This Time Around

by Kay Shanee

Genres: African American Mystery & Detective; African American Romance; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Two decades ago, two strangers make a connection that bonds them for life. Perfect for fans of second chance romance, This Time Around is the love reunion hopeless romantics have been waiting for.

Dr. Tessa Howard is sick and tired of everything—her job, her nagging mother, and her boyfriend who wouldn’t know commitment if it hit him in the face. The only thing that didn’t work her last nerve was her soon-to-be twenty-year-old daughter, Cyrah. Watching her one and only child, her greatest accomplishment, live life out loud was her greatest joy. Tessa didn’t know what she’d do if she didn’t have Cyrah, whom she admittedly lived vicariously through. After an epiphany in the middle of the night, Tessa finds herself single and unemployed. With no job, no man, and no prospects for either, Tessa finally decides to let loose and learns that history does, in fact, repeats itself.

Dr. Cypress Boone recently ended a relationship after a two-year engagement. He’d given his all to Emery, but she played him for a fool. Although disappointed, he hasn’t given up on love and is ready for a fresh start. Emery, however, isn’t ready to let go and refuses to accept that they are over. In an effort to make a clean break, he accepts a job at the prestigious Black Elm University, over two thousand miles away from his current residence. With a new job in a new city, Cypress has high hopes that a new woman will soon be added to the equation. However, maybe this time around, someone new isn’t what he needs.

Release date: March 26, 2024

Publisher: Black Odyssey Media

Print pages: 288

Sample

Prologue

Tessa Howard

“Damn, Tess. You’ve been dancing with the same guy all night. You feeling him?” Brianne, my friend and roommate, asked.

“Do you see him? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so fine,” I replied as I used my hands to fan the sweat on my face.

It was the last night of our impromptu spring break trip to San Diego. We enjoyed our days relaxing on the beach, doing touristy activities, and spending our nights drinking and clubbing. Neither of us was old enough to consume alcohol, but the ladies we were traveling with were, and they weren’t stingy with the liquor.

“He’s definitely fine. You should do something crazy like fuck the shit out of him,” Brianne dared.

“Are you crazy? I’m drunk but not that drunk.”

“You know you want to.”

“More than anything in this world,” I replied quickly.

“Then do it. You know I won’t judge. That dick print looks mighty big from here, and he looks like he knows what to do with it too.”

“I bet he does. I almost came from him just rubbing it against my back. That man is blessed.”

“Oh shit, here he comes,” she warned because my back was facing the dance floor.

Seconds later, I felt his hands around my waist and his lips on my neck.

“Come dance with me,” he requested before gently pulling me away from Brianne and back onto the dance floor.

I knew he was intoxicated, but he wasn’t sloppy and obnoxious like most guys our age were when they drank too much. I knew the likelihood of me ever seeing him again was extremely low, so there was no need to exchange too much personal information. However, I at least wanted to know what to call him in my fantasies because there would be plenty of those once I was back in D.C.

“What’s your name?” I shouted over the music.

With perfect timing, a slow song began to play. He pulled me close to his body and gently pressed his lips against my ear.

“Cy.”

“Ty?”

“No, Cy, with a C.”

“Oh, okay. I’m Marie,” I told him, giving him my middle name.

“Marie? A pretty name for a pretty woman.”

“Thank you.”

“When are you leaving?” he asked.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“How early?”

“Ten.”

“Where is home for you?”

“I’m actually from a small town here in Cali that no one has ever heard of, but I’m a sophomore at Howard University.”

He nodded. “I’m from Chicago and a junior at the University of Chicago.”

“Nice.”

“Are you drunk?” he asked.

I giggled, which should have given him a clue that I was a bit tipsy, but he didn’t know me well enough to judge.

“I’ve been drinking, and I’m feeling good.”

“Can you make life-altering decisions in the state you’re in?”

I frowned because I wasn’t expecting that question.

“Life-altering? What are you talking—”

“Spend the night with me. I promise I’ll cater to your pussy in ways that will change your life.”

“Okay,” I replied before he could utter the last word.

