A test of Love - Navaura Campbell (best management books of all time .txt) 📗

up to my room to get ready for bed. Now, I'm sitting here an hour later and thinking what am I doing? Should I be doing this? Should I be this comfortable after all this time? Should I? I don't know. I have to go to bed now though. Work's tomorrow.
Later,
De-De
June 15, 2003

"I would ask you when, but I'm not going to do that. The important question is are you?" Quinton stated, coming into her office. Denise was bent over her desk, looking over some assignments she'd given the students who were in the high-school level in the history program. She'd taken over for their teacher Audrina, to make sure they'd been complying with all the rules of the thesis paper they'd been instructed to write on William Shakespear.
"Well, hello to you, too." She stated without looking up from her present paper.
"Hi, Denise, so tell me, are you?"
Denise paused her pen in mid air, glancing up at her bestfriend of three years. "Am I what?"
"Are you and Jordan back together?"
Denise smirked, "Do you know how gossipy that sounds?"
Clearing his throat, Quinton leaned over her desk, staring her in the eyes. He was presenting her with his intimidation stare. Denise rolled her eyes heavenward and let out a bouncy laugh, "Quinton, your eyes are shrewd enough, that if I didn't know you, I'd take you seriously, but no, it's not working."
With this out, Quinton sighed and pulled himself up erect, folding his arms in a pout across his chest, "How about this?" His medium toned pitch inquired. Denise laughed, "Yeah, ok. Why are you asking if Jordan and I are together any how?"
Quinton laughed, "Well, I called your house one morning miss thang and Vicki told me that you'd gone over there the night before and hadn't come back home. Two and two together, and..." He stopped right there.
"I can't say for sure if anything's going to happen between us just yet." Denise confirmed, her tone confidential.
"So, you two have been screwing the hell out of eachother lately?"
"No, but...we did sleep together that night." Denise felt her skin flush with excitement upon remembering.
Quinton let out a huge grin, a devious smile coming to his features. Taking a seat in a chair, across from her desk, he said, "So, tell me, was it anything like those highschool days?"
"What do you mean?" Denise inquired, her eyes going down to her pens.
"You know what I mean! Remember three years ago fourth of july? You two snuck..."
"I know what happened...wait, wait...how do you know?" Denise interrupted, her face flushing with heat.
Quinton laughed, "Hmmn, let's see, maybe because you two walked right past me and snuck off to another side of the park. I being curious followed you."
Denise's jaw dropped open, "What?"
Quinton laughed more, "Oh come on, Denise, practically the whole town knew what was going on with you and Jordan. Plus, you were always lousy at hiding anything. So, ofcourse, I just wanted to see what kind of idea you had this time, so I followed you."
"That makes me feel safe, Quin." Denise replied sarcastically.
Quinton laughed, "So, was it anything like highschool?" He persisted.
Denise sighed, "Young ladies never tell, Quin, you of all people know that."
"Well, atleast tell me if he did it right or not. Did he do his thang?" Quinton inquired, his eyes narrowed at her.

