Going in Circles

By L. A. Hollis

Bruce Jones and Marcus Emerson are members of the posse, an elite group of five football standouts at UC Berkeley. There isnt a female on or off campus who is immune to the suave brothers legendary tactics with the fairer sex. Bruce is the leader of the group and his words are considered golden by those wanting to perfect their playah skills. The smooth talking brothers popular handbook for lesser men, titled, The Playahs Guide for Dummies, is a much sought after publication by the male student body on campus. Its witticisms on the treatise of male/female relationships make for great fun.

Amber is Bruces younger sister and she sets her sights on his best friend, Marcus. Marcus has managed in the past to fend off his numerous admirers until she appears on the scene. An instant attraction sparks a lively romance. As the lovers set off on a funny, touching, journey of the heart, their relationship is wrenched from them through tragic circumstances.

Twelve years will pass before the lovers are reunited and given a second chance at the life meant for them so many years before. Will they find the happiness that eluded them in the past?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450226837

L. A. Hollis

L. A. Hollis received her master’s degree in geology and minor in microbiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Married to the love of her life, Mark, they have three sons, two daughters, four grandchildren, and two spoiled Rottweilers. Find her on the web at http://www.lahollis.com/.

Book preview

Going In Circles

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L. A. HOLLIS

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Copyright © 2010 by L. A. Hollis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4502-2682-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-2684-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-2683-7 (ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 02/16/2011

Contents

Acknowlegements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Epilouge

Acknowlegements

First I’d like to give honor to God, who makes all things possible.

This book is dedicated to Mark Hollis, my husband, and the guardian of my heart. His continued love, support and praise were truly instrumental in my completing this book. We spent many hours working on the text together and I can’t thank him enough for being there for me when I needed him. I thank God our paths have crossed once more and I feel truly blessed. Thanks to our children - Julian, Ian, Russell, Stacey, Anaise and Kim, and to our grandchildren, Bria, Jober, Lolene, and Destiny.

I owe a debt of thanks to many people for their help in writing of this novel. I’ll start first with a special thank you to my sister, Barbara Randall, an editor and writer herself. Barbara coaxed and prodded and coaxed again until she was totally satisfied with the storyline. I look forward to returning the favor with the novel she is writing. I also want to give a special thank you to my brother, Greg Allen, who came up with many of the witticisms for Bruce’s character in the novel. Both Barbara and Greg’s help was invaluable in writing this book.

I also would like to acknowledge my reading group of friends for their support – Carol Appenrodt, Michael Joe Lyons, Carol Adams, Joanne Bell, Kristina Bell, Arnold Sword, Laura Stabell, and Tommie and Tramaine Richardson. And a special thank you goes to my friends - Betty Allen, Skip Wysinger, Eddie and Cinde Hollis, Craig Hollis, Tony Dennis, Clarence Judice, David Beard, and Frank Chargois Jr.

I’d like to give a special thank you to my mother, Elise Ford Allen, and to Mark’s mother, Ruth Dennis. I love you. And, in loving memory of my father, James O. Allen, I give my eternal love. He taught me how to dream and to reach for the unreachable. Lastly, I would like to give a special thank you to my supportive family, the Allens, Greg, Jim, Carol, Barbara, Angela, Tim, Joy, Janet, Norman and their families.

Going in Circles

Lyrics by The Friends of Distinction

I’m an ever rolling wheel,

Without a destination reel,

I’m an ever spinning top,

Whirling around ‘till I drop.

Oh, but what am I to do,

My mind is in a whirlpool,

Give me a little hope,

One small thing to cling to.

You’ve got me going in circles,

Round and round I go,

I’m spun out over you.

Chapter 1

Hey, Amber–over here! yelled a light-skinned, African-American male in a white T-shirt and jeans as he neared the baggage claim at Oakland’s International Airport.

Spying her brother, Amber ran right into his bear hug. Not satisfied with that display of affection, Bruce Jones lifted Amber off her feet and twirled her before bringing her to a soft, professional landing.

Bruce, put me down you crazy fool. Can’t you see everybody is lookin’ at us?

With his blue eyes flashing, he replied flippantly, Girl, stop trippin’. These people don’t know us, so who cares. He twirled her around twice more just to make his point.

Bruce Jones was a junior at Berkeley and a star cornerback on the football team. He had invited Amber for a visit.

Bruce glanced at the dozens of pieces of luggage stacked by the United Airlines carousel. Where’s your bags? We’ve got to hurry because one of my posse is parked outside waiting for us. You know how airport security is.