Prologue

Cypress Boone

I couldn’t believe Marie had agreed to spend the night with me. She’d caught my eye as soon as my friends and I walked into the club, and we’d been dancing with each other all night. I couldn’t get enough of being in her presence and prayed she didn’t think I was a creep monopolizing her time.

Our vibe was perfect, and if I chose to pursue her beyond tonight, I had a feeling we’d hit it off. However, I wasn’t interested in a long-distance relationship, and I already had a situation back in Chicago. Kianna and I had been talking for about a month, and although we weren’t serious yet, I wanted to see where we’d end up. In the meantime, I couldn’t get the thought of burying myself between Marie’s thighs off my mind. Is it right? Probably not. Do I care? Absolutely not.

After agreeing to leave with me, she left me on the dance floor and whispered something in her friend’s ear. I was sure her friend would talk her out of going, and I wouldn’t be upset. They didn’t know me from Adam, and leaving with a stranger wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I’d already begun thinking of ways to ensure Marie’s safety when she returned to the dance floor with her friend.

“I need some assurance you won’t kill or kidnap my friend,” the woman said.

“Cy, this is my friend, Brianne. Brianne, this is Cy,” Marie introduced us.

“Nice to meet you, but knowing your first name ain’t enough. How can I be sure you’re not crazy?”

“Here, take this necklace. It belonged to my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father; now, it’s mine. I plan to pass it down to my son when I have one. It means a lot to my family.”

I couldn’t believe I was trading what my family considered an heirloom for sex, but it was what it was. I took the necklace off and gave it to her friend.

“All that I ask is that you leave it at the front desk of your hotel, and I’ll pick it up tomorrow. We’re here for two more days.”

Her friend held up the necklace and inspected it. When she was satisfied, she put it in her tiny purse.

“Please don’t lose it,” I added.

“I won’t. We’re staying at the Best Western right down the road,” Brianne told me before directing her attention to Marie. “Have fun and do everything I would do. I’m gonna head back to the room with the girls.”

On the way out of the club, I told Rich, my roommate at the university and on this trip, not to come back to our room for the night. Of course, he talked shit, but he knew the deal. We’d done this many times in the past, and I was sure we’d do it again. He could stay in the room with the guys we were with.

Our hotel was across the street, so it only took us a few minutes to get to my room. The door had barely closed before my mouth was on hers, and she welcomed my tongue inside. I’d never kissed a woman so passionately, and I could do this for hours. Begrudgingly, I pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, thanking God when I saw no fear or hesitancy.

Her dress was made for easy access, with a single zipper down the middle. I grabbed it and pulled it down, exposing her supple breasts that weren’t covered in a bra, flat stomach, and black lace panties. Once the dress was unzipped, I slid my hands under the material, caressing her shoulders, and slowly pushed it down her arms until it fell to the floor.

I pressed Marie’s back against the door and couldn’t stop myself from kissing her again. She took control of the kiss this time, and I allowed her. Our tongues briefly danced before I felt her lips wrapped around mine, sucking. That one action turned me on so much I thought my dick might explode. As she fumbled to unfasten my pants, one of my hands found her hot spot. Using my index and middle fingers, I moved the crotch of her panties to the side and slid them into her slippery domain.

“Do you have condoms?” she mumbled against my lips.

“Of course.”

I had plenty of them, but the next morning, when I woke up alone in bed, the brand-new box of condoms hadn’t been touched.

“Shit.”

Twenty Years Later

Tessa Howard

It was two o’clock in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. I’d been staring at the ceiling fan for the past hour, thinking about my life and how I could make a change for the better. My life wasn’t horrible, but I wasn’t fulfilled. This feeling had haunted me for a while, and I couldn’t shake it.

As a professor at the prestigious Black Elm University, I took the summer off from teaching for the first time. I thought the time off would give me some clarity, and I’d figure out why happiness eludes me. However, the fall trimester was due to start in a few weeks, and mentally, I was in the same place I’d been at the beginning of the summer.

