Marketta POV

"Damn! You're so sexy."

What was she going to do with a guy like Darnell? He was a lot of man to handle. Too hot, too sexy, too smart, too everything. Every time she had a conversation with him, she learned something else that seemed too good to be true.

He had a 4.0 GPA.

He volunteered at the community center tutoring kids.

He worked summers fixing up houses in less privileged neighborhoods.

He worked part-time on campus in the Writing Lab.

He probably saved puppies in his free time.

Now Darnell came to the MAX house and made dinner for her and her sorors. The man was sheer perfection. She watched him cook, saw that it was real, and still was in disbelief. He made baked jerk turkey wings, homemade mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, and sauteed garlic green beans. It was finger licking good and leftovers she was going to come back to eat the next day.

"My ma said every man should learn how to cook. It's not just a woman's job to cook. Nor clean or any of that bull men still believe in."

"Well!" she heard Jameela say from the other room while Darnell and she were in the kitchen cleaning up after they finished eating.

She did not know what to say to that. Everything that seemed perfect, surely there was something wrong with him. Was he a lying cheater as well?

"Dinner was amazing, but you didn't have to do all that to impress me."

They weren't even officially a couple. They only talked, Factetimed, and texted over the few weeks. With the past few guys she dated she did not want anything serious, but now she considered it. What was stopping her?

She knew what it was, but she could not admit it to herself.

After they cleaned up in the kitchen, Darnell offered to drive her back to her residence hall. This would give her a chance to talk with him more in person.

"I'd like to take you out on a date, one on one."

She smiled. Of course, she was going to say yes to a date with a cute boy that liked her.

"That would be nice."

"I sure wish we were at the same school so we could see more of each other. But this is fine. We just get to know each other better over the phone."

"I have no luck dating," she admitted to him.

"Yes, you mentioned your ex. I know that hurts and you're still getting over it, that's why I'm patient. I'm fine with us being friends and seeing where things go. So no, pressure from me. I don't want to come off too strong."

"I appreciate that."

But this felt like deja vu to her. All the other guys started as just friends, just dating, but they always wanted more than she could give. It was definitely her. She knew it was her issue. She had to get over this and move on.

Once they were in front of her building, she leaned over and kissed him. She could not help herself.

"That was a nice surprise," he said to her.

"Don't worry, more kisses to come," she said to him before she walked into the building.

The next day, waiting for her downstairs in the lobby was Jordan. He texted her that he needed to talk to her about something and now she was worried. She just kissed a guy last night and now her ex was lurking. Even though they were at a good point in their relationship, as friends, there still was something lingering.

"Hey," she greeted him.

She tried not to focus on the fact that he was freshly shaved, fresh haircut, and cologne strong and had a big puffy jacket on.

"Hey girl, can we chat?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"So I was wondering if you and the Maxs would help us on an EU Brother's Keeper topic?"

"Uh...sure." She hesitated a bit, only because she was not the decision-maker on these things. She was still a neo, only a few weeks in. He could have taken this up with Jameela and Anika. They were the officers of the organization. He knew them, they pledged together, so it would have made more sense.

"I'm only asking you because of the topic."

She waited for him to offer it up.

"Okay, it's like this...the topic is, are you really your brother's keeper? As in, am I responsible for his mistakes as well?"

Now she understood. This topic was about them, and she did not know how she felt about it. Was he going to put their business out there in the streets?

"I won't talk about us if you don't want me to. We want you ladies there. We want your input on this. Patrick actually came up with the idea. When he was going through some stuff last year with Anika, Brian was there for him. He wasn't even in the frat and they kind of bonded over that."

"I don't care if you want to bring up our situation. I mean...I stand on it, Jordan. My trust was lost because you lied and covered for that asshole."

Jordan blew out a frustrated sigh. "Well, maybe this will help you better understand." He turned to walk away, then turned back to her. "I'm hoping you will understand more after our meeting."

Then he walked off. Just when she was about to move on with someone else, he always popped up again.

Nope! She was done with him.

After all of her classes that day, she called Darren to see what he was up to.

"How was your day?"

"Too many classes today, but it is what it is. Finals are next week so I've been on lockdown with my studies.

There was something about a hot and sexy guy. A guy that was more than his looks. So he was cute, smart, and could cook. Why was she stalling with him?

"Hey, I know I told you before that I needed time...but I think we could work. You know, in a relationship."

"Oh, you think so? I mean, if that's what you want."

"I do. With you. I mean, if that's what you want and I'm not coming on too strong or anything."

He chuckled at that. "I like talking with you Marketta. I would love to spend more time with you. And I wish I could see you now to give you a kiss."

"When can I see you again"

"I can drive over tomorrow after my last class and we can go out on a date."

"I have a study group with my sorority. How about the next day?"

"I have an evening class that day, sorry."

He was only forty-five minutes away, but it seemed like halfway across the world for now. Not being on campus with her was going to be a big deal. She was used to being with Jordan last year, seeing him every day, even while he was on line. Now with finals around the corner, they both needed to be locked down studying.

"Okay, I'll drive down if that's any better."

"No, let me do the driving. We can figure this out."

Anything that would keep him on her mind, and not Jordan.

A/N: Is she finally over Jordan? 🤷🏾‍♀️