by Xyla Turner
He smirked at her. She really was the cutest thing.
"Not the rest of anyone. Just you." Randall smiled and moved the loose strand of her hair from out of her face. "Why're you avoiding me?"
"I'm not." Her gaze went to the floor.
"Yeah, you are. I've been calling you, telling others to call you, and you've been ducking me ever since our last date." Randall lifted her chin up with his crooked finger. "You're not interested in me?"
Mindy looked Randall square in the eye and said, "No, actually I'm not."
If he'd had any notion that Diamond Reeves was hard to get or a woman that could break a man down; he knew for sure that Mindy Sinclair was cut from the same cloth. At that moment, he knew, she'd give him a run for his money, his pride, and any manhood that he'd have left after winning her.
It was a risk he was ready to take.
"Lies," he countered.
"Not," she replied, with her nose higher in the air.
"Prove it." He leaned down closer with his face hovering over hers.
"How?" she answered with determination.
She was ready to take the challenge and he had her right where he wanted.
"One kiss."
Mindy's lips quirked up when she said, "Nope. You'll mess up my makeup."
"Good." He leaned in closer as her lips slightly parted. "Just one is all I’ll need."
"That will prove nothing," Mindy said breathlessly.
"Okay," Randall said before he went in for the kiss.
Their height disproportions caused him to dip down and lift her up on the counter to take his fill. The kiss was electric and he knew she felt it too. She circled her arms around his neck and nipped his lip with her teeth. Yeah, that was all the information Randall needed as he pulled away from her.
"Like I said." He wiped the side of her lip where her lipstick was smeared outside her lip line.
Randall knew that same lipstick was all over him and he didn't care one iota. Mindy Sinclair was in his arms, eyes wide, mouth open, and ready for him to pursue. He wanted her and she wanted him back but he'd need to do it right or it could backfire.
"Why'd you do that?" she asked.
"Kiss you?" Randall asked. "For one, I've wanted to do this since the first day I met you. Two, your lips have been calling for me. Three, well, because you wanted me to."
"I…," she started. "Ugh. Listen, you and me won't work. Okay?"
"Why the hell not?" Randall squeezed tighter as his annoyance began to surface.
"Because Randall, we're at different points in our lives. Okay?" Her hands dropped from around his body, causing him to instantly miss them. "You're at the beginning of your career and you need to focus and I need to do the same. Right?"
"No," he answered back quickly. “One has nothing to do with the other. We can't date because I'm just starting my career?”
“No, because I haven't even started mine,” she exclaimed.
Damn.
“Look.” Mindy sighed. “I'm not dating right now. So, that's that.”
“Fine, we’ll be friends then.” Randall wasn't letting go of her that easily.
“I don't think that's a good idea.” Mindy started to push him away.
“Why?”
“That kiss.” She shook her head. “Friends don't kiss like that.”
“They damn sure don't.” Randall moved closer despite her out-stretched arms attempting to keep him back. “Short stuff, why are you doing this?”
His large hands were wrapped around her wrists. The woman was like a little fur-ball of a thing. She was a cute little thing that Randall wanted all to himself. Yet, she wasn't having any of it.
Her eyes pleaded with him to let it go. He knew he needed to but he was hooked now more than ever. He couldn't let it go but he’d let her off the hook for now.
“Tomorrow, meet me at the stadium. I'll give them your name and we go somewhere to talk. Just the two of us.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
Mindy’s head started to shake but his fingers moved to the back of her head so he could control her movement.
“No is not an option, Mindy. We’re friends and we can eat after I get finish practice.” He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. “We can work this out mini-me.”
As she exhaled her soon to be consent, a voice rang out, “Randall, you haven't finished introducing me to the host yet. This needs to happen.”
Son of a gun.
Randall was suddenly pushed back as Mindy jumped down from the counter and if he didn't know any better, he thought he heard her mumbling on her way out, “Friends my ass.”
Chapter Three
Friends was the word Mindy kept running through her mind as she left the party and made her way back home. Well, the home that her mother and father raised their three children in. Beatrice probably thought Mindy was there to keep her company but the truth behind it was that she was scared. Out of her mind scared of the big, bad world that she was preparing to head out into. Her father wasn't there to filter it, her siblings had moved on with their own lives and she was petrified.
The next evening, Mindy was in her room doing some research about colleges, careers and even looking for a life coach when her cell phone rang.
“Hello,” she answered, before she looked at the caller id.
“I'm waiting for you.” The familiar baritone voice seemed to echo through the phone with a hint of a slight laugh.
“Randall?” she exclaimed.
“Who else is calling you?” His jovial tone was gone.
“Waiting for what?” Mindy asked.
“We’re supposed to be having our first official friend meeting,” he answered. “Remember?”
“Oh God.” Mindy sighed as recognition of what he was talking about came tumbling back. “Yeah, that's not going to happen.”
“Why not?” Randall asked. “We already tested the theory last this past weekend.”
“Yeah, nope. Can't help you. I have a rule. No new friends.”
“Well, I'm changing it,” he replied just before a knock on her bedroom door startled her.
