That question seemed to bring him back to earth. He sighed, then leaned back on the car. "I know.”

I breathed, glad that he agreed.

Then, he said, "But I can do this."

I wanted to say more, but he opened the car door, a signal that this part of the conversation was over. I slid inside, and as I watched him walk around the front of his car, I recognized the look in his eyes. It was the determination that he had when an idea was baking inside of him. Or when he was ready to take that cake out the oven and present it to the world.

By the time, Jeremy jumped into the driver’s seat, I knew my friend wouldn’t rest until he was appointed the new pastor of Pilgrim’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church.

Chapter 2

It was just a kiss. But it was a kiss that had reached to my soul and discombobulated my entire being. I closed my Marketing in the New Digital Age textbook, glanced around the library and sighed. A check of the clock on the wall showed that I’d been at this for about an hour. An hour and I hadn’t read one full page when this textbook was one from my favorite class.

It was because of that kiss.

With another sigh, I rested my elbow on the table, cupped my chin and remembered last night....

“I can take you back to your dorm,” Jeremy said.

His tone held all of his emotions: anxiety, confusion, sadness...and a bit of elation. I knew there was more that Jeremy had to work out, so I said, “If you still want to talk, I still want to listen.”

He reached across the car and squeezed my hand. Then with a nod, he pushed the gear into drive and pulled the car away from the Riverwalk’s parking lot. We’d just taken a Sunday stroll on the Riverwalk, a very touristy thing to do in New Orleans, but after brunch at Willa Jean’s, our once-a-month splurge, I knew Jeremy still needed to work out all that was in his head from the service this morning. So I suggested this little walk and talk and that was exactly what Jeremy had done for a couple of hours. It still wasn’t enough, but it didn’t matter to me. I was here for it and if he needed a few more hours, I’d do that, too.

When we stepped into his small two-bedroom apartment, Jeremy did what he always did: he motioned for me to sit on the futon, turned on his CD player, then grabbed two diet Cokes from his fridge. With Keyshia Cole, Jazmine Sullivan and Mary J crooning in the background, it could have been a romantic setting for two college kids.

But for me and Jeremy, this was our norm, so I kicked off my shoes, tucked my feet under my butt, and listened as Jeremy continued sorting out his thoughts.

“I know I’m young, but I feel this pull.”