Chapter Eighteen
Jonas usually spent his time driving through rush hour traffic with jazz music bellowing from his speakers. It was a good way to keep his mind clear of the bumper to bumper road rage that went on around him. But today as he made his way to the Boys and Girls Club, nothing could clear his mind from thoughts of Samiyah. She’d taken off running like something was after her yesterday evening, and Jonas couldn’t blame her. He understood her need to get away more than she thought which is why he didn’t stop her.
Deep down inside, Jonas was fighting his own battle. Never in a million years had he found himself this taken by a woman. The fact that it happened so quickly was all the more stunning to him. But he’d made up his mind that he wouldn’t let her get away, he couldn’t. If he did, he’d live the rest of his life wondering what could’ve been and Jonas was not a man who liked to live with regrets. He’d had the dissatisfaction of living with only a few of those, and he would do whatever was necessary to make sure he didn’t add more regrets to the pile.
He grabbed his cell phone and dialed her number but didn’t hit send. Maybe she needed a little space he reasoned. He removed the number and placed his phone back in the middle console. He would leave her be for now, but tomorrow he would make it his business to reach out to her.
He pulled into the facility and parked. As he made his way into the building, a young boy ran up to him.
“Mr. Rose!”
He gave the boy a bright smile and pat on the head. “Hey David, I’m glad you’re here today. How’s school?”
The six-grader shrugged his shoulders, “It’s alright I guess.”
“You guess, what seems to be the problem?”
“It’s a new school; I don’t know anybody there. All my friends went to different schools or are still back at my old school.”
“That’s because you graduated. It’s a stepping stone. That’s a good thing. I’m sure your parents are proud of you.”
“Yeah, my mom says this is the best school for my academics. Whatever that means.”
Jonas chuckled, “I’m sure your mom is right.”
“She says, she’s always right,” David said.
Jonas laughed again, “Sure she is. Come on let’s go inside.”
They walked into the building and John Ripley, the organizer there, walked out of his office to shake his hand.
“Mr. Rose, how are you today, son?”
“I can’t complain, how about yourself?”
“I wouldn’t dare complain. The wife may overhear me and have my head on a platter.”
The men chuckled.
“David, what are you doing out of the classroom?”
“I saw Mr. Rose pull up and wanted to say hi.”
“You could’ve done that when he got in the building.”
“It’s no problem at all,” Jonas responded.
“Run along now, son, Mr. Rose will be there in just a minute.”
David left for the classroom.
“I wanted to ask you; we’ve just put up an open spot for a female mentor to come in and replace Sandra. If you know of anyone, pass along the information, please.” He handed Jonas a folder.
“What happened to Sandra?”
“Apparently, she got an internship in Ohio that she couldn’t refuse, so her last day here was last week.”
“Good for her,” Jonas said.
“But not so good for us.” Mr. Ripley countered.
“I’m sure you’ll find someone just a great as Sandra to replace her.”
“Maybe, but that could take more time than we have. Those girls don’t need to go too long without a mentor.”
Jonas thought about Samiyah. “I may have someone I can ask.”
“Perfect, I can always count on you! Now I’ll let you get to your class.”
Jonas entered the classroom, and the loud talking died down. He placed the folder on his desk and made his way to the front of it perching his hip on the edge. He had them write out a list of goals they wanted to achieve. Some of them being younger than others had fairly comical responses as other had real goals in mind.
“I want to know how I can get a car like the one you have sitting outside Mr. Rose,” said an eighth grader sitting in the back.
“I want you to tell me,” Jonas said. The young boy thought for a minute.
“I need a job?” It was more of a question.
“What kind of job do you need?”
“One that makes a lotta money.” The boys laughed.
Jonas smiled, “And how do you find a job that pays a lotta money as you put it?”
“One that I build for myself.”
“What kind of job do we call that?”
“Self-employment.”
“So, tell me Matthew, what steps do you need to take to be self-employed to make a lot of money?”
“First, I need to set a goal, then I need to write out a plan to meet that goal. I have to work hard, save, and look for sponsors.”
“And what else?”
The boy continued to answer Jonas as he continued to fire question after question at him. It was no doubt that Jonas was impressed and proud that the kids were paying attention, especially since he wasn’t able to mentor them every day. Jonas randomly called on other boys in the room to make sure they were all paying attention.
Surely enough they all made valid points and gave some insight on how they would attain their goals. After forty-five minutes of the back and forth answer session, Jonas decided to break so the boys could grab snacks and sodas provided by the organization. There was a lite tap at the door.
“The door is open.” He spoke loudly.
When it swung open Samiyah timidly stood in the doorway. Jonas felt a plethora of emotions seeing her statuesque form standing before him.
“I hope I’m not interrupting, but when you get a moment, there is pizza in the cafeteria for the boys.” A dazzling smile crossed her face. “Don’t wait too long though; the girls already beat you guys to it.” She said demurely.
The boys turned to Jonas eyes wide already standing to their feet. “Go ahead fellas.”
They flew out of the room, with Samiyah standing to the side so she wouldn’t be trampled. As the last boy left the room, Jonas walked toward her.
“Pizza?”
“I figured you guys could use something to eat. Are you hungry?”
His eyes faltered as he reached her. “I’m always hungry.”
Her body lit up with a slow burn that made her squirm.
“I hope you don’t mind me barging in.”
“I don’t mind at all. It is a welcomed interruption.”
A smile lingered on his lips. He had a way of standing right up on her that made his presence and invasion of privacy. However, Samiyah couldn’t find it in herself to step away. Jonas had this paralyzing aura that held her feet firmly in place. She couldn’t deny that this man hypnotized her in a way no one had ever done. And for the brief time they’d been away from each other, she’d missed him.
After talking to Claudia, the day before, Samiyah decided to let her guard down, no matter how much the practical side of her tried to talk her out of it.
She leaned in slipping a quick kiss on his lips before moving off toward the cafeteria. He reached out pulling her back in. His lips hovering over hers.
“Jonas… we’re in public. Around kids.”
That seemed to do it. Instantly Jonas released Samiyah and took a step back. “It might have saved you this time, but it won’t save you later.” He warned.
She batted her eyes, “I’m counting on it.”
She turned and sashayed away; his eyes glued to her. When he blinked and looked off, the organizer, Mr. Ripley stood watching them from his office a huge grin displayed on his face. He winked and gave Jonas a thumbs up. Jonas chuckled and made his way to the cafeteria.
Later that night, Samiyah found herself wrapped tightly with Jonas, their bodies merging into one erotic display of passion. With their moans and whispers of love, they sang out to one another with orgasmic eruptions taking them higher than anything either of them had ever experienced before. Nights turned into days and days into nights as they reveled in each other, growing a love that neither of them thought was possible.
Samiyah took on a part time mentorship over the young girls at the club until they could find someone full time. But the girls fell in love with her wittiness and sense of humor.
They soaked up every word she dished out like a sponge, and before long, the organizer asked her to step in for a full-time role. Unfortunately, that would interfere with her time with the preemies. As much as she wanted to help, Samiyah denied the role for obvious reasons.
“I understand,” the organizer said. “But the girls might not.” He tried to tug on her heart strings.
“They’ll never miss what they didn’t have. Part time is what they’re used to so let’s not tell them you asked.” She patted him on the shoulder. “I’ve got some packing to do so I should go, but I’m sure you’ll find someone equally as fantastic as me.” She smiled brightly, dipped into a curtsey and left.