Amber pointed at her two gray-colored suitcases. She smiled as he grabbed them with ease. They had red stickers pasted on their bulging sides to indicate they were oversized and heavy. Her smile broadened as a group of young girls eyed him appreciatively. They wore identical, bedazzled expressions and were practically drooling at the mouth. Amber was tempted to offer tissues. Then she shrugged off the impulse … that was her brother, always wanting the ladies to be impressed with his strength and handsome appearance.

Bruce, you’re always talkin’ about your friends like they are some sort of majestic beings.

The posse are majestic. They are the baddest brothas at Cal and I’m their leader. There ain’t a female alive that can resist us. We love women and women love us. The men admire us, want to be like us, but they can’t because they’re weak, they’re just mere earthlings.

Earthlings? Amber’s eyes were twinkling and she suppressed more obvious signs of mirth, What, you ain’t from Earth now, Negro?

Amber, you must realize that ordinary men pale in comparison to us. Women fall at our feet because they’re attracted to the qualities we display, and we keep them enthralled with the qualities we possess. They have no immunity from our charm. We look good, and our bodies are in superb condition. He then said, even more cockily than before, We’re bigger in all of the critical areas, and we are most definitely the best lovers that a woman could ever desire.

Maybe you should start a fan club.

We already have one.

Um humph. Amber could tell by the tone of her brother’s voice that the fan club existed. She barely managed not to roll her eyes in mockery as she inquired, Well, who are the rest of these esteemed posse members?

There’s only five of us … Marcus, Terrance, Big Darius, Artus, and me. You’ll meet Marcus in a minute because he’s outside with the car.

Well lead on, oh mighty one, Amber said. She dropped him a curtsy and waved him ahead of her as they made their way out of the airport.

Exhilaration raced through her system as they stepped into the warm August sunshine. The cloudless sky was an intense blue. Squinting her eyes against the brightness of the noonday sun, she reached into her purse for her sunglasses. She slipped them on and tried not to look too touristy as she watched the people coming and going around her. It was her first visit to California. In fact, it was the first time she was out from under the watchful gaze of her parents and those of her two younger sisters. She could do anything she wanted. Well, granted that Bruce would allow her the opportunity, and she hoped there would be many.

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Where are they? Marcus wondered, as he sat in Bruce’s Cobra Mustang. He had driven through the passenger pickup area ten times in the last fifteen minutes. Hopefully, he could stay parked for a while longer before the airport security officers prodded him to move on.

Marcus was feeling antsy and couldn’t help it. When his best friend, Bruce, told him and their friends that one of his sisters was coming for a visit, he had been curious about Amber. Especially, when Bruce told them how fine she was.

The team had finished a grueling football practice. Bruce was almost naked, except for his boxers and a white towel that he ran over the cords of muscle on his chest and arms.

His friends were stripping down in the locker room when Bruce warned them. You brothers need to be on your best behavior around my little sis. She’s only eighteen and she ain’t used to dogs like you.

How can you call us a dog–dog? An indignant Artus replied in his deep, nasally voice. You follow women around like they’re bitches in heat. Artus Watson’s reddish-brown skin was wet with perspiration. He picked up a towel from the bench and rubbed it over his face, short afro, and impressive shoulders.

Your sister ain’t got nothin’ to worry about if she looks like you, quipped Terrance. He was standing next to Artus and had just removed his cleats. Rubbing his goateed chin with his fingers he continued. On second thought, if she’s bow-legged like you … that might be interestin’.

Artus high-fived Terrance and they burst out laughing at Bruce’s irked expression. Terrance Johnson was also a true playah of the bunch. He was dark-skinned and lean, but nonetheless well muscled. His friendly disposition and suave ways had the ladies literally eating out of his hands.

Bruce’s jaw clenched. Amber is beautiful, and she doesn’t have bowed legs.

Yeah, all brothers think their sisters look good, grunted Artus. She’s probably butt ug-ga-lee."

Man, that was cold, Terrance said with a laugh.

Big Darius Jackson, the peacemaker, decided to chime in before things got out of hand. Well, I know Amber and she is fine.

Big Darius had just finished taking a shower and had a towel wrapped around his tapered waist. He was a close friend of the Jones family. He and Bruce grew up in the same hometown of Peoria, Illinois. They went through high school together and both were awarded football scholarships to Cal. Big Darius was a yellow-skinned brother that topped Bruce’s weight by almost eighty pounds of pure muscle. He was a bookworm and was majoring in chemistry. But, he left his bookish ways on the sideline when he appeared on the football field. He plowed down his opponents like a bulldozer out of control.

Standing in front of his locker, Bruce told his friends, Seein’ is believin’. I’ve got Amber’s senior picture in my wallet. Reaching into his black canvas bag and taking out a leather tri-fold, he pulled a picture from the inside compartment. Check this out. He handed the photo over to Artus.

