Read Online This Time for Real by Yahrah St. John - Free Book Online Page A

leggy mahogany babe that had caught Malik’s eye. “She was pretty hot. So what happened?”
    â€œI screwed it up,” Malik replied and swigged his beer. “Came on too strong.”
    â€œBut you can correct that,” Quentin responded. “You know, tone down your enthusiasm.”
    â€œYou didn’t see her run in the opposite direction.” Malik dragged his long, narrow fingers through his dreads.
    â€œIt’s not too late,” Dante said. “Isn’t she going to be volunteering at the center?”
    Malik nodded.
    â€œWell then, show her that you can take things as slow as she wants,” Dante continued, “Show her all that Malik Williams charm that we know you have.”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œNot you guess, you know,” Quentin stated. “The next time Peyton Sawyer sees you, be the perfect gentleman.”
    Â 
    â€œDr. Sawyer, may we come in?” Kendra asked from the doorway before class on Friday.
    Peyton glanced up and saw Kendra standing with an imposing young man who she could only assume was Omar, Kendra’s boyfriend and the father of her child. He was dressed in jeans and a sports jersey and wearing a baseball cap. Peyton surmised he was over six feet, and with his football player physique he couldintimidate anyone—but not her. She’d failed several young men just like him when she’d been in Cleveland, those who’d thought their athletic scholarship guaranteed them a free ride. That’s until they’d come to her class and discovered they actually had to work to earn a grade.
    From the scowl on his face, it was clear Omar did not want to be here, but Peyton welcomed him anyway.
    â€œCome on in,” Peyton stood and extended her hand. “Please have a seat.”
    â€œOmar Bishop, this is Dr. Peyton Sawyer, my professor.” Kendra smiled as they both sat across from Peyton.
    Omar gave Peyton a cold stare. “And here I thought she was white.” Omar laughed to himself.
    â€œMr. Bishop, there are black professors,” Peyton responded. “And because I am a minority, I understand how important it is to get a quality education, which is what I want for Kendra.”
    â€œThat’s what you want, Doctor,” Omar replied. “If it were up to me, Kendra here—” he roughly pulled Kendra toward him “—wouldn’t work at all. She’d be content being my baby’s mama. But now she’s got all these ideas in her head about getting into social work.”
    â€œThey are not ideas, Omar.” Kendra pushed him away. She was extremely annoyed at his comment. “It’s a career.”
    â€œOne that would be well served by Kendra volunteering at the community center,” Peyton said. “I took the liberty of pulling together some literature on the center as well as the areas she’d be exposed to when volunteering.” Peyton leaned over to hand Omar several pamphlets.
    When he didn’t accept them, Kendra took them. “Thank you.”
    Omar clapped his hands slowly at Peyton’s impassioned speech. “That’s all well and good, Dr. Sawyer, but what’s in this for you?” he asked, lounging back in the chair and staring back at her.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI said what do you get out of all this? Why are you helping Kendra? Because no one does something for nothing,” Omar stated.
    â€œI’m helping her because I believe in her talent,” Peyton countered. “Don’t you?”
    â€œWhat I believe is that Kendra hardly has time for me now, and volunteering at some center won’t help it none.” Omar rose from his chair.
    â€œBut it might help.” Peyton stood. She refused to believe that she could not get through to the young man.
    â€œC’mon, baby.” Omar grabbed Kendra by the hand and pulled her towards the door.
    â€œI’m sorry.” Kendra mouthed the words as