Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) (30 page)

“Well, we didn’t,” Nadia said defiantly. “And graduating from an HBCU wouldn’t have guaranteed us marrying another black person.”

“
Marriage?
” her father thundered incredulously. “I hope to God you’re not actually thinking of marrying that white boy, Nadia! Over my dead body!”

Nadia had heard enough.

Rising to her feet, she squared her shoulders and looked her father in the eye. “Your concern for my well-being is understandable,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion she couldn’t conceal. “But your bigotry is inexcusable. You don’t know the first thing about Reid. But I do, and I want to be with him. If you can’t respect my choice, then I don’t need to be here.”

With that, she snatched her handbag off the counter and strode from the kitchen.

“Darling, wait.” Her mother came after her, catching her halfway to the front door. “Please don’t leave.”

Nadia turned around, embarrassed to feel tears stinging behind her eyelids. “I have to go, Ma. I can’t stay here.”

“Of course you can. This is your home.”

“It doesn’t feel like home right now.” Nadia swiped a hand under her nose. “I knew Dad wouldn’t be thrilled about my relationship with Reid. But I wasn’t expecting him to go ballistic and say all those awful things.”

“You know he wasn’t trying to hurt you,” her mother entreated. “You’re his little girl, Nadia, and you always will be. He just wants what’s best for you.”

“I used to believe that,” Nadia said bitterly. “Now I’m beginning to think he only wants what’s best for
him
.”

“Now you know that’s not true. Your father loves you very much. He’s only trying to protect you. He doesn’t want to see you get hurt again, and neither do I.”

“But what about all those things he said about Reid’s race? Please don’t tell me you agree with him!”

Her mother winced, then sighed. “I’ve known your father for thirty years, so I understand where he’s coming from, and I know he doesn’t have any hate in his heart toward anyone. He has a lot of racial pride, something he has always tried to instill in you and your brother. But I admit that he can be a little old-fashioned and stubborn at times.”

“
A little?
”

“Okay. A lot.” Her mother looked rueful. “The point is, your father’s going to need time to get used to the idea of you dating someone like Reid.” She paused, searching Nadia’s eyes. “Is it serious?”

Nadia swallowed tightly. “I don’t know. We just started dating. But…” She trailed off with a helpless shake of her head.

Her mother nodded perceptively. “I can see how much he means to you. The way you spoke about him was very…revealing.” She took Nadia’s face between her hands. “You’re a grown woman, darling, so I can’t tell you who to love or how to live your life. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

Two tears escaped and rolled down Nadia’s cheek. “I don’t,” she whispered. “I
don’t
know what I’m doing, and that scares the hell out of me. But I’m willing to take a chance on Reid because I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

“Oh, baby.” Her mother gathered her close and gave her a long hug, then pulled back and ran a gentle thumb under Nadia’s eyes, wiping her tears away. “I’m going back to the kitchen to talk to your father. Why don’t you stop by the restroom and fix your mascara, then come join everyone downstairs to watch the game.”

Nadia sniffled and nodded, then turned and made her way across the foyer toward the powder room. She didn’t think anything of the closed door because her mother always kept it that way to preserve the plug-in air freshener.

So she opened the door without knocking, then gasped at the sight of Nelson and Bianca locked in a steamy embrace. Her brother had Bianca pressed up against the pedestal sink as he kissed her from behind, making her moan as he fondled her ample breasts.

“Oh, God! Sorry!” Nadia slapped her hand over her eyes and quickly pulled the door shut.

Her retinas were still burning several moments later when Nelson and Bianca emerged from the bathroom with sheepish grins. Tugging their clothes back into place, they cleared their throats and said awkwardly, “Uh, sorry about that.”

“No, it’s my fault,” Nadia mumbled, her eyes downcast. “I should have knocked.”

“Well, ye— Wait, what?” Nelson was surprised. “That’s it? No jokes about how we should get a room? No sarcastic reminders that my old bedroom is just upstairs?”

Nadia could only manage a wan smile.

“Hey.” Nelson cupped her chin and lifted her face, his eyes probing hers. “Everything okay?”

Nadia swallowed. “Mom and Dad found out about Reid.”

“What?”

Bianca touched his arm. “That’s what I was trying to tell you before we got, ah, sidetracked.”

Nelson gave Nadia a grim look. “I know Dad wasn’t happy. What did he say?”

She sighed. “What
didn’t
he say?”

Nelson frowned. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

She shook her head. “It won’t do any good.”

“Maybe not, but—”

“I am
so
sorry about that, Nadia,” Ana interrupted, coming up to her. She was holding an empty plate and looking guilt-stricken. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

“It’s okay,” Nadia murmured. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know,” Ana fretted, “but I feel so bad that your mom and aunt saw my sister’s text before I could take the phone back. I know this wasn’t the way you wanted your parents to find out about you and Reid.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Nadia admitted with a grimace. “But they had to find out eventually anyway. Better sooner than later, I guess.”

Ana pursed her lips, studying her. After another moment she turned to Nelson. “Can you do me a favor? Can you fix Luke another plate and—”

Nelson snorted. “You must be crazy. I’m not serving that dude. That’s
your
job, wifey.”

“Nelson,” Bianca chided.

“Just kidding.” Grinning, Nelson took the empty plate from Ana and headed off to the kitchen with Bianca.

“Let’s chat.” Ana took Nadia’s hand and led her across the entry hall to her father’s study. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting golden stripes across the dark wood furniture and family pictures hung on the walls.

