“That white motherfucker,” Lakisha was incredulous.“Yep,” Don emphasized.“He always seemed a li’l nosey,” Prince added.“You ain’t ly...ing,” Jermaine chimed in.“Y’all believe they were really having sex,” Lakisha prodded.“There’s no tellin’,” Don said.They ate in relative silence for the rest of the meal. All of the men were aware Lakisha was looking for more rumors to go back and share with the other faculty and staff chicks. It all seemed plausible since the coach wasn’t at work and Shaquan was. There was one who asked if I’d take her out when I was there, but I explained why I couldn’t, and she asked if we could be friends.”“Just friends?” she asked.“Of course just friends,” I retorted.“Is that just friends as in just friends, or just friends like you and Cal?”“Just friends.”Everybody was waiting when we got home. I exchanged hugs with Andy and Pip, the hugged Aunt Mary. I saved my best greeting for Cal, a long deep soul searing kiss that had her sagging in my arms.“Get a room you. 'Leslie needshelp dressing herself' had been a fact of life ever since they'd adoptedher. For a moment she'd thought that Leslie had gone to sleep with herclothes on, but that couldn't be right. "Please stand me up, Mom,"Leslie begged. "I can do everything else, just not that." Oh, sweetheart, I've got you," her mother said, helping pull herdaughter to her feet and embracing her in a deep hug."Just a few more weeks, Leslie," her father told her. "You don't need torisk yourself like this." I. Marella is to be worshiped from afar, to be fantasized about, but will never be his to touch, to kiss, to ravish. His body slumps as he realizes age is catching up with him, work is pounding him down and he is lonely. The next day John is talking to Marella about the real market launch he is planning. John is planning a big cocktail party at the golf club, followed by a smaller reception at the country home for a more intimate group of people. John goes through a lot of the details with Marella.