Page 14 of Blake University: HBCU Chronicles – Yon & Imole
didn’t let go of her hand right away, not even after they passed the quad and left the noise of the cafeteria behind. The energy from the confrontation still hummed beneath his skin, but more than that, he felt protective. Like if he didn’t keep her close, someone might try that slick shit again.
Imole was quiet beside him, but her fingers stayed laced with his. That said everything. She trusted him. Imole was not new to campus life but her drastic change in appearance had dudes acting like assholes. She was green when it came to the disrespect and harassment from male students. Terrence had always been obnoxious, loud and wrong. had seen him in action before. But when he noticed that Imole was the object of Tree’s bad behavior, there was no way he was going to allow the bullshit to happen.
They cut across the courtyard, the buzz of campus growing as students in Blake U colors poured toward the stadium. Gold tents lined the walkways. Music blared from portable speakers. Everybody was amped but for , the noise faded the moment she looked up at him.
“You sure you okay?”
he asked again.
She nodded, then sighed.
“Yeah. I just… didn’t expect all that. Like, where do guys get off thinking they can talk to people like that?”
“They don’t,”
said, jaw flexing.
“Terrence is an asshole. People need to check him more often.”
She looked at him for a second, then smiled softly.
“Thanks for that.”
“You don’t gotta thank me. He crossed the line.”
He meant it, too. He didn’t play about respect especially not when it came to women. And definitely not with her.
Imole tugged her hand away just enough to slide it around his arm instead.
“So… that’s your ex’s cousin?”
“Unfortunately,”
muttered.
“His name’s Terrence. Been messy since he crossed.”
Imole raised a brow.
“He crossed this year?”
“Yeah. Spring line. Should’ve been dropped at the interest meeting.”
She laughed, and he felt his chest relaxing, the tension in his shoulders unwinding a bit.
“I’m not like her,”
Imole said suddenly, glancing away.
“I mean… your ex.”
“I know,”
said immediately.
“That’s why I’m here with you and not with her.”
He wasn’t the type to play games or throw words around for no reason. He’d had his fun. Did his dirt. But whatever was happening with Imole? It wasn’t shallow. It wasn’t surface.
“I’m not trying to rush nothing,”
he added, “but you should know… I see you.”
Imole slowed her steps, pulling him to a stop just beneath one of the magnolia trees lining the edge of the stadium path.
“You see me?”
she asked.
“Yeah. I saw you at the step show. I saw you in the club. I’m seeing you right now. And hell, for the past two days, I close my eyes and you’re there. It’s different and I like it.”
She didn’t say anything right away. But her eyes; those soft, curious, beautiful eyes held his with something he hadn’t expected to see:
Belief.
After a beat, she smiled again.
“I see you, too, Dawson.”
That did it.
He leaned down, brushed his lips against her cheek, then lingered near her ear.
“Then come see me win this game.”
Imole rolled her eyes playfully.
“Confident much?”
“Always,”
he said, backing away with a grin.
“But now I got extra motivation.”
He said as he started to walk away from her. It was game time and something about her being in the stands to cheer him on put an extra bounce in his step. Imole stood there blushing. She looked cute as hell. As the crowd noise swelled behind them, glanced back once, just to catch her watching him.