Wicked Games (Denver Rebels) (18 page)

When a few heads swiveled in their direction, Nadia murmured, “Jess—”

“No, Nadia! I’ve had enough of her picking you apart and insulting you. Who the hell died and made her Anna Wintour?”

“Or Asha Dubois,” Scarlett added hotly.

Nadia bit back a laugh. “It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not,” Jess snapped. “We’re trying to shop and have a good time, and she’s totally fucking up the mood with all her negativity.”

“Seriously,” Scarlett agreed, scowling at Caitlyn. “I don’t appreciate all the shade you’ve been throwing at my cousin. You need to back the hell off.”

Caitlyn sniffed, lifting her chin. “I wasn’t trying to offend—”

“Bullshit,” Jess snarled. “That’s exactly what you were doing and you know it. You can’t help yourself.”

A concerned salesclerk ventured over. “Is everything all right?”

“We’re fine,” Caitlyn and Jess snapped.

The woman quickly retreated.

Caitlyn turned to Nadia with a placating smile. “I’m sorry you took my words the wrong way. I was only trying to be helpful. You have a cute figure and flawless skin. I just want you to walk out of here with outfits that will play up your assets and look flattering on you.”

Nadia knew this was the closest she’d ever get to an apology. So she mustered a small smile and said, “I appreciate that, Caitlyn.”

Caitlyn patted her shoulder. “No problem. Oh, look at that,” she said, walking over to a display of Michael Kors dresses.

Nadia reluctantly followed her, watching as she pulled a gorgeous blue sheath off the rack and held it up for her consideration.

“Now
this
would look good on you.”

Nadia checked the price tag and almost choked. The dress was outrageously expensive. Since she’d gotten paid yesterday, she had enough money in her account to splurge on one or two really nice outfits. But she didn’t want to go overboard.

“Um…ah…” She faltered, searching for a polite way to reject the dress without having to come right out and admit she couldn’t afford it.

Scarlett came to her rescue. “It’s pretty, but it’s not really your style.”

“I agree.” Jess wrinkled her nose for emphasis. “It’s kinda matronly.”
Totally a dig at Caitlyn.

“Let’s try Forever 21,” Scarlett suggested.

“Are you serious?” Caitlyn shuddered.

Nadia frowned. “What’s wrong with Forever 21?”

“Nothing, if you don’t mind wearing bargain basement clothes that’s been picked over.” Caitlyn smiled condescendingly. “But that’s probably more within your budget.”

Jess didn’t let the slight go unanswered. “Aww,” she taunted mockingly. “Is someone feeling salty because she’s too over the hill to shop at Forever 21?”

Caitlyn snorted derisively. “Bitch, please. I wouldn’t be caught dead shopping in that tacky store.”

Jess smirked. “Well, given your advanced age—”

Nadia grabbed her arm. “Let’s go.”

They left Macy’s and headed through the mall toward Forever 21. On the way there, they came upon a pack of rowdy black boys wearing designer hoodies and sagging jeans. When the teens spotted Nadia’s group, they whistled, leered and catcalled them with a litany of tired pick-up lines:

“Yo, redbone, you fine as hell. Can I get your number?”

“Ay, light skin! You got a man?”

“Yo, chocolate girls! Y’all got some phat asses. Dayum!”

“Ay, Hazel Eyes! Are y’all sisters?”

“Can I run my fingers through y’all hair?”

Caitlyn curled her lips in disgust and waved them off. “Go play in traffic. Or better yet, go pick a fight with a white cop.”

The obnoxious teenagers moved on, hooting and hollering among themselves.

“Fucking degenerates.” Caitlyn gave a shudder of repulsion and scowled. “This mall is going to the dogs.
Literally
.”

“Right,” Jess said sarcastically. “Because you
never
see loudmouthed black boys roaming around Lenox Square in Atlanta.”

Before Caitlyn could respond, her phone trilled inside her handbag. She pulled it out, her saccharine demeanor instantly returning as she answered, “Well, hello again, darling.”

