Read Online You Don't Know Me Like That by Reshonda Tate Billingsley - Free Book Online Page B

you had any common sense, you’d be trying to soak up all the knowledge you could from me.”
    She just kept glaring, looking like she’d give anything to punch me in my throat. I didn’t know what in the world was her problem, but she was definitely pushing me.
    â€œNow, I’m going to understand that you’re emotional and give you a pass on this little outburst,” I continued, pointing my finger at her. “But don’t ever come at me like that again.”
    â€œSo, I guess this means you won’t help me get on air?”
    â€œYou guessed right.”
    She nodded as she bit her bottom lip, like she was trying to calm herself down. “As long as I know where I stand.”
    â€œYeah, so now you know. Now, beat it.” Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been as mad, but she had lost her dang mind coming in my office calling me a liar. This was exactly what I was talking about. Hate was coming at me from every direction.
    My sour mood was immediately erased when my phone rang and I looked at the caller ID. Seeing J. Love’s number immediately put a smile back on my face and wiped away any anger.
    â€œHello,” I sang.
    â€œHey, beautiful, whatcha doing?”
    â€œJust wrapped up on set. You?”
    â€œSame thing. Just finished sound check and now chillin’ before the show. You having a good day?”
    â€œYeah, just had a little tiff with my assistant. You know I’m always catching it because of my age. Folks think they can step to me any kind of way.”
    â€œHope you handled her.”
    â€œYou know I did.”
    We held the phone for a minute, then he said, “You miss me?”
    â€œI sure do. When will you be back?”
    â€œIn three days, just in time for my party. Sorry I haven’t been calling like I wanted. It’s just been really grueling out here. Doing a different city every night, then promotions all day long.”
    â€œNah, it’s cool. You know I know how it goes.”
    â€œSee, that’s what I’m talking about. And you don’t trip about my schedule.”
    â€œA confident girl never trips over something like that.”
    â€œYou know what, Maya Morgan? I don’t know about your kinda sorta man, but I’m not gonna rest until I make you my girl.”
    â€œWe’ll see, J. Love. We will see.” I had to play that role, but J. Love just didn’t know that was music to my ears.

Chapter 14
    S chool should really be optional. That’s all I could think as I glanced out the window, wishing I could be anywhere but in this boring English class. Mrs. Williams, my English teacher, was talking some “Where forth art thou” mess. Again, useless information.
    I wasn’t the only one who was ready for this class to end, because when the bell rang, everybody jumped up so fast you would’ve thought the place was on fire.
    â€œDon’t forget to start on those research papers,” Mrs. Williams called out as we raced toward the door. “You will have to orally present them in front of all the classes. Those are thirty percent of your grades, and I don’t want to hear any excuses.”
    I didn’t want to hear anything about a research paper. I hadn’t thought twice about that thing, even though I knew I needed to get started. It was supposed to be an informative paper, from which our classmates could learn some valuable information. We were making our presentations in a few weeks, and I still had no idea what I was doing.
    I saw Jayla heading into the class, which she had after me. I was just going to see if she could find me a topic to write about, then I’d make Ariel do all the research. Ariel might be mad now, but if she valued her job, she’d quickly get over it.
    â€œJayla,” I called out. She actually kept walking.
    What the . . . ? I spun around and went in the classroom after her. “Jayla, did you hear me call