“Right, I forgot how dense you can be. Look, I've got to go but good luck with everything,” Mindy said while making a mental note to block his number as she ended the call.
“Coming,” she yelled.
She opened the door, expecting her mother. Instead, there was a tall man dressed in fitted jeans, a navy button-up shirt and black casual shoes. His cologne was subtle but the smell of delicious food overpowered the hypnotic aroma that his scent conjured up.
“Hey, little one,” the voice called as Mindy’s head jerked up to see it was Randall Jefferson.
“What are you doing here …. in my house, at my door?” She looked out of the room and down the hall.
“I let him in.” Beatrice’s voice echoed through the three-story house. “He knows the house rules; out by midnight. I didn't raise no trollops and I don't care how cute he is; rules are rules.”
“What?” Mindy yelled back downstairs. “I didn't invite him. He can leave now.”
“Hush girl and let the man talk,” her mom yelled back.
“You heard her.” Randall was grinning from ear-to-ear. “Hear me out.”
He nabbed Mindy’s hand and pulled her into the room where she stood in front of her bed.
“Nice room,” he said as he sat down in her executive chair near her desk. “Suits you.”
“Shut up.” Mindy stood with her arms crossed and daggers shooting out of her eyes. “You got my mom in on your shenanigans?”
“Nope. I bribed her with the best food in DC.” He held up a bag, drawing her head to follow. “Everything is fresh, made to order, and the chef is from the ‘real’ south.”
“So, you bribe women with food? Even the skinny models you date?” Mindy tapped her foot. “Or just the chubby ones?”
“Chubby?” Randall laughed. “You think you're chubby? I wouldn't say that.”
“O
h, what would you call it?” Mindy was ready to pounce.
He sobered when he realized just how sensitive the topic was for her. Randall set the food down on the floor, stood up and walked towards her. He didn't bother to uncross her arms, just gave her a nudge to sit on her bed. Once she was down, he retrieved the food, and crossed back over to her. The tall man went down placing one knee on the floor, unpacked the food and drinks before he said, “I don't bribe women I want to get to know with food. I give them my time.”
He held up a platter with barbecue chicken, cabbage and collard greens.
“This is yours. Your mom told me these were your favorites. I happen to like them to and here is your half and half. Half tea and half lemonade.” He held out the food until she took it.
“I know what half and half is.”
After several beats, Mindy relieved him of the food and sat it next to her. Randall moved to sit on the floor right in front of her and said, “Eat up. I'm telling you short stuff, this food is delicious.”
“Stop calling me short stuff or little one.” She rolled her eyes.
“Those are my nicknames for you.” He started to eat when Mindy picked up the plastic fork.
After one bite of the greens, she moaned out loud and Randall laughed.
“Told you.” He kept laughing. “This food is the ish.”
“Oh yeah.” Mindy chewed on the collard greens.
The two of them ate a little more until Randall broke the silence saying, “By the way. I don't think you’re chubby.”
Mindy stopped chewing to look at him.
“I think you're perfect.”
They both looked at each other for several seconds longer than comfort allowed but this moment was what penetrated Mindy’s stubborn heart.
She cleared her throat and nodded.
“So, I'm from the great District of Columbia, Northeast to be exact. Graduated top of my class in high school but struggled in college and was on academic probation twice. Basketball is always something I wanted to do but not forever. You know? I'm not sure what else I want to do but at some point, I'll be changing careers,” Randall laughed. “Now tell me about your new career.”
Mindy snorted and said, “I don’t have one. I don't even know what I want to do. It's pathetic.”
“You think everyone automatically knows? We’re still young, Minnie Mouse.”
“Not another nickname.” She sighed while internally addressing the fact that he would keep calling her any nickname he deemed fitting.
“Oh, I think I like that one.” He smiled and drank the rest of his drink. “So, have you taken a career test?”
“Well, yes and no.” Mindy laughed. “I took one, years ago, but I have only now applied to graduate school. One program peaked my interest, Digital Journalism.”
His eyes grew as he said, “Oh, that'd be a great one.”
She couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
“When do you start? Next fall?” he asked.
“Well, if I'm accepted, I'd want to begin during the summer so I could get a jump start. Then we'll see what happens from there."
Randall nodded his head as if he understood.
"You'll get accepted. You strike me as a diligent and studious student, unlike myself." He smirked.
"Well, Mr. Cum Laude, I study my butt off," Mindy replied with a similar facial expression matching his.
"Yeah, I'm sure you do, Minnie." Randall tapped her thigh twice.
Mindy was thankful she at least had on her pajama pants so he couldn't feel her hairy legs, which she neglected to shave during the winter months. This was a time she regretted her stupid non-shaving season.
Randall then put his plate aside and wrapped his large hands around both of her calves.
"Okay, Minnie. Since, we're friends. Tell me about your dream guy." He smiled brightly. "You know the one you write about in your journal."
"How did you ..." She turned to see her pink journal peeking from under her pillow. "Oh. Well for your information. I don't write about a dream guy. I write about other things."