Just then, her cell phone went off in her purse. Denise smiled, how convenient. Sighing, she grabbed the phone from her bag and glanced at the caller id. It blinked Anita Williams. Denise raised a brow. How did he get this number? Flipping open the phone, she greeted, "Hey, Jordan."
"Caller id is amazing, isn't it?" He inquired. His voice brought her rustled nerves into relaxation. Denise loved the fact that she'd never really felt tense around him. She loved the fact that with him, she was allowed to feel and be herself.
"Yeah, it is. How did you get my number?" She smiled from the other end, her eyes glazed over coffee beans.
"I'm surprised your mom still likes me." He replied, a hint of tease in his voice.
"So, she gave it to you?"
"That she did."
Denise sighed, "What is the emergency that it can't wait?"
Jordan laughed, "It has to be an emergency? I can't just want to hear your voice?"
"Emergencies only Williams." Denise stated, her tone playful. Jordan laughed, "Alright, then I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight."
"I thought you were on e?"
"I had money forwarded from my account."
"Why couldn't you do that to get real groceries?"
"Because I didn't have anyone other than myself to think about at the time."
"Since when do I fit into the equation?"
"Why do you always have to ask questions? Can't you just say yes or no?"
Denise shrugged her shoulders and leaned over her desk, unaware that Quinton was still listening with keen interest.
"That would be too easy."
"Ok, well, can you atleast just trust that dinner won't be hotdogs and bologna sandwiches?"
Denise laughed, "Where are we going?"
"We're having dinner at my house."
"Dinner at your place?"
"Yes, I want to talk to you afterward, that's why."
"I guess that blemishes out any naughty thoughts." Denise stated, her tone really low. As soon as she spoke those words, she felt her skin flush horribly. Why had she said that? It sounded worse than what she was thinking. Maybe wrong choice of words?
Jordan just laughed, a deep rumble emitting from his throat. She had no idea what his thoughts were. Absolutely none. "I'll keep you in suspense." Denise let out a sigh of frustration as she felt the undeniable signs of lust filter throughout her body. One time definitely wasn't enough.
"Alright, Jordan."
"Come straight here from work."
"No changing or anything?"
"Did you shower this morning?"
"Yes."
"Did you wear one of those sexy suits?"
"Sexy suits?"
"Maybe Jeans and a t-shirt. It doesn't matter, you look good in anything."
Denise chuckled, "Alright Mr. Williams, I'll be there right after work."
"Alright."
As Denise hung up the phone, Quinton laughed, "I knew it, you are sleeping with your ex boyfriend. Soon to be new boyfriend. I wonder how Derreck's going to take this?"
"Jordan and I are just friends."
Quinton shook his head. "Naw, that will never be possible between you two, you know that."
"Well, we seem to be doing a fine job of it right now."
"No, what you guys are doing is repairing something that was broken."
"What?"
"Repairing what's broken. I mean all couples go through a period of breakdowns, but only the ones who are truly meant to be together can actually rebuild on a very solid foundation."
Denise stared up at him, her expression curious. "And what else Dr. Quinton."
"Well, when you guys do decide to reconcile, you'll put the past behind you and move forward, but the only way to do that is to deal with ailement, so that when you guys do come together, the old will be your foundation and the new memories will be the cohesive that hold you together, keep you steady when you need it."
"How do you know this?" Denise inquired, perplexed.
"It's a gift." Quinton teased.
"Well, I want the gift you have."
Quinton laughed, "No, you have the man."
Denise laughed herself. "Why do you say that?" This is what had built up the relationship between her and Quinton the first time. He seemed to always know what to say and when to say it and for some unknown reason, make her pop it into action.
Quinton sighed, his eyes connecting with hers, telling her something from his heart, "Because Denise, despite the many times you and Jordan have had it on and off with eachother, your love and chemistry have remained intact. That excitement that you two both shared in the earlier years of your relationship has always been there."
Denise sighed, "Not always Quinton. When his mother died, he became unbearable."
"Yet you stayed with him Denise."
"I left, Quinton. During that time when he needed me the most."
Quinton sighed, "Sweety, you left because you were heartbroken over the alcohol abuse. Not because you didn't want to be there. I mean think about it, you could've gotten an abortion and left for N.Y.U. that fall, but you didn't. You went through nine months of strenuous pregnancy, only to endure one of the most intensive moments of any woman's life and then lost your child, and then watch the only man you ever loved become a walking nightmare. I know for a fact Jordan wasn't all beans and cornbread when he started drinking. Matt used to work as manager at the marriott he was fired from."
Denise raised a brow, "Was matt the manager who fired him?"
"No, that was Keith. He's a rotten son of a bitch." Quinton stated.
"Oh. ok."
"Anyway, De-De, you only left physically. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, you guys are still connected."
"Really?" Denise furrowed her brows. He wasn't talking about that soul mate crap, was he?
"Yes, Denise, you and Jordan built a bond that was so strong, even distance couldn't seperate it." Quinton stated.
"So, you believe in Soul Mates too?" Denise inquired.
Quinton laughed, "Fate? hmmn? No, I believe in God."
Denise laughed, "How can that be? I thought you were an atheist?"
"I never told you I was an atheist, you just assumed I was."
"But isn't it contradictory to believe in God, when the bible says something about hating gays in it?"
Quinton sighed, "No, it doesn't say anything about hating gays. It says that Homosexuality, the life style is a sin."
Denise raised a brow, "If homosexuality is a sin, then why do you practice it?"
"Because it's what I like. I can't help it if I'm not attracted to girls. Maybe if I did find a girl interesting enough, I would give her a chance, but right now, the only people I find even remotely attractive and doable are men."
Denise nodded, releasing her most current thought. "I still think that's un natural."
Quinton sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe so, but I love men. I can't help that."
Denise cleared her throat, "Yeah. I love men too."
"Correction sugar, you only love one man. Jordan's the only lover you've ever had." Quinton stated.
Denise narrowed her eyes, "Just because I love him and haven't messed with other men, doesn't mean that I don't look and I don't think about it."
Quinton raised a brow. "Ms. Purity has actually thought about being with other men?"
Denise shrugged, "Don't call me that, and yes, I have thought about what it would be like to actually go out with another man."
Quinton waved her statement away, "So wait, you haven't been tempted to be with another man?"
"Define tempted."
Quinton shook his head, "If I got to define it for you, then hell, you haven't wanted another man. When you come to a place where you find yourself wanting a man other than him, then maybe we can talk, maybe then we can get on that subject, but until then..." He paused and then switched topics, "So, what's for dinner tonight?"
Denise let out a wistful sigh, "He wouldn't tell me."
"OOOOH, I like surprises." Quinton stated, sounding like a child in a candy store.
"I don't." Denise replied.
Quinton smacked his lips, "I bet he got more than one for you."
Denise rolled her eyes despite the pitter patter of flurries in her stomach. She hoped he did. But, she wouldn't give Quinton the satisfaction of knowing that. She'd just have to wait and see.

Jordan grabbed the wine bottle and sat it inside the ice box next to the fridge. He didn't even know if Denise liked champagne. He wasn't even sure if he liked it himself, having never tasted it, but hoped it would be as good as the store clerk had said it was. Something called Tropical. It was supposed to have a more sweet taste to it than chamagne, which had a higher alcohol content. He had dimmed the lights in the kitchen and living room, set on some music he knew she would like. A soft jazz station, elimminating the need for cd's and their inconsistant scratching. Sighing, he glanced over at the timer. It read five thirty. She was due to get off work in half an hour. He'd put the ribs