Nigga what you doing home so early?" Chris caught the football Michael threw at his head. He fired it back and bounced it off his roommate's chest. "That's why you're a running back instead of a receiver." Mike grunted. "So there's a girl out there who can actually ain't tryna give in." "Yeah, I guess I finally found her." Not that he'd been looking or anything. "Why you ain't get none, must've been an asshole, she said no?" Michael leaned back on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. "No nigga." He didn't offer an explanation. If word got out he'd decided to go to bed alone, his reputation would be fucked. He'd worked hard to earn that reputation; he deserved it. "So what happened, what went down?" "Nothing." That was the truth. Sort of. He didn't want to ruin Robyn's reputation either. The less said the better. Plus, like he said.. he didn't kiss and tell. He walked to his room, and took off his clothes as the green digits on his clock flashed 10:55—too early to go to bed. Thanks to Robyn and her wandering hands, he had a ton of energy he needed to do something with. Hmm... booty call? Call Robyn. He pulled his phone out and looked at her name. He shook his head. Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? He must have known a hundred girls. Why could he only think of one? He put on a t-shirt and some basketball shorts, then tied his shoes while Michael came in and bounced the football off Chris' leg. "You're going for a run at this time of night?" "Ok at you acting like you wifey, uglyass, and i gotta do somethin'." "Chill out nigga, and Why not call Draya?" Draya... the dark skin... no, light skin... damn it, why can't I remember her? "You could try to fix shit with Jasmine." "Hell nah, Too much work." Besides, he didn't want Jasmine anymore. He could only think of one girl worth the effort. "No, I need to work out." "You need to get laid." No shit, Sherlock. "I will." "The best way to get over a girl is to replace her." Michael picked up the football and juggled it. "Isn't that what you told me?" Chris grinned. He didn't want to replace Kiwi yet. "I don't give up that easy." "This one's a challenge, huh?" "Damn right." Stubborn, funny, smart, smart-mouthed, beautiful, sexy.... "I like a challenge." "Going out with her again?" "Hell Yeah." "Why does she have you so interested?" That question lingered in his brain. He couldn't remember the last time a girl had turned him down, and he never refused a girl who wanted him, so why go out with her again? He wanted her. No, something else kept him coming back. What was it? Chris didn't have an answer, so he told Michael what he expected to hear. "Because I haven't slept with her yet." "Yeah, that sounds about right." Good. At least someone doesn't think me virtuous. Chris shuddered. He batted the football out of Mikes hands and threw it in the closet. "Keep that shit on the low nigga." If that got back to Robyn, she would think he had only one thing on his mind, and while it was true at the moment, he couldn't stand the thought of her being hurt by rumors and misunderstanding. "Trust nigga, I don't tell your secrets and you don't tell mine." Chris nodded. He dashed out of the house and took off down the street, running out to the quiet, peaceful football field. He realized his mistake as soon as he got there. The last thing he needed was peace and quiet; he needed a distraction so he couldn't hear Mikes question echoing in his head. Why am I so interested in Robyn? He still couldn't believe he'd said no to sex. What? She wanted him, but all he wanted to do was hold her. The last time he felt like this, he.... The last time had started out well, but hadn't ended that way. Ashley was his past. Robyn was his future. What? Now. Robyn is now. Focus on the moment. The way he talked to her—wow—a new experience for him. He and Ashley had talked but never like that. Robyn had asked questions; she wasn't shy. she'd listened. Without thinking, he'd confessed his deepest secret, his deepest pain, to a girl he couldn't stop holding. He'd stopped short of telling her about Ashley. Robyn didn't need to know about his heartbreak. Then she'd told him her secret—shared her pain. A woman in tears typically reminded him of his mother. Angry, painful, scary tears. but her tears hadn't scared him. The depth of her emotion had touched him, and for a moment, he'd envied the connection she had with her father. His father, on the other hand.... His mother had warned him, and Chris had done his best not to become his father. But his best wasn't good enough. Love was not an option. Love doesn't have to hurt. Damn it, now Robyn's voice stuck in his head. Since when had it gotten