"Well, every woman has a dream guy. I have three sisters. I know you have traits you prefer in a man." He squeezed her calves causing an electric shock to shoot up her body.
"Why would I tell you?" Mindy tried to move her legs but the shackles that were around them felt unbreakable.
"Because we're friends." He gave her a boyish smile. "Plus, I have a sneaky suspicion that I fit the criteria."
"Well, you're wrong. I want a guy who is not intrusive, listens, is attentive, doesn't make up stupid nicknames for people, and knows when to back off." Mindy leaned down towards him to emphasize the point.
"Oh, Minnie Mouse." Randall laughed. "You've no idea how attentive I can be."
Mindy's body shuddered at the thought, then she gasped.
"Do you mean, what I think you mean?" She looked down at him.
"I mean anything you’re thinking and more."
Mindy shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"That was all you heard from everything I said?" she asked.
"That was what I knew you actually meant." He laughed as Mindy fell back on the bed, exasperated by the conversation.
Randall rose to his knees, spread Mindy's legs and rested his elbows in between hers.
"Seriously, why are you fighting this?" he asked her.
The man was serious. No hints of humor or even sarcasm. She had to tell him because he would keep pursuing if she didn't.
Mindy sat up and looked him in the eye. "I've been Mindy Sinclair, Sandra and Shane's sister for my entire life. I want to go out on my own and create my own life. I don't want to be in the shadow of my family, you know? And, you're Randall Jefferson, hot new starting small forward for the Wizards. I'd get chewed up and be forever trying to figure out who I am. I don't want to prolong my journey any longer. I want to figure out me for myself. Not in anyone else’s light but my own."
This time, and for the first time, Randall lowered his eyes but grabbed Mindy's hands and kissed each one. Before he spoke, he scoffed and said, "No, I understand completely." He shook his head and then continued. "Mindy Sinclair, I truly understand."
Chapter Four
Randall knew that Mindy not only needed her space to grow but also in and on her own. Her words were the same exact words he’d said to his father when he went out for the basketball team in eighth grade. He was the youngest of four, and his sister's achievements outshone anything he did. They were scholars, writers, or historians, and they always brought home awards. There were rarely any athletes in his family of academia, so when his father questioned him about trying out for the basketball team, he gave almost the identical speech of being sick and tired of being in other people's shadows. He wanted to be his own light and shine his own way.
Surprisingly, his father understood and the family backed him. They still pushed academics, hence why he graduated at the top of his class in high school. The Jefferson's wouldn't have anything else but honors. So, it helped that Randall was a natural athlete, learned the game quickly, and had great coaches to hone his skills so he could get recruited on academic and athletic scholarships. It was a rare thing for his college team at LSU but he was able to pull it off.
His sisters were spread out around the country. Jasmine, the oldest, worked as a researcher at Pepperdine in California. Chelsea was an author and had moved to Florida with her new husband. Margaret lived in Utah with her partner, and was suspected to be in a relationship but she never denied or confirmed it. The family never cared either way but that's how Margie was, secretive and private. The fact was that she was a professor at a University in Utah but that was about all they'd get from her.
When Randall was first drafted, the family came together and attended one of his games. They'd planned to do one every year but things were different now. They all had their own lives and childish games that Randall was paid millions to play was not the top priority in their lives, no doubt. He never
let that get to him but was always glad that he had his own thing. It was priceless to him.
Which was partly why he'd made the decision to be Mindy's friend and help her get her own shine. After all, he understood it more than most.
Randall cleaned up the mess they had made, gave Mindy a kiss on the forehead and told her he'd see her tomorrow. She shook her head and told him she doubted it. But he just laughed, because if she wanted attentive then that's exactly what she'd get.
On his way home, he called his friend, Susan, over at the University and set his plan into motion.
The next day, Randall found himself having another annoying discussion with Miles at his office.
"Randall, that piece you did with Diamond Reeves is the last media coverage that you've done. I think you should do another about your camp in anticipation for the reopening this summer. You want to try that other lady at WUSA or another company?" Miles asked Randall after he’d sat in his office for all of three minutes.
"Well, hello to you too." Randall nodded.
"Sorry, man. What's up?" Miles laughed. "Just trying to get some shit together and I've been in business mode."
"Yeah, I see."
"How was the holiday party?" he said jokingly. "Well, with Amy? How was it with Amy?"
"Amy was fine. She got her introductions and my job of chauffeuring her is done," Randall said with a little too much glee.
"Well, not really. You have some other engagements coming up and Amy needs to go with you for some of them," Miles clarified.
"Wait, what?" Randall stood up. "I'm not carting her around to a few more occasions. I know it’s a multi-million dollar endorsement but damn."
"Wait, naw man. It's just that with some of these other engagements, you'll be meeting other folks which is perfect for this endorsement. We're talking about millions here. This can be the difference between ten more camps or none. This is huge. It's just a few more engagements."
Randall shook his head. Something about this didn't sound quite right and the way his relationship with Miles had been going lately, he didn't really trust his judgment anymore. Things had never gone wrong with him in charge but he'd been doing some shady mess recently and nothing was making sense.