Scarlett leaned close to Jess and whispered curiously, “Who’s ‘darling’? And why does he keep calling?” 

Jess snickered. “Aunt Sheridan says she’s been seeing some wealthy Atlanta Falcons executive. As long as dude keeps her out of our hair, he can call all damn day as far as I’m concerned.”

Before they reached Forever 21, Caitlyn wandered off on her own, barely sparing them a backward glance as she laughed into her phone. Grateful to be rid of her, they exchanged celebratory high fives and then raced into the store to shop in peace.

They flew through the racks, trying on different outfits and modeling them for one another. Nadia fell in love with a metallic cutout dress, a strapless black jumpsuit, an off-the-shoulder fuchsia top and a houndstooth pencil skirt, along with some graphic tees and tanks. Jess loaded up on short skirts and blouses and earrings. Even Scarlett picked up a few items, although she typically preferred Hot Topic and Merchnow for their edgy, music-inspired fashion.

Even with a bag full of clothes, Nadia was still searching for the perfect outfit to wear on her date with Reid. As she, Jess and Scarlett were sifting through a rack of slinky dresses, Jess suddenly glanced up and scowled.

“Damn. She’s back.”

Nadia and Scarlett followed her gaze to see Caitlyn strutting through the entrance with an air of haughty superiority. As they watched, she walked over to a heavyset white girl holding up a halter dress in front of a mirror.

“That’s not a good look for you, sweetie,” Caitlyn said with mock concern. “Why don’t you try the Lane Bryant around the corner?”

The girl gasped, staring at Caitlyn in affronted disbelief.

“I’m just being honest with you.” Caitlyn gave her a seemingly innocuous smile. “Your skinny girlfriends will never tell you the truth because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. But take it from an unbiased stranger: There’s nothing here that would ever look good on someone your size.”

When the red-faced girl shoved the dress back onto the rack and hurried out of the store, Caitlyn cackled with vicious satisfaction.

Nadia and Scarlett stared at each other in openmouthed shock.

“Didn’t I tell you guys?” Jess declared matter-of-factly. “That bitch is the devil incarnate.”

Scarlett shook her head and laughed grimly.

But Nadia wasn’t amused. She put down the dress she’d been holding and made her way over to Caitlyn. “That was a really shitty thing you just did. Totally mean and uncalled for.”

“Oh, please,” Caitlyn said with a snort. “I did that cow a favor. She actually believed she could pull off wearing a
spandex
dress.”

“And how was that any of your damn business?”

Caitlyn sighed. “I know it’s not PC to say this, but no one enjoys seeing fat chicks waddle around in too-tight clothes with rolls of fat hanging over their pants. It’s tacky and gross. Since those broads never think twice about subjecting us to such obscene displays, consider my intervention a public service.”

Nadia shook her head in disgust. “You’re unbelievable.”

Caitlyn shrugged. “Just speaking the truth. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

“Oh, I’m definitely wishing I had a Glock nine right about now,” Nadia muttered darkly.

Caitlyn laughed, delighted. “Aww, look at you getting all outraged on behalf of the morbidly obese. How cute.”

Jess and Scarlett came over, took one look at Nadia’s scowl and sighed. “What now?”

“I’m ready to go.” Nadia had had enough of Caitlyn’s catty, mean-girl bullshit.

Jess frowned. “But you still haven’t found—”

“Don’t care.” Nadia was already making her way toward the checkout counter.

The line was ridiculously long, and there was only one cashier on a register. Nadia was tempted to put her new clothes back and walk out. Before she could move, Caitlyn sidled up to her and draped an arm around her shoulders.

“I like you, Nadia,” she said languidly. “If you were my cousin instead of Jessilyn, I think we’d get along so much better.”

Nadia snorted. “I seriously doubt it.”