this hard to turn off his brain? He smiled. Since the moment she first rolled her beautiful green eyes at me. He closed his eyes and wished—hoped—that Robyn had been right. He took a deep breath and started running around the football field. -- "Do you want to come to the game with me?" Robyn dug through her purse, trying to sound casual, and hoping Mel wouldn't bite her head off. Her roommate sat cross-legged at the coffee table, scribbling in her notebook. She put down her pen and stretched. "Home game?" "No, it's in Rocksvilee, but it's not far. I'm riding with the track team." "Me and a bunch of sports addicted hoes stuck in a car for an hour, hell no." Mel looked at Robyn and winced. "No offense." "None taken." She zipped her purse and took a hesitant step toward the couch. "I'll miss you." "When was the last time we went to a game together?" "It's been a while. We used to have so much fun." Robyn grinned and plopped down on the couch. "You loved drooling over the tight ends." Mel laughed. "No, I like the ball runner guy. What's he called?" "The running back." "Yeah, that shit..the running back." Mel stuck the tip of her pen in her mouth and her eyes turned dreamy. "You can lust over him while I look at the QB." Darn it! She hadn't meant to sound go giddy. "The quarterback? Oh, Chris punk ass." The pen cracked. "I don't think so." "Yeah, that's what I figured." Robyn sighed and walked toward the front door. "I wish I could be happy for you, boo, I really do.. but I'm so worried about you." Mel said sighing. "You don't need to worry. I can take care of myself. I'm fine " "I know, but I've...." Mel grabbed a new pen and flipped her book open. "You've what?" "Never mind. Just Have fun." "I will." Robyn stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. She hated this awkward tension between them. That was her best friend. Was this what she got for dating Chris? Her relationship—or whatever—with him probably wouldn't last long enough to cost her a friendship with Mel. Nor was it worth it. Somehow, that thought wasn't very comforting. The Chris part. -- "Interception!" Chris leaped off the couch and cheered at the TV. Mike pumped his fists. "Run nigga runnnnnnnnnn!" "Touchdown!" They both threw their arms in the air, laughing and clapping so loud that Chris barely heard his phone ring. He grabbed it without looking at the caller ID. "Was hannninnnn? Oh, Whats up pops?" He rolled his eyes. Mike fell back in the recliner, laughing under his breath. "Did you see that interception?" Clinton Brown asked his son. "Hell, yeah." "Did you see what the qb did wrong?" Chris slapped his hand over his face. Here it comes. "He threw it to the wrong guy." He grinned at Mike Mike snickered and opened a bottle of water. "Don't be a smartass, son. He took his eyes off the receiver. I've seen you do the same damn thing. Watch and learn." "You got a reason to be on my line, or are you just trying to piss me off?" "He's trying to piss you off." Mike stuffed a handful of chips in his mouth and nearly choked laughing when Chris snarled at him. "I want to come see one of your games." Chris rolled his eyes at his fathers words. Bullshit. He though in his mind. "I have a game every weekend. We won yesterday. You could've come to that one." "Are you playing at home next Saturday?" "Yeah" "Good. I'll be there." Sure you will. He shook his head at Mike. "Okay, Dad." "Did you get lucky this weekend? Got another girl waiting for next weekend?" He practically heard his father salivating over the phone. "I...." No way in hell was he going to tell his dad he'd turned down an easy lay. "I had a date Friday night, and I'll probably see her again soon." "The same girl?" "Yes." "Damn, she must be bad as fuck!" "You don't find what you just said disgusting?" He asked getting no reply. "Keep your options open, son, on and off the field." "Yeah, sure." The idea didn't appeal to him like it used to. "I expect a great game out of you on Saturday. Scouts could be watching you." "I always play my best, no matter who's watching." "Good. See you next week." Chris ended the call and chucked his phone at the couch. "The usual conversation, huh?" Mike handed him a beer. "Said he's coming to see me play next week." "Ha, we'll see." "You know he gone have some fuck ass excuse as to why he couldn't make it." "I'll take that bet." Chris sneered and turned his attention to the game, but talking to his dad had sucked all the fun out of it. "Why didn't you tell him about your early night with Homegirl?" "Its Robyn. and nigga Are you crazy? You know my Pops. If I told him I'd called it a night, he'd... wow... he'd freak." "That would be fun to watch." Chris laughed. "Yeah. Nahhhhh." He