Her father scowled. “You can’t be serious, Nadia. This isn’t about you being grown enough to choose your own boyfriends. This is about you using common sense and good judgment. Dating Reid Holden is a damn bad idea.”
“Which you should already know.” Her mother lifted a censorious brow. “Or need we remind you of your unfortunate track record with athletes?”
Nadia bristled. “I don’t need any reminders.”
“Apparently you do,” her father countered. “You’ve been hurt by every athlete you’ve ever gone out with, Nadia. Why put yourself through that again?”
“Because Reid is different!” The moment the words left her mouth, she wondered how much she believed them.
Her parents clearly didn’t, judging by their skeptical expressions. “How do you know he’s different?”
“Because…” She swallowed. “I just do.”
She watched with a sinking heart as her parents looked at each other. The disappointment on their faces was evident. They thought she was delusional. And she probably was.
But she couldn’t help remembering Reid’s compassion, tenderness and fury when she’d told him about Greg, Dawan and Brody. She’d never told anyone but Scarlett about the attempted rape. Unburdening herself to Reid had felt good. Liberating. He’d made her feel safe, cherished and protected, something no other guy had ever done.
“Of all the men in Denver you had to get involved with,” her father scolded, “why did it have to be a professional athlete? And a hockey player, at that.”
Nadia frowned. “What’s wrong with him being a hockey player? You love hockey. In fact, you’re one of Reid’s biggest fans. And weren’t you just praising Nelson for getting Reid to talk to him?”
“There’s a big difference between appreciating a player’s talent and wanting him to date my daughter.” Her father scowled. “Whatever happened between you and my frat brother’s son? Jarrett’s a nice young man with a good job and a good head on his shoulders. Why didn’t you give him a chance?”
Nadia heaved a sigh. “I already told you, Dad. I didn’t connect with him.”
“Why not?”
“I wasn’t attracted to him, for starters. And to be honest, I thought he was totally full of himself. During our date, he actually made a point of telling me what a good catch he is and how he’s wanted by women of all races.” Nadia rolled her eyes. “Apart from our fathers belonging to the same fraternity, we didn’t have anything in common.”
“And what could you possibly have in common with some hockey player from Detroit?” her father challenged. “You don’t even like the sport Reid plays.”
“I didn’t,” Nadia conceded. “But that’s changing. Now that we’re dating, I’ve taken an interest in learning more about hockey. And I’m actually enjoying it.”
Her father shot an exasperated look at his wife. “Are you hearing this?”
“I am,” she murmured, her arms folded across her chest as she calmly regarded her daughter. “What do you and Reid Holden have in common?”
The question made Nadia smile. “It’s not so much what we have in common. It’s how we are when we’re together. We enjoy being with each other. We have great conversations and can talk for hours about anything. He takes a genuine interest in me as a person, and he doesn’t think I’m a weirdo for fangirling over indie and foreign films. We enjoy some of the same music. Even though we’re both in our twenties, we love old school songs more than current stuff. We have a lot of fun together. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel beautiful.”
Her mother’s expression gentled. “You are beautiful.”
“Not really. Not the way Scarlett is. Or Jess. Or you. You were Miss Howard University, Ma. You’ve always been described as a ‘stunning ebony beauty’ and the ‘quintessential Nubian queen.’ When you walk into a room, people stop and stare at you. That’s never been my experience. Oh, I know I’m pretty. But I’ve never turned heads. But when Reid looks at me…” Nadia trailed off and stared down at her hands, biting her bottom lip.
“Go on,” her mother gently urged.
Nadia lifted her head, smiling softly. “When Reid looks at me, I honestly feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Something soft and warm flickered in her mother’s eyes. They shared a long look, a moment of understanding that connected them woman to woman, mother to daughter.
The moment was interrupted by Nadia’s father.
“I don’t know who or what gave you the idea that you’re not as beautiful as your mother,” he said gruffly. “The day you and Nelson were born, the nurse put your brother in your mama’s arms and put you in mine. I took one look at you and told your mother that you looked just like her. That’s why your middle name is Eden.”
His wife smiled at the memory. “That’s true.”
Lincoln pointed a finger at Nadia, stabbing the air with it. “You’ve never had any trouble getting boyfriends. Plenty of our friends’ sons and nephews think you’re attractive. You don’t need no white man to validate your beauty.”
She frowned. “I never said—”
“You know that’s not what she meant, Linc.”
Nadia sent her mother a grateful look, hopeful that she’d found an ally. She needed someone on her side, and it clearly wasn’t going to be her father.
“I don’t like it,” he blustered, shaking his head. “You know how I feel about interracial relationships. We’ve got a strong, beautiful, black family. Why do we need to dilute our bloodline with other races?”
Nadia raised an eyebrow. “Last I checked, you had no objections to Luke getting engaged to Ana.”
Her father scowled. “Luke isn’t my son. And last I checked, Latinos don’t have a history of enslaving and oppressing black people in America.”
Nadia’s jaw dropped. “Seriously, Dad? You’re seriously pulling the slavery card?”
“It’s not a ‘card.’ It’s a reality.”
“Was a reality,” Nadia corrected. “Chattel slavery has been over for almost two hundred years.”
“But racism is still alive and well in this country!”
“I know that, Dad. Believe me, I would never deny that racism exists. I know it does, and I’ve personally experienced it. But why should every white person be held responsible for the atrocities that may have been committed by their ancestors? If Reid makes me happy, why should the color of his skin matter?”
“Because it does,” her father said stubbornly. “And you’re naive if you think otherwise.”
Nadia took a deep breath to calm her nerves and cool her heated temper. “I don’t care what other people think of our relationship. And neither does—”
Her father slammed his fist on the counter, causing her to flinch. “No daughter of mine is bringing home some white hockey player! I’m not having it, you hear me? It ain’t happening!”
“Linc,” his wife murmured.
Nadia shook her head at him. “Which is it, Dad? Do you have a problem with his race? Or what he does for a living?”
“Both!”
“So let me get this straight. You can watch Reid’s games, cheer for him and root for his team to win the Stanley Cup. But you won’t allow him to date your daughter?”
“Damn right!”
Nadia narrowed her eyes. “I wonder if you’d have this much of a problem if Nelson brought home a white woman.”
Her father glared at her. “That wouldn’t happen. Nelson knows better.”
“Does he?” Nadia smirked. “That’s probably news to him, considering that he dated several white girls in college.”
Her father looked astonished, then hurt, then angry. Clenching his jaw, he turned and pointed accusingly at his wife. “I knew we should have insisted on sending that boy to Howard or Morehouse! Both of them should have gone to an HBCU!”
“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.”
Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) Page 26