I lived in a four-bedroom house with my nineteen-year-old daughter, who was headed into her second year at BEU. She was my greatest blessing and, quite honestly, my best friend, and most times, I felt like she was all I had in this world. Cyrah lived life to the fullest, and I admired that about her because it was something I wasn’t allowed to do.

My mother was and remained one of the most overbearing and negative people I’d ever encountered. Even at thirty-nine years old, I couldn’t live how I wanted because my mother’s judgmental words were never far away. I loved my mother, but I didn’t like her very much, and as each day passed, my tolerance for her lessened.

For three years, I’d been in an on-again, off-again relationship with MacArthur Gentry, better known as Mac. When I first met him, I was mesmerized by his good looks. Add to that his charming personality, and I was ready to walk down the aisle. However, he had no interest in ever getting married.

After a year of dating, I’d come to terms with never becoming his wife, but recently, I’d realized I’d settled. Whenever I toyed with the idea of permanently ending things with him, thoughts of growing old alone crept into my mind. During those times, I’d bring up the topic of marriage to Mac, which would undoubtedly start an argument, and we’d break things off for a week or two before one of us would come running back. It was a vicious cycle going nowhere; frankly, I was sick of it.

Becoming the youngest woman hired as a professor in the history of BEU was a blessing and a curse. The salary was generous, and I lived a very comfortable life with my financial and property investments and savings. My daughter was on a full academic scholarship, although she could attend the university for free since I was employed there. I was grateful not to have to worry about paying for her education.

From my first day on the job, I had to prove myself, which I understood somewhat. However, it had been ten years, and nothing had changed. I’d never felt like I belonged, which was unacceptable considering 90 percent of the staff was Black. I could never figure out why my colleagues weren’t more welcoming, and the only thing I could attribute it to was my age. The few professors who did take me under their wings retired a few years after I was hired, leaving me to fend for myself. I was tired of the dog and pony show and craved something new.

My life was nothing like I’d imagined it would be at this age. I’d expected to be married for several years by now and have at least one more child. Cyrah was grown and could start having children of her own soon. I’d be crazy to start over now, not that I wanted to have children with Mac, anyway.

I needed a change, something to shake things up. But what? I contemplated what I would do until the sun came up. The only ideas that came to mind were drastic, but I didn’t see any other way. Hopping out of bed, I threw on my silk robe and went to my office. I took a few deep breaths once I logged into my personal laptop. An hour later, after deleting and restarting several times, I’d resigned from my position as an African American Studies professor at Black Elm University.

Back in my bedroom, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and found Mac’s phone number. It rang a few times before he answered groggily.

“It’s early, you good?” he asked.

“I’m fine. I just called to let you know I can’t do this anymore.”

“Do what?”

“Us. I’m done.”

There was a short pause before he replied.

“Tessa?”

“Is there someone else that would be calling to break things off with you?”

“No, baby. I’m confused. It’s barely six a.m., and you’re on my phone, breaking up with me. What the hell happened since I left your place last night?”

“I decided I want to get married. You don’t want that, so my only option is to move on. Have a great life.”

I ended the call and blocked his number. Mac would let this simmer for a few days before he ended up on my doorstep. I prayed I was strong enough not to give in to his charm this time. He wasn’t the one for me; I needed to accept it and move on.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I released a deep breath. I had no idea what the outcome of my early-morning decisions would be, but it felt like a ton of weight had been lifted from my shoulders. That alone let me know I’d done the right thing.

Cypress Boone

“We faked the funk for too long, Emery. I’ve been happier since we called off the engagement than I have for most of our relationship.”

“Wow, Cy. Tell me how you really feel,” Emery said.

“I just did.”

Emery and I were engaged for two years after dating for a year. I wanted her to be the one, but we apparently wanted different things. When I proposed to her, I didn’t expect the engagement to last as long as it did. Most women started planning the wedding when they accepted the proposal, but not Emery. After two years, we didn’t even have a date set and were no closer to getting married than we were on the day we started dating.

“We can set a date and start planning the wedding right now,” she offered.