shook his head. "I don't want to find out. I have enough crazy in my head. I don't need him coaching my bedroom sports too." "Doesn't he already?" He couldn't argue with that. "Not with Robyn, he won't. I'm not gonna let him call this play." "The ball is in your hands. Are you gonna hand it off or keep it and test the defense?" Chris downed his beer and glared at Mike. "What the hell you mean?" "You know what i mean nigga." "Whatever." He knew Mike was right. Hand her off to someone else, or hang on and hope he didn't get sacked again? -- "Bitch what?" Mel nearly dropped her oatmeal on the kitchen floor. "We're going out again." Robyn smiled, completely oblivious to the juice overflowing its glass. Happy Monday! "What the?" Juice dripped from the table onto her pants. "Nice." Mel shook her head. "Bad idea. Why?" "Why not?" She mopped up her juice and shot a glare at Mel. She didn't have to explain anything to her. "We had a good time so we decided to do it again." "Ah, I see." Mel sat down at the table. "You had fun popping ya pussy and now you're hooked just like all the other girls he uses." "We didn't sleep together." She turned on the toaster oven, still puzzled by that. "Seriously? I thought Chris slept with every girl he went out with." "I did too, but there's a lot more to him than sex." She couldn't deny that his raw sexuality appealed to her, but Robyn kept that thought to herself. "You're kidding." "No. He's actually funny, he's an incredible athlete, and he's a good listener." And an amazing kisser. She closed her eyes, remembering the touch of his lips on hers, his hands in her hair, his tongue in her mouth, his body crushing her... hard, hot, burning.... Smoke? Shit! The toast was on fire. "This is Christopher Brown you're talking about." "Uh-huh." She turned off the toaster oven and waved the smoke away. "A good listener?" "Yeah, that was shocking." "I thought Chris only heard what he wanted to." "Why are you being so hard on him?" Robyn didn't want or need Mel's approval, but a little less judgment would be nice. "You don't know anything about him." "I know enough." "Only gossip." "There's a little bit of truth to every rumor." Mel bit a chunk off the burnt toast and tossed the rest of it across the room into the sink. "Maybe." Robyn suddenly remembered what he was doing (and who he was doing it with) when she'd met him. "Probably." Yet he'd decided to wait. Why would he do that if he had no interest in her... at least a little bit? "Maybe he could change." Darn it! She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Could she reform the bad boy? Did she want to? "That nigga is never gonna change." Mel practically spit the words at her. "Can't you see what he's doing to you?" She shook her head. "He's playing you. He wants you to think he's a nice guy because he knows you won't go for the bad boy." Not entirely true. She hid her smile in her glass of orange juice. Just thinking about his naughty streak made her tingle. "After he has his fun with you, he'll get bored and go after the next pretty face he sees." Mel stabbed her oatmeal with her spoon, over and over. Robyn almost felt bad for it. Poor oatmeal. "Trust me, I know." Robyn's smile faded. "I know what he does. I know he won't stay with one girl." He'd told her he never would. "And I know he'll lose interest in me sooner or later." "Ima bet on sooner." "So why can't I just have fun with it, if it happens? Other girls do." "Lots of other girls." "Why can't I be one of them?" "Really Robyn? Why the hell would you want to?You sound so stupid!" "Because I want to enjoy life for a change. I want to take a risk. I've always been the shy, non spoken one, doing what the fuck everybody else thought I should do. 'Don't do that, Robyn, you might get hurt.' 'Do your homework, Robyn, you can have fun later.' Well, it's later. It's finally my turn to have fun.So let me do me!" She threw her dishes in the sink. "So if you can't understand that... fine, cause I'm not doing shit to change it." She grabbed her backpack and slammed the front door behind her. -- Robyn's mothers phone number came across the top of her iPhone. She could let it go to voice mail, but she would have to call her mother back eventually. Better to get it over with now. "Hey mama." "Hey mi baby girl, you busy?" "Nah." "You studying?" "I'ya trying to." Always asking about studying. Damn mama do you care about anything else? "Alrigh'thats good, how school?" "Fine." "Just fine?" Her best friend wasn't speaking to her because she hated the guy Robyn was dating. Robyn had wanted to sleep with him, but he'd said no. Now he wanted a second date, and this time they probably would do it. Did