Daaamn, said Artus. He had the picture so close to his Roman-shaped nose, that his eyes were crossed.

Give it to me, said Terrance, as he yanked it from Artus’s hand. You know you’re blind as two bats. Terrance stared at the photo for a long moment before replying, You’ve got to be kiddin’… this ain’t your sister. His voice rose in tone as it usually did when he became angry or excited. He was forever being ribbed about it because he was a big man, close to six feet tall and closing in on two hundred pounds.

Big Darius took the photo from Terrance to make sure that Bruce hadn’t pulled a fast one and exchanged his sister’s picture with one of the models he was dating. After assuring himself that it was Amber, Darius smirked with satisfaction and said, Yep, it’s her.

Okay, my turn, said Marcus, snatching the picture from Big Darius. He was the tallest of the bunch, several inches over six feet. Marcus Emerson was of Creole descent, with curly black hair and dark eyes. As he gazed on the now-wrinkled photo, he noticed that the girl was smiling, her full, pouting lips showcasing her white teeth to perfection. The rest of her features were finely sculptured: small nose and wide-spaced hazel eyes. Her hair color was somewhere between red and brown and hung just below her shoulders. Whoa, she’s beautiful, he said to himself. A small spark ignited in the vicinity of his heart … it was as if he was staring at his destiny.

Bruce’s voice intruded into Marcus’s thoughts: I’ll tell you all one more time, so listen up. That’s my sister and if you punks try anything stupid, I’ll kick your asses. You got that?

Well, you’re just gonna have to beat my ass, bro, said Artus. Because if she be willin’, I be dealin’. He was now sitting on the bench with his arms crossed over his massive chest. As the gladiator of the group, he didn’t take crap from anyone.

Bruce looked with exasperation at his large friend while he fingered the towel now around his neck. He nodded ever so slightly to Terrance and Big Darius, and then he walked over to Artus. As his friend bent to remove his cleats, Bruce shouted out, Terrance, Darius. Grab him. I’m gonna have to teach this brother a lesson in manners. He began snapping the towel at Artus like it was a whip.

Darius held one of the biggest linemen on the team completely immobilized, through a sheer act of will and biceps, while Bruce beat Artus with a towel. It was like holding a Brahma bull. A general free-for-all broke out with one and all laughing and roughhousing … except for Marcus.

Through the mêlée, Marcus stood off to the side and focused on Amber’s picture. He didn’t see the helmets flying or the clothes being tossed everywhere. It was as if he were in a trance. Noticing his friend’s intent stare, Terrance picked up a water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and then threw the contents at him. That was Marcus’s wake up call. The spell broken, he joined in the fracas.

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Hey Marcus, come grab one of these bags! Bruce’s shout broke into his friend’s musing. Marcus pushed the trunk release button, quickly exited the car, and walked over to take a suitcase from Bruce’s hand. He hefted the bag and settled it into the car’s small trunk.

Bruce had a petite girl standing next to him. He made a quick introduction, Marcus, this is Amber. Then took the bag he was carrying and placed it into the trunk next to the other one.

Marcus turned to face a girl who was wearing jeans and a pink cotton T. She held a pair of black sunglasses in her hand as she stood hesitantly before him. She was a little bitty thing. For some reason he hadn’t expected her to be so tiny. She couldn’t be more than a couple of inches over five feet and he doubted if she weighed more than a hundred pounds. He was a giant next to her with his towering six foot, four inch frame. All Marcus could think of was that her picture didn’t do her justice. Amber was even more vibrant in person. She was staring at him too, and their eyes locked for a moment as each suddenly became aware of the other’s attentive presence.

Amber gave her brother’s friend an enticing smile. Cocking her head to the side, she said in a sweet, throaty voice, Hello Marcus. It’s nice to meet you. She lightly flicked her tongue along the bottom of her lip, moistening it. If eyes could speak, hers had just issued a blatant challenge.

Marcus was struck silent for a moment as he lost himself in her smile. Never before had he’d felt such a deep and instant attraction for a woman. She was flirting with him, and he was never one to turn down a chance to hone his playah skills. But before going into that mode, he had to see where Bruce was. He noticed that his friend was out of hearing range, sliding in behind the wheel of the car.

It was time to start round one of the match.

With a move smooth as silk from long practice, Marcus took her small hand into his much larger one and held it just a little too long. He rubbed his thumb sensuously along the upper portion of her knuckles.

Bruce has told me a lot about you, he murmured showing startling white teeth. And I look forward to learning a lot more. He gave her his patented fiery gaze.

Amber quickly removed her hand from his and literally