“Too little, too late. I shouldn’t have had to break off the engagement for you to want to set a date. Our time has passed, and our relationship has run its course. We can be friends or never have to speak again, but you need to understand we aren’t getting back together. Besides, it barely seemed like we were in a relationship for months before I finally called it off. Can you even remember the last time we had sex? I’m not talking about you sucking my dick. I’m talking about actual intercourse.”

For about two months before I terminated our engagement, Emery sucked my dick more times than the law should allow. While I appreciated a good blow job, nothing compared to sliding inside some good pussy. However, she used every excuse under the sun to keep me from penetrating her walls, and after being denied numerous times, I gave up and accepted the head she offered. It was either that or cheat on her, and I wasn’t that kind of man.

Begging my woman for sex wasn’t something I felt I should have to do. I’d asked her several times if something was physically, mentally, or emotionally wrong that caused her sex drive to decrease, but she never admitted to anything. I figured she’d come to me when she was ready to tell me what was wrong. Days, weeks, and finally, months went by, and we still hadn’t had sex, but she was always ready and willing to let me bust one in her mouth.

“Damn, Cy. Did you even love me? How can you cut me from your life so easily? I’ve been dying without you,” she cried, sliding right on by the topic of sex.

We’d met at a restaurant because I thought it was safer to do so. Until recently, Emery had been a reasonable woman, never violent, and carried herself in a respectable manner. However, she’d been acting out of character since we broke up. After she tagged me in several rants on Facebook and argued with some women in my comments, I blocked her from seeing my page. She’d popped up at my condo at weird hours, trying to catch me with the woman she assumed I’d left her for. I hoped the conversation today would put an end to her irrational behavior.

“I still love you, Em. I just love myself more. I want to get married and possibly have a family someday. You told me you wanted the same things, but after waiting so long, I gave up hope.”

“But—”

“No, Em. You wouldn’t even consider moving in with me until we were married, yet you refused to set a wedding date and never mentioned anything about planning a wedding.”

“You’re not being fair.”

I admired Emery’s beautiful face from across the table. There was a time when all she had to do was throw a sexy pout with those full lips my way and give me those puppy dog eyes, and I’d crack. That time was over. There was nothing she could do to make me take her back.

“I disagree.”

Pushing away from the table, I stood and took some cash from my pocket, leaving enough to cover the bill and tip. When I walked away, I prayed I wouldn’t have to have the same conversation with her in two days. Before I made it to the parking lot, Emery was blowing up my phone. I decided to block her, something I’d been trying to avoid. Aside from emailing and showing up at my place uninvited, which she’d already done many times, she no longer had a way to contact me.

Hours later, I was prepared to give up on my job search. For the past five years, I’d taught African American Studies at South Suburban College, a junior college in a south suburb of Chicago. I loved my job, but having earned my doctorate over a year ago, I’d been looking for a position at a four-year university.

“Maybe now isn’t the time to leave,” I said aloud as I clicked on a posting from Black Elm University.

I read the job description and was suddenly excited. The job duties and expectations were exactly what I’d been looking for, and to top it off, I met all the education and experience requirements. After applying for the position, I channel-surfed for a little while before eventually giving up on finding something entertaining to watch and going to bed.



“Okay, big bro, this must be serious if you called a family meeting,” said Jade, my younger sister.

Being eighteen years older than my sister made me feel more like her father. I was positive she’d felt the same way for most of her life. My parents were twenty-one and twenty-two years old when I was born, compared to thirty-nine and forty when my sister was born. Neither of us was planned, but our parents loved us as if they’d been waiting their whole lives for us to join them.

After supporting each other through earning their degrees, they worked in corporate America for many years until retiring earlier this year. Since then, my father continued using his accounting degree by consulting with small businesses. Thus far, my mother had thoroughly enjoyed retirement, living a life of leisure.

This past May, Jade graduated from the University of Chicago, which just so happened to be the university that everyone in our household attended, with a degree in business. She had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, but our parents helped her gain employment through one of their connections. However, based on our conversations, she hated it.

“I picked up dinner since I kinda sprang this meeting on y’all,” I said, ignoring my sister’s observation.

“Oh, damn. You’re making me nervous, son,” my father, Robert, said.

