Page 44 of Mister President

“Hmm…I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

Standing, I went to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I want to know everything. What you’re going for, what you plan to do with the degree. Share it all.”

She remained silent as I poured the wine. When I looked up, she was staring at the side of my face.

“What?” I asked through my chuckle.

“You actually care?”

Cupping her cheek, I caressed it with my thumb. “Of course I care. I care about everything concerning you.”

Her eyes rolled. “You only care because it’s something you can be proud of from your stripper baby mama.”

“Is that a bad thing? You say that like it’s negative, but it’s actually positive. My sexy, intelligent, beautiful, kind, stripper baby mama did whatever she had to do to survive after her parents kicked her out when she graduated high school. She couldn’t afford to go to college, so she danced to provide for herself. Not only did she provide for herself, but she became a millionaire and retired before the age of thirty.

“So yeah, I am proud of you, Amanda Renae Jones, and I’m not gon’ let you keep talking down on yourself. Whatever the fuck Tammy been putting in your head, you need to purge andget that shit out. Your mama a real one, but she’s a pessimist, and I’ve never liked how that rubbed off on you.”

Had I not seen her quickly wipe away a tear before it fell, I wouldn’t have believed it was about to fall.

“Thank you,” she whispered. After sniffling, she licked her lips and took a sip of the wine I handed her. “So…yeah. It’s an online, part-time program. I didn’t want to put too much on myself next year since the team will be back with me when school starts.”

“What are you majoring in?”

“Business. I um…I had an idea that I wanted to run by you. That I needed your help with. But you don’t have to feel obligated to—”

“What is it, Mandy?” She had no idea. Whatever she needed, I would gladly do. I loved being of service to any woman as a man, but when it was my woman, it hit different. Well…my ex-woman. The mother of my child.

“Okay.” She gave me a small, innocent smile as she sat up in her seat. “We both know I have a love-hate relationship with my past. I’m proud of who I am and what I’ve accomplished, but there are moments where people’s perception, especially my mother, affects me. I know it’s worse for other women who don’t have the success story I have, or the confidence and awareness I have. My dream is to create a community for women to embrace their womanhood and sexuality.

“We’ll place an emphasis on building confidence and self-love and respect. Not on some women’s empowerment shit because most times, those bitches are mean girls and bullies. But a real community. Whether she’s a stripper, sex worker, or Christian stay-at-home mom—I want every woman who joins the community to learn their value, increase their confidence, and command respect.”

She continued her spiel, telling me about the classes, events, and services she wanted to offer. Amanda was currently taking a self-love coaching class, which no one knew about. The more she talked, the more I felt like the Grinch when his heart expanded in size. I’d always known Amanda had potential, and now, it sounded like she knew it too.

“What can I do? How can I help?”

“Well…when I came over that day, I was going to ask if you could mentor me and be my business coach, but—”

“I would love to be your business coach. C’mere.” I couldn’t resist bringing her into my arms. “I’m so proud of you, Mandy. For real. This is amazing, and I’m honored to be a part of this. Whatever capacity you need me, I’ll be there.” Cupping her cheek, I kissed her forehead. “I’m really, really proud of you.”

“Ah, man! Comeon! I’m going to somebody else lobby. Y’all some freakinglosers! You don’t even know what it means to be a winner! Is that a big word forElmo?”

We both laughed at the sound of EJ yelling and taunting whoever he was playing on the game with.

“That’s your crazy ass child,” she said.

“Damn right, but let me get him out of here before he has too much energy to go to sleep.”

We stood, and I had to resist the urge to take her into my arms.

“Thanks, E.”

“Always. We’ll talk soon, okay? But I am so proud of you. You’re going to do something amazing with this.”

I gave her hand a squeeze before quickly making my way down the hall to get EJ before his crazy ass started another game.

26

Amanda

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