s from my uncle and it
’
s filled with clothes that I believe he meant to send to a high priced call girl.
 
A black form fitting dress with an asymmetric hemline, a backless white dress and pants that I assume would hang so low on
 
my hips that my butt crack would
 
show with each step I take.
 
I guess he thinks I
’
ll get A
’
s in my classes
if I flash the professors a pee
k at my lady lumps. I like playing dress up in all the clothes that my uncle
 
Pookie
 
sends but I
’
m starting to see the value in just being comfortable.