“Nothing for you all to be nervous about, Pops. It’s good news.”

“Whew! That’s good to know,” my mother, Miriam, commented.

A few minutes later, the four of us sat around my parents’ dining room table, eating pizza. I could tell they were anxious about my announcement, so I didn’t make them wait any longer.

“I was offered a job as a professor at Black Elm University.”

“Oh, my baby, I’m so happy for you,” my mother said.

She stood and came around to where I was seated. Cupping my face in her hands as if I were still in elementary school, she kissed my forehead. My mother had always been my biggest cheerleader, and it didn’t change as I got older. If nobody else was excited for me, I could count on Miriam Boone to be excited enough for everyone. However, I was unsure how she’d feel about me moving halfway across the country.

“Thanks, Ma.”

“That’s great, Cy. I’ve never heard of the place,” Pops said.

“Me either,” Jade added.

“It’s not an HBCU, but 90 percent of the staff and 84 percent of the student body is Black or a person of color.”

“Really?” Jade questioned. “Where is it?”

“In California,” I mumbled lowly.

“What?” Ma said, stopping in her tracks on her way back to her seat.

“California,” I repeated, louder this time.

“Cypress, that’s thousands of miles away!”

“I know, Ma, but it’s a great opportunity.”

“It sounds like a great opportunity, son. However, if you accept this job, you’re not giving South Suburban much notice.”

“I’ve thought about that, Pops, but I’m not willing to let this opportunity bypass me just to save them the inconvenience of replacing me. If they wanted to fire me, would they give me time to find a job before doing so?”

“That’s true, but you don’t want to burn bridges. You may not like it in California and want to come back,” my father pointed out.

“Yes, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

“I can’t believe you’re considering taking a job in California,” my mother said.

“He’s a grown, forty-year-old man, Miriam.”

“What does that have to do with anything? He’s still my baby.”

“Pop the titty out his mouth, woman. Don’t make him feel guilty because you know he’s a mama’s boy, and he’ll turn that position down if you don’t want him to go.”

My father was right. I was a mama’s boy through and through. Seeing my mother sad, hurt, or in distress was hard, and I’d do damn near anything to keep a smile on her face.

“Please tell me you accepted the position so I can go with you,” Jade pleaded.

“Calm down, everyone. I received the offer a few hours ago after a short phone interview. To be honest, I applied for the job on a whim and didn’t do my research. I didn’t realize until after they made the offer it was in Cali.”

“So?” Jade pressed.

“I told them I’d reply with my decision by noon tomorrow. The university is on trimesters instead of semesters, so school isn’t due to start for another few weeks. However, they need an answer immediately.”

“Why are they in such a rush?” Ma asked.

“It’s not really a rush. There’s just a lot that needs to be done to make sure I’m prepared.”

“Well, what did you decide?” my father asked anxiously.

“I’m going to accept the position.”

“Yes! When do we leave?”

“You’re moving to California?” Ma asked.

The sadness in her voice would’ve broken me down if I couldn’t see her face, but the smile on her face matched the pride in her eyes.

“I have to be there in two days.”

Tessa

“Wow, Mom. I can’t believe you quit your job and dumped Mac. I can understand why you’d break up with him, but I thought you loved your job,” Cyrah said.

It had been two days since I’d resigned from my position at BEU and ended my on-again, off-again relationship with MacArthur for good. Surprisingly, I had no regrets. I hadn’t been able to share my news with Cyrah because she and two of her friends had gone to Miami for a couple of days, and she’d returned home late last night.

“I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, Cyrah. I felt like I was smothering and couldn’t figure out why. My load immediately lightened when I pressed send on that email. I felt like a new woman when I ended the call with Mac.”

“This was not the news I expected to hear first thing this morning, but I’m so proud of you.”

Cyrah came to my side of the table and gave me the warmest embrace before kissing my cheek. There was a new breakfast recipe I’d been wanting to try, so I figured I’d share my news with her over breakfast. The mixed berry French toast came out great, and I’d definitely put it in our breakfast meal rotation.

“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m unsure what to do next, but I feel good about m. . .