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

were jealous of him being with me."
Mrs. Richards cleared her throat, "That doesn't make any sense baby."
"That's what I said. He was having a hard time because one brother in particular made it clear to him that he didn't think Jordan and I should be together."
"What brother?"
Denise licked her lips, "The one I'll tell you about after I get something to drink."
"Lead the way."
Once Denise had gotten her drink and they settled down at the table, Denise began the conversation. Once they were well into it, her mother exclaimed, "Oh, wow, so this guy went as far to tell Jordan that he hated him for being with you?"
"Yeah, I mean I had made it clear to the guy I wasn't interested, but he just kept on."
"Well, when was the last time he made a pass at you?"
"About ten months ago."
"Really?" Her mother seemed to be deep in thought, before she finally said, "Do you remember how that cooper girl was with you in high school, Denise?"
"Yes."
"How it seemed that she was jealous of you?But it turned out to be something deeper than that?"
Denise took a sip of her grape juice, "Yes."
"Perhaps this character at school is taking Jordan through the same thing you went through during high school. Some people believe that the color lines shouldn't mix and he sounds like one of those people."
"That still doesn't explain why he chose to break up with me."
"Denise, you saw how you were in high school and with men being ten times more aggressive than women, I'm pretty sure it was more than just his words that affected Jordan. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot more going on than what you think."
"Why would he fight for me and then give up? Mom, do you know how much I had to go through just to get to where I could trust him?" Denise stated, her heart beat accelerating in her chest.
"I know, but did you ever think about what he may be feeling Denise? Stop for a second and remember how you felt. A man can only fight for so long before he gets tired. College is not high school and as I said before, men are a lot more aggressive than women are and I wouldn't put it past one to bully him."
Denise inhaled sharply, "Why are you defending him, mom?
Mrs. Richards cleared her throat,"I'm not defending him baby. I just wanted to give you an idea of how it may be for him; not make him seem like he wasn't in the wrong, because I believe he was, especially considering he made a commitment to you and now this child."
Denise's eyes widened and she whispered, "How did you know?"
Mrs. Richards smiled, "Because I can tell. I had the pleasure of seeing you before. Your hips have spread a little and it looks as if you may be putting on a little weight."
Denise exhaled sharply, "Maybe."
"So what are you planning, to do with it?"
"The only thing I can do right now." Denise stated, feeling fresh tears well up in her eyes. Her heart felt as if it would burst with the pain it was subjected to.
Mrs. Richards reached out to touch her daughter's hand, "Denise, he made that baby with you, no woman should have to raise a child alone. I understand if you are angry with him, but don't take it out on the baby, ok? That won't solve anything. It will only leave you with guilt."
Denise shook her head, "No, mom, it will leave me with the opportunity to finish school. I don't want to be a single parent."
"I'm sure he will be there to help you once he finds out baby."
Denise slammed her hand down, "I don't need his fucking pity, mom. I don't want to raise this baby alone and I sure as hell don't want to be some charity case of his. If he doesn't want to be with me, believe me, I'm not going to stop him." With that, Denise stood up and went into the living room. Taking the suit cases she'd brought with her up the stairs, she made her way to her room.

