A Love Like This (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

the groupies.
    “ Oh Doctor Bradley, ”   her shrill voice cry ’ s out like nails on a chalkboard,   “ you ’ re so gallant. ”     Of course she ’ s a tall gorgeous blond who I now officially hate.   She walks right between us as if I ’ m invisible.   I pull my hand away from his and ball my fists but I ’ m pretty sure the university would frown on me beating a giant debutant.   So I turn to walk away seething with anger.
    “ Leila   wait, ”   he says reaching for my arm.
    I pull away,   “ I ’ ll see you around Doctor Bradley, ”   I say with a hint of sarcasm which I hope hides my disappointment.  
    Back in the dorm room I change out of my wet clothes and take out my journal.   I write,   ‘ No more lusting after Tucker.   There are too many other women to   contend with; besides I need to keep my eyes on the prize. ’     I close   the book resolute and start studying   with new found determination.   When my eyes start to cross from reading for so long   I close my book and call Keisha.   She tells me that her oldest son little DJ made the honor role despite the fact that he curses like a Def Comedy Jam comedian and is constantly fighting.   She also tells me a bunch of funny stories about the crazy things   her kids have done since I ’ ve been gone.   She asks what I ’ ve been up to and I tell her about my classes and assignments.   I don ’ t bother mentioning Tucker.   I know the first thing she ’ ll say is,   “ aren ’ t there any   brothah ’ s   in Berkeley? ”     Even though I ’ ve never dated outside my race I don ’ t have any qualms about it.     Everyone should find love where they can.   We talk for hours and by the time I finally get to bed I ’ ve forgotten all about Tucker and the debutant.  
    However, my anger resurfaces the next morning.   I ’ m sitting up in bed wishing I had taken a swing at the blond.   I climb out of bed and step into my slippers thinking of everything I should have said to the girl.   But the anger dissipates and fades to a distant memory when I see a package that Sarah must have left on my desk in the middle of the night.   It ’ s from my uncle and it ’ s filled with clothes that I believe he meant to send to a high priced call girl.   A black form fitting dress with an asymmetric hemline, a backless white dress and pants that I assume would hang so low on   my hips that my butt crack would   show with each step I take.   I guess he thinks I ’ ll get A ’ s in my classes if I flash the professors a pee k at my lady lumps. I like playing dress up in all the clothes that my uncle   Pookie   sends but I ’ m starting to see the value in just being comfortable.  
    I pick up my drafting supplies and leave the room in sweats and a hooded sweat shirt. I sit on a bench in front of the dorms and take out my sketch pad, chalk and colored pencils to sketch the landscape.   It ’ s foggy and virtually desolate outside.   I ’ m sitting close enough to the buildings to see every detail but passersby look like walking shadows.   I draw a replica of the cluster of dorms then add a living   roof   filled with perennials, purple love grass and butterfly milkweeds.   It ’ s moments like this that remind   me why I chose architecture as a major. I feel so peaceful sitting here drawing.   I use gray chalk to create shadows and fog around the buildings.  
    “ That ’ s hauntingly beautiful, ”   I hear a woman ’ s voice behind me say. I turn to face her.     “ Is that purple love grass? ”   She is an older woman with long dark hair streaked with gray and eye ’ s the color of the ocean at night.  
    “ I honestly didn ’ t think anyone else would pick up on that.   Don ’ t you just love the name, purple love grass, ”   I say?
    The woman walks around the bench and sits next to me. She takes a closer look at the drawing.     “ The only thing missing from your design is