Ana closed the French doors and turned to face Nadia. “I just wanted to give you some words of encouragement because I know what you’re going through right now. It’s painful when your parents don’t approve of your relationship. My parents weren’t happy about me dating Luke, and they didn’t take the news well when we got engaged. My mother’s slowly coming around, but my father’s still pretty upset. He’s even threatening to boycott the wedding.”

“Oh, no,” Nadia said sympathetically. “I’m really sorry to hear that, Ana. I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Ana winced. “Luke and I agreed not to tell anyone so there wouldn’t be too much friction at family gatherings.” She sighed. “To be honest, I don’t think
his
parents are too crazy about our engagement either.”

“Really?” Nadia was surprised. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, one day when Luke and I were over at his parents’ house, we overheard his mom on the phone with one of her sorors. They were talking about the wedding, and I guess her friend must have asked her if I was black. Luke’s mom seemed reluctant to answer the question. When she finally did, she sounded…I don’t know. Embarrassed? Ashamed? Defensive? Her friend must have made a negative comment, because Luke’s mom sighed and said, ‘Well, at least she’s not white.’”

Nadia cringed. “Ouch. I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

“So was I.” Ana gave a wry grimace. “I’m not gonna lie. I was hurt at first, and I wanted to leave right then and there. But Luke talked me out of it and told me not to take it personal. I think his parents genuinely like me as a person. They just had different expectations for who their son would marry. My parents feel the same way. But it doesn’t matter because Luke and I love each other, and what doesn’t break us can only make us stronger.” She smiled at Nadia. “At the end of the day, all that matters is how you and Reid feel about each other. If it has to be you and him against the world, so be it.”

Nadia gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Ana. I really appreciate the pep talk.”

Ana grinned. “Hey, we’re gonna be cousins soon. We gotta stick together.” She gave Nadia a warm hug, then pulled back and winked playfully. “If things don’t work out between me and Luke, maybe you can introduce me to one of Reid’s teammates. Those Rebels are
muy caliente!
”

Laughing, the two women left the study and headed downstairs to the large, comfortably furnished basement. The others were gathered around the humongous flatscreen television, booing and shouting over a bad call on the field.

When Nadia and Ana appeared, all heads swiveled in their direction, the game momentarily forgotten.

“Is it true?” Lennox asked, staring at Nadia in amazement. “Are you really going out with Reid Holden?”

Heat raced up her neck and spread across her cheeks. “I am,” she murmured.

Lennox shared an incredulous look with Luke and Uncle Lavell, who sat beside him on the large leather sectional.

“Wow,” all three men exclaimed.

Nadia met her father’s eyes across the room. He was sitting next to her mother on the loveseat. Eden divided a glance between father and daughter, then got up wordlessly and went to sit with Aunt Sherise on the ottoman by the fireplace.

As Nadia stood there sullenly eyeing her father, his expression softened. He patted the empty cushion beside him.

She hesitated a long moment, then grudgingly crossed the room and joined him on the loveseat. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugged her close and kissed her temple.

“You know I love you, baby girl,” he murmured gruffly.

She sighed, resting her head against his sturdy chest. “I know.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I apologize for that.”

She swallowed tightly. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I still don’t approve of this relationship of yours.”

She gave a resigned sigh and shook her head. “I know.”

“I just want you to understand—” He broke off to watch as Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas caught a deep pass for a touchdown. The room erupted into cheers. Scarlett and all the men jumped to their feet, clapping boisterously and slapping high fives.

After the celebration had died down, Luke looked over at Nadia and grinned. “So when, where and how did you meet Reid Holden?”

She couldn’t help smiling. “I met him about two weeks ago when I went to practice with Nelson.”

Her father shot Nelson a disgruntled look. “So this is
your
fault.”

Nelson’s sheepish grin made everyone laugh.

“We’d love to meet Reid,” Aunt Sherise said. “Why don’t you bring him to Thanksgiving dinner?”

“That’s a great idea,” Ana enthused.

“Well, um…” Nadia saw her father’s jaw tense, brows furrowing with displeasure. “I’ll have to check his game schedule. He might not even be in town.”

“Well, find out and let us know,” her aunt urged.

“I will,” Nadia promised.

Her father grunted. “You haven’t known him long enough to be inviting him over for Thanksgiving.”

Nadia knew there was no point in arguing with him. So she said nothing.

Luke grinned teasingly at his uncle. “Reid’s one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, and he has endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade. Are you sure you wouldn’t want him for a son-in-law?”

Nadia’s father scowled. “I’ve made myself perfectly clear. Now let me watch the damn game in peace.”

His peace would be short-lived.

During the next commercial break, Reid’s Gatorade spot debuted. The moment it came on, Nadia felt a thrill of excitement that had her sitting up, her eyes glued to the television.

The commercial opened with a shot of Reid lacing up his skates, his knuckles raw and bruised, his jaw set with determination.

A deep male voiceover posed a single question: “Can you feel it?”

Then viewers were suddenly thrust into the action as two hockey teams skated around a rink, battling for control of the puck. The sounds of the game rushed through the television with Dolby clarity: the echo of sticks clashing, the swish of sharp blades cutting into the ice, the grunts of the players, the thud of bodies colliding as blood and sweat flew. The imagery was raw and in your face, a smorgasbord of testosterone-fueled violence.

The camera focused on Reid bearing down on an opposing forward. His single-minded determination was palpable, reaching through the television to grab viewers by the throat. A second later he delivered one of his devastating body-checks, slamming the faceless player into the boards.

The camera reversed to show a crowd roaring in approval and pounding on the Plexiglas framing the rink.

After stealing the puck from his opponent, Reid raced toward the goal with power and speed, his skates spraying showers of ice into the air.