her mom really want to talk about that? "Yah, mama, everytings fine. How is everybody?" "They'ah doing good, dey miss you." "Ah, I'll come see ya soon." "You have midterms eh?" "Yes mama." "How you do?" "I got an A pon mi first one and I have anudder one tomorrow." "You gwan study for di rest of di night?" "I have track practice, but iya try." "Mhm." "It'll get done mama." "If you say so, I just dont wan ya priories messed up. School first." "I'm fine, I get good grades and I never miss class. What more could you ask for?" "I just wan you to member why you so far away from home, cause you smart. Don't let extra tings take that away." "I can manage it mama, i have time for school and other stuff like track and dating.." Shit, she might've said too much. "You dating?" "Kinda.....sorta." "Mhm.." "We went out last weekend, it was fun. He's a nice guy and he's funny." "Funny or school Robyn." Funny. "Mama, I'm okay. Why can't you just trust me." "Are you going out with him again?" Absolutely. "I'm thinking about it." "Then you're not focused on school." "What??? Yes I am." This is going downhill fast. "Robyn, gyal... you can't have you a boyfriend and keep up your grades." "Why not?" "Dese boy only one ting pon their filthy minds. He won't let you study because all he wants to do is have sex." Actually, he'd said no when Robyn had only one thing on her mind. She smothered a laugh when she imagined what her mother would say to that. "Going out on a date again is a bad idea." In a flash, Robyn re-lived her argument with Mel. Was dating Chris really a bad idea?" "Robyn?" "Uh.. Yeah mama." She snapping out of her daze. "Ya see, dis exactly what I'm talking about.. You already can focus! He no good!You shouldn't be dating anyone until you finish with school and have a good job." You shouldn't be dating anyone.... Going out on a date is a bad idea.... Shut the fuck up is a good idea. The difference between Mel and Robyn's mother: Mel didn't want her dating Chris; her mother didn't want her dating at all. "You need to be able to take care of yourself. Don't make di same mistake I made." "Mama , I can take care of myself. I'm twenty-two. I'm an adult." "I realize that." "I don't think you do. I've been focused on school for the last three years—" "I'm surprised you could focus at all while going out on all those dates." "Ma, let me finish. I will graduate this year with excellent grades. "I hope you can." "Listen to me, Ma. I can get good grades, run track, and go out on dates too." And have fun doing it! "Robyn, you can't have everything." "Why not? I've worked really hard these last three years. I deserve to have a little fun. I've earned it." "Hard work is its own reward." "For goodness sake ma, damn, think for yourself for a change." "You watch di way you talk to me gyal, I still drag you pon di roots and whip your ass." Robyn didn't have time to argue with her so she gave up trying. "Ma, im sorry but I'm going to practice. I'll study for my exam after that, and I'm going out with Chris again, and we'll have a great time." She packed up her books and headed toward the track. "Do you remember what the grief counselor told us?" her mother finally asked. Robyn sighed, "Don't take it out on each other." "I'm sorry I was so harsh with you, baby girl, I worry too much. I gon have to remember that you're an adult, and you make your own choices." "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I know you worry because you care about me." They were repeating words the counselor had given them, but hey.. they worked. "I love you, Robyn." "I love you, mommy." "What's his name again?" "Huh?" She forgot they'd been arguing about Chris. "Oh. Christopher Brown. I met him...." Do not tell her that story! "...at football practice." "You play football?" "No mama, he does." She laughed. "Oh, right." Her mother laughed too. "It's nice that you have athletics in common." "Yeah." Finally, they agreed on something. "I gotta go to practice, Ma." "All right. Have a good time." Robyn knew her mom had made an effort to say that. "But remember school comes first." Back to her old habits. "I'll remember." "Call me if you need anything, okay, honey?" "Okay mommy, bye." -- She decided to go to the weight room to do some kickboxing for practice today. "Kiwiiiiiiiiiii!" Chris' voice echoed in the room, stopping Jane in mid-kick. She smiled as he walked over to her, then got into form to punch the bag. She punched and kicked without mercy. "Damn, girl, I hope I'm not the guy who pissed you off." "Not this time." She squared up again. "Good." He winced as her foot connected with bag with a solid thud. "Great legs, Robyn." He grinned as his eyes swept over