September is enthralled by having to see her ex-boyfriend Raymond play a jazz set at her favorite local joint in Jackson, Mississippi. What will happen? Love or will she lose a love that was never hers to begin with.

My nostrils got fiery as I tried to control my hot temper. “I am just trying to say hi was all.” But before I could get another word in the super fine man from the stage approached our table and I almost lost my tongue when I noticed those dark sexual bedroom eyes up close. I thought it was him but I can’t believe karma could be that strong.

“September, I thought that was you.” Hearing him call me in that hot and heavy way, got to me I admit. Or maybe my starved soul was over reacting to having a tall chocolate man that close to me. My finger was on my glass and I quickly finished it off before responding.

“Hey, Raymond. What are you doing here?” My palms sweated desire as our fingers collided and I think he felt it too. It was almost like we were lost in a time warp. Raymond was the former band member of Alcorn State University and I was in the dance troupe back in the day. How funny our lives crossing again.

I shook my head because I heard him address my question, “Raymond, this is one of my best friends, Sylvia Ramos and I think you probably remember Sunshine from ASU.” My eyes took in his strong male presence as I heard them say hi to him and he answered quickly. “Yeah, I remember Sunshine. I wish I could talk longer but ladies I have a show to do, so I’ll see you after the show. Enjoy.”

And before I could utter a single word to him, he was gone. My head was buzzing with the energy that flowed between the two of us and I brightly smiled as Sylvia and Sunshine both began chattering about how fine he was.



“I guess some things never change. That man still looks good. “ Sunshine observed as she gulped down her Slow Comfortable Screw.

“That man was picante, child. If you don’t want him, I’ll take him home work that...” Sylvia chuckled as Sunshine and her turned to watch my expression.

I shook my head at the both of them making those hilarious comments. “Ladies, please. He is fine. But that doesn’t mean nothing if he doesn’t have a beautiful personality and — “

Sunshine hollered, “Girl that man is fine as hell. Looks even better than when we attended school. Girl I think he wants some of you...!”

Our conversation was cut short by the first number that his band played and I was breathless. The way he swung his saxophone from side to side as the vocalist’s soprano voice beautifully complemented Raymond’s sax and the accompanying drums. It was a nice sultry sound that filled my soul with memories I thought were buried deep down inside from so long ago.

Number after number, I stayed glued to my chair occasionally commenting while Sylvia and Sunny dominated the conversation. I was currently listening to the last number and hoping that the girls would understand that I needed to speak with him alone. Tonight.

No interruptions would be holding up this conversation.

“Hey ladies” His broad smile caught me off guard and I noticed I had missed the last note of Raymond’s set. The crowd in the small jazzy joint was dispersing and it was once again getting to the empty state it was when I got here. “So, how was the session for you?”

Sylvia and Sunny shouted, “Great!” as they grabbed their individual jackets and said good byes to me startling me. “We’ll see you later, September.”

Sylvia mouthed to me, “Call me!” She winked at me as she noticed the nervous twitching of my hands on my curvaceous hips.

“Bye girls.” I waved good bye to them as I noticed Raymond patiently sitting in the booth.

My heart was beating out of control and I thought maybe the stress of it all was showing on my face, but he only commented that “You look really good, September.”

“Thanks.” My mouth was ajar as I watched the slow way he spoke my name as if his tongue was covered in chocolate syrup and he had to say each letter of my name clearly. “Did you get my message?”



“Yeah, I was on the road in Atlanta when I got it and I just got home yesterday. Sorry I couldn’t return the call sooner, but I guess fate had other plans for us.”

“I guess.” My eyes searched his dark ones as I asked him the burning question, “So, where’s your girlfriend at? I know you must have one..”

My lips were taunt as I waited for his answer. I played with the empty glass on the table and heard the band saying good bye to him as they packed up their equipment.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, a wife, or fiancee. Just me and my music. You know it can be so hard with this line of work.” He seemed to be melancholy as he continued, “I’m surprised you didn’t show up here with a special man of your own.”

“Raymond, honestly, it has been hard as hell to maintain a relationship while I’m trying to shape my future. I’m not really dating any one right now...” my voice trailed off as I felt his thick hands cover mines in understanding.

“Yeah, I know. Things can be rough when you are trying to establish yourself.” He curiously asked me, “So, what do you do, if you don’t mind me asking.”

A hard lump formed itself as I struggled to speak. “Ahh. You don’t want to know what I’m doing. Do you?” My eyebrows raised as I asked him.

“You know what I do, September. I know it can’t be that bad.”

The touch of his hands on my fingers immediately comforted me. “I know I’m acting silly. Its just that my job ain’t glamorous as yours and it’s just a healing type of thing.” I paused and then let the words come out of me easily. “I’m a Massage Therapist.”

(c) 2004 by Pam Osbey
All Rights Reserved