Jordan shot the hoop in the basket one more time before gathering his things together and walking toward the bleachers. When he saw Trey, he stopped short and looked over at him. Trey just stared at him. Jordan chose to ignore him. He took a seat in the bleachers and opened his gym bag. When he did, he grabbed a water bottle out and a granola bar. Chugging the water to cool his sweaty body down, he ignored the looks that Trey was giving him and opened the granola bar. As he bit into the snack, Trey finally spoke to him, "How is it that a brother like you got a girl like Denise?"
Jordan turned to him and shrugged his shoulders. "For me it was love at first sight. I know I'm not that bad looking."
"Maybe you aren't, but the way she dress, the way she talk, the way she act is extremely urban. She's all quiet, observant, funny, smart and beautiful. Cultured in a way if you know what I mean."
Jordan raised a brow. "So?"
"And you, you're..."
"I know, I'm white, right?" Jordan interrupted, his tone irritated. How many times was he going to hear that from people?
Trey laughed, "No, I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say that you're smart, athletic, a bit more down to earth and somewhat arrogant in a way. You seem like the all American boy. The goody too shoes type. I bet you were the golden boy in high school. You are so well mannered and so preppy it's just different. Denise seem to be intellectually superior, so I guess in other words, an urban nerd. You are not though. Why is that?"
Jordan sighed, "In answer to your questions, I am not arrogant. I'm confident. I am a good guy, I was not preppy in high school, nor was I the all American boy. I was just me. As far as Denise being superior in intellect, that my friend is false. She's not smarter than I am. She just happens to get pleasure from learning. I on the other hand only do it as a means to get by. It's not my life."
"That's what make you guys so mismatched. She's like extremely punctual, uptight and has to have everything done on time to a t. You're not like that at all."
Jordan smiled, "I know. I love that about her though. She's always thinking ahead instead of the here and now. Everything she does has to have a purpose."
"What else do you like about her?" Trey inquired, his tone speculative.
"I absolutely love her hair in it's natural state. I love her skin tone. I love her book smartness, the way she smells like lilacs all the time and I love the fact that she can be tough yet gentle at the same time."
Trey cleared his throat, "So why did
you break up with her?"
Jordan froze for a second and then shrugged his shoulders a second time. "I thought you'd be happy about that."
Trey exhaled, "Under any other circumstances I would be, but the fact of the matter is, her heart belongs to you. No guy in his right mind would compete for a girl who has already given her heart."
"Tell that to Anton." Jordan stated dryly.
Trey got up from the bleacher he was sitting on and walked down to where Jordan was. "Anton is an airhead. You shouldn't pay attention to him. It doesn't matter if Denise had been with someone else, he still would've hated it because he couldn't have her."
"Right," Jordan stated.
"So, if you knew this, why did you allow him to get in between you and her? Why allow bullshit to separate you two? From what I've been told by her, you guys have been through some pretty rough times and you worked hard to show her you were different."
Jordan licked his lips, "I am different."
"If you're so different, why'd you let someone who is a hater break up a good thing. For crying out loud, you were going to marry the girl. Just the fact that she said yes, should have told you that she was not going to let words or anyone come between you."
Jordan sighed, "Trey, you don't understand."
"You right. I don't understand why you broke her heart. I don't understand why you allowed someone to come in between you two because of jealousy. I don't understand why you are not with her. If you love her that much, why not be with her. Fuck everybody else."
Jordan shook his head, "You don't understand..."
"You know what, I got to go to class.” Trey stated becoming irritated with his lame excuses, “I'm just telling you what I observe and I think you're an asshole for making her finally drop her guard, only to tell her she's not good enough. If you want her, fuck everybody else. If you scared, so what. Do it anyway and if you doubt any love she has for you, open your damn eyes, man. She's one hundred for what she feels."
Jordan glanced up at Trey, "Why are you telling me this?"
Trey sighed, "Because you need to make this right because Denise loves you. She needs you there with her."
Jordan stared at Trey, curious as to why he was doing this. "What's in this for you?" He inquired.
Trey shook his head, "I don't want to see her heart broken. I know what happened that day her friend found her. I think that shouldn't have happened. There is no reason for the girl to want to kill herself over you."
"I agree. She shouldn't have done it."
"Have you told her that?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's hard."
Trey crossed his arms over his chest, "You really need to man up Jordan. Man up before you loose the one person who really matters."
"I already broke up with her."
"As long as you love her and she loves you, you can get her back."
Jordan stood up, "Man, Trey, that's easier said than done. I know Denise. She's not too forgiving."
Trey stood up and looked Jordan in the eyes, "That girl you knew in high school has matured a lot Jordan. She can't suffer through loosing a child and not have a change. She can't suffer through having loved and lost that love to not change. She's not the same girl."
Jordan narrowed his brows. "How much did Denise tell you?"
Trey shrugged his shoulders and answered Jordan, "Enough for me to see that she's been through so much just for you to give up on her."

Denise shoved her head into her pillow, wishing that she could stop thinking of him. The very center of her started throbbing as images of his hands, mouth and penis took over. She wished the ache that was there and all over her body would go away, but they wouldn't. It was a nonstop throbbing. She felt as if everything he'd ever done to her from touch her, to make love to her had been imprinted on her body. He'd made his claim on her ten fold. This she hated. She hated that she couldn't get his scent out of her nostrils, or rid herself of the feel of his warm liquid pouring into her body. She hated not being able to sleep because she wanted him so bad. As if remembering, her hand reached up to run a light caress over her lips. She squeezed her lips together tightly as tears fought their way down her eyelids. God, she missed him. The sting in her throat wouldn't go away either and neither would the pounding in her heart. She ached, ached very fiercely for him. Swallowing softly, she inhaled and then whispered in a sleepy tone, "Jordan...I need you. Oh, I need you so bad." Gently, a tear slid down her cheek and she wished with one last thought that he was