her. "And I mean that in more ways than one." "Why do guys like legs?" She looked down at hers. He smiled and stared at her powerful thighs. "Because legs lead to more interesting places." "Is it always about sex?" "Yeah, pretty much. Feel better now?" "Yeah, a little." "Rough day?" He followed her to the bleachers. "I had a fight with Mel this morning. I was pretending the bag was her head." She grabbed a bottle of water and collapsed on the players' bench. "Ouch. Poor Mel." He sat down beside her. "Who's Mel?" "My best friend and roommate." "Yeah, roommates can be a real pain in the ass." Chris liked the idea of trading his roommate in for a female model. "What did you fight about?" A slow smile lit up her eyes. "You." "Not the first time women have fought over me." He watched as she rolled her eyes. Jackpot—exactly the reaction he'd hoped for. "Is she jealous?" "No. She doesn't like your ass." "Yeah, women either love me or hate me." Robyn's smile faded. "And then my mother called." "Not good?" "Hell no." "Did you tell her all about me?" "I didn't intend to tell her anything about you—" "But you couldn't help bragging." "Nigga bye.." Wow, two eye rolls in the same conversation. Bonus points for that. "What'd yall talk about?" "She almost talked me out of going out with you." "Almost?" "I almost fell for it, but she messed it up." "How did she mess up her own guilt trip." "She kept talking." Robyn laughed. "Shut the fuck up sometimes." Chris joined her in laughter. "They both hate me and they never met me. Score." "Mel, hates you. My mom hates the idea of you. One point." "Big difference?" "It almost kept me from going out with you." "So Ima assume you really like a nigga since you didn't." "A lil bit." She smiled at him. "Sounds like moms need to get laid." "The disgust. Chill out. Sex doesn't solve every problem in life." "Sex is a part of life. It's not a separate thing. It's normal, natural, fun. It's a lot of fun. It's no different than anything else." "You make it sound so easy, I like that." "You should try it one day." "I tried, you went home." She said smirking at him. "Don't remind me." Robyn laughed. "You know what you wanna do for our second date?" "I have an idea, but I gotta work some shit out." "Mhm. You got alot to work out" "You love making shit dirty." "It's a natural born gift. I'm sure you'd like the find out about it." "Maybe." "Come here." He grabbed her hand and led her off to a half-hidden doorway on the far side of the gym. Someone could see them if they looked hard enough, but Chris didn't care about that right now. He suddenly felt the need to kiss her, and he didn't want to wait until she figured out when their next date would be. He leaned back against the wall, pulled her in close, and held her face in his hands. He touched his lips to hers and slid his hands down her back. She fit against him so tightly that only their clothes were keeping them separate. If he could do nothing but kiss Robyn for the rest of his life, he would be Set for life. He'd have an eternal hard-on, but he would be happy. Happy without sex? What a weird thought. Robyn squirmed in his arms. He didn't want to let go, but she managed to pull back enough to speak. "Do you know what I like best about you?" This should be interesting. "Let's see... I'm fine as fuck? my voice and the way i whisper in your ear? The freaky shit I do?, my—" She shut him up with a kiss. "Your full-body-contact kisses." She kissed him again, crushing him against the wall. "Please don't ever stop kissing me like this." "Mmm... my kind of girl." He ran his hands up and down her body. "You're not so stiff anymore." "You are."she said tugging at his waistline on his pants. "That's all your fault, you know." "Really?" "Oh hell yes!" Finally, she looked up and smiled. "I like that." Definitely my kind of girl. "Get used to it." He wanted to pull her closer, to crawl on top of her and know her from the inside out. He wanted that so much, but he couldn't do it here. Voices approached their not-private-enough location, so he gently pushed her away and nodded in that direction. They pretended to talk about something else until everyone had disappeared. She moved closer. "I want to... um...." She stopped and took a deep breath. "I want to make dinner for you." "Oh you cook?" "Duh nigga." She looked away, pink coloring her cheeks. "I just need to find out when Mel won't be home." "Okay. Just tell me when you want me." She peered at him. "Yeah, yeah." "Soon." More people walked toward the gym. "I promise." She kissed him and jogged away. He ran his hands across his chin and leaned back against the wall. Yep, he would be running around the football field tonight.