Caitlyn laughed, unfazed by her rancor. “So who’s the lucky guy you’re going on a date with? I certainly hope he’s nothing like those ghetto lowlifes who harassed us on the way over here.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Honestly, I just don’t get the appeal of black guys. The majority of them are broke, uneducated, have bad credit and a boatload of baby mamas. They’re selfish lovers who act like they’re doing you a favor if they eat pussy. And contrary to popular belief, they’re not all hung like a horse. Talk about a myth of epic proportions!” She snorted, shaking her head. “No offense to my wonderful father, but I just don’t find most black men attractive. Unless they’re mixed, their hair is usually nappy as hell. And when they shave or get a haircut, they always get those nasty razor bumps on their necks and the back of their heads.” She shuddered in revulsion. “No. Just no.”

Scarlett snorted in disbelief. “Damn, ma, why don’t you tell us how you
really
feel.”

“Seriously.” Nadia shook her head at Caitlyn. “Is there any segment of the population you
don’t
hate?”

Caitlyn pretended to consider the question, then shook her head. “Nope.”

When Nadia and Scarlett frowned, she tossed her head and laughed. “No hate here. Just straight talk, no chaser.” She sighed, stroking Nadia’s hair almost fondly. “So, anyway, you were going to tell me all about your hot date.”

The hell I was
, Nadia thought.

“His name’s Reid,” Jess volunteered before Nadia could shush her.

Caitlyn sent a lazy glance over her shoulder. “Reid, huh? Sounds like a white boy. But I’m sure he’s not.”

“Actually, he is,” Jess said with gleeful satisfaction. “It’s Reid Holden.”

As the name registered, Caitlyn’s eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped. “The hockey player?”

“That’s right,” Jess crowed, all but shouting from the rooftops. “She’s going out with Reid ‘The Rocket’ Holden.”

Several shoppers turned and stared at them. Nadia suddenly felt as if she were standing in the hot glare of a spotlight.

Her face burned. “Jess, please—”

But her friend was just getting started. “He’s the one who bought Nadia that Chanel purse.”

“Along with six others,” Scarlett added.

Nadia inwardly groaned.
Et tu, cousin?

Caitlyn’s face was a case study in amazement as she stared at Nadia. “Reid Holden bought you
seven
Chanel bags?”

“He sure did,” Jess gloated.

Caitlyn dropped her arm from Nadia’s shoulders and slowly looked her up and down, critically appraising her belted tunic sweater, skinny jeans and flats.

Then she smirked. “Your pussy must be lined with gold to land a Sugar Daddy like that.”

Nadia bristled at the taunt and blushed at the same time.

Before she could muster a comeback, Jess interjected smugly, “I’m sure her pussy’s absolutely divine. But the thing is, Reid gave her the purses
before
they slept together, after they went out only once for coffee. Explain
that
.”

Caitlyn blinked, dumbfounded.

It seemed that everyone in the store was whispering, staring and pointing at Nadia. In front of her, two awestruck white teenagers gushed, “You are so lucky. Reid Holden is, like,
sooo
hot!”

Nadia smiled weakly. To give herself something to do, she ducked her head and dug around in her purse before pulling out her wallet. When she opened it to retrieve her check card, the last thing she expected to find was a platinum card belonging to Reid.

She slowly pulled out the card, staring at it in shock. When the hell had Reid slipped it into her wallet? And why?

“Oh my God,” Jess breathed, staring over her shoulder. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Damn,” Scarlett exclaimed. “He gave you his credit card?”

“Platinum, at that.” Caitlyn’s voice was tight with jealousy. “Guess you really do have a golden pussy.”

Nadia’s face flamed. She put the card away and grabbed her phone, then stepped out of line. She pulled up Reid’s number as she made her way toward an empty corner of the store.

After three rings his deep voice came on the line, sounding a little rushed. “Hey, babe.”

Her stomach fluttered. “Hi. Is this a bad time?”

“I’m heading out to a team meeting. What’s up? You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just, uh, confused. How did your credit card end up in my wallet?”

His low chuckle rumbled in her ear. “I put it there. Obviously.”

“Well, yeah, but why?”

“You said you were buying our movie tickets today. I want you to use my card to pay for them.”