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AS THE SECOND WEEK of December came to a close Robert was already tired of cold weather. While he was accustomed to it like any other Michigander, it didn’t mean he had to like it. The first real snow of the season had come a week ago, dumping six inches overnight. Even a week later three inches still remained on the ground. This was definitely “cuddle-buddy” weather. He supposed Mika was his as he hadn’t had sex with anyone else since August.
They’d spent the night after the zoo getting down twice before passing out for the night. He had originally been joking about calling off work. That was before she’d woken him up with a blowjob, followed with a slow ride. He’d barely had enough energy to call his office. Robert hadn’t skipped work for a woman since his college days of work-study.
She had showed off her only cooking skills by making him a hearty breakfast, which had actually been delicious. From there it was a morning and afternoon spent watching movies and talking. A specific portion of their conversation stuck out in his mind.
They were lounging on the couch with Mika wearing her sweatshirt and a pair of his boxers, as she laid crossways in his lap. She didn’t seem to get the concept of personal space. He had suddenly looked down at her and stated, “You are so not my type.”
“Oh? You mean, intelligent, beautiful, and creative? I agree, that isn’t your type.”
“No, I meant light-skinned.”
Mika sat up so she could face him.
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those brothers who’s got color issues. Like you never date light-skin women?”
“No, I’m not. I’ve dated and been with women of your complexion several times. But they are just not my first preference.”
“Oh really...and why is that?”
He watched her slowly cross her arms and knew she was ready for a fight. “Because I feel like they’re all out for the same thing. Seems like they find the blackest brother they can date to validate their blackness. They also seem to be high-maintenance more often than not.”
He was preparing for the worst when she burst out laughing instead.
“Really Robert? That is such old and tired crap. It’s like saying you’re sleeping with me to get as close as you can to being with a white woman. Is that true?”
“Hell no!”
“You sure? Many darker men put a lighter woman on their arm, or marry them as a trophy wife. Like a badge of honor all successful black men need to show they made it.”
“That’s not always—”
She cut him off. “It is more often than not. All you gotta do is glance at the top actors, sport stars, etc.”
He went to speak again and she waved him quiet. “And I’ve dated men of all races. I appreciate handsome men of all ethnicities, but I seem to be most attracted to black men...of all hues. Speaking just for myself, I don’t need anything about myself ‘validated’. Are we clear on that?”
“Sure thing princess.” He tried playing with her loose curls.
“Don’t try to distract me.” She batted his hand away. “Besides, you are definitely not my type either.”
“I’m every woman’s type.” He pulled her back across his lap before she could resist.
“Nope, not mine. I don’t like stuck-up, stiff, know it all’s.”
He ran his hand up over her breast. “I’m not stuck-up, I have standards. Also I do know best, it’s been proven.” She snorted and pinched his side. “And I only have one thing that’s stiff, and you seem to really enjoy it.”
That had ended any talking about that subject, starting a make out session instead.
Now he was leaving the gym a little after one on Saturday. The truth was he was already feeling bored at the prospect of heading home. He wondered what Mika was up to? He dialed her from the car.
“Hey, what you doing?” he asked when she answered.
“Nothing. Why?”
“I just finished working out downtown. Thought maybe I could stop by.”
“Oh...sorry, but today’s not good. I’m not in the mood for company, feeling a little tired.”
Robert had noticed she sounded off. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah, just been a long week. I might watch some screen, probably take a nap. Sorry.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Nope, just rest.” And to get off this phone she thought.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”
Mika said goodbye and exhaled. She hadn’t lied she was exhausted. Which was amazing considering she’d only been up an hour. The only thing she’d done was eat breakfast, then scroll through a few personal emails and Facebook before Robert called. To be honest, she was surprised to hear from him. Last time she had spoken to him was by text, thanking him for a flower delivery almost two weeks ago.
The day she had spent with him had been fun. He was a good conversationalist, and had a habit of making her laugh. They both perversely enjoyed trying to get under the other’s skin. It was nice to be able to tease and play with a man who was secure in taking a joke. While she had loved her birthday outing, plus the wonderful sex that followed—she once again was thinking they should put an end to their fling.
“Don’t think about him today. R&R is the only thing on your agenda.” Gathering water and snacks she hunkered down on the couch. She started flipping through channels, randomly stopping on a game and started eating her chocolate covered Crunch n’ Munch. She zoned in and out for twenty minutes, sometimes watching TV and other times checking her phone, when her doorbell rang.
She shifted but made no attempt to get up. It rang again and she ignored that too. If it was a salesperson they could rot for all she cared. When the banging started she jumped up so quickly, she almost tripped on a pillow laying on the floor. She stalked to the door heated. She just wanted to rest on a Saturday for goodness sake! She jerked open the door without even looking.
“There better be an emergency—” She trailed off as she saw who was actually standing on her step. “Didn’t I tell you now wasn’t a good time? If you came to get some oh well because I’m on my period.”
“Hello to you too. That’s not why I came by. I was bored and wanted to chill.”
“You a damn lie but that’s okay, I’m going to hold you to it.” She waved him in and shut the door. “Come on in. You on house arrest for at least two hours, since you just want to chill.”
“Fine with me.” Robert took off his boots and coat, before following her inside to the living room. He had been surprised to see her open the door in some loose fitting sweats and a looser fitting sweater. She still looked good but this was the least dressed up and unstylish he’d ever seen her to date. He’d taken her for a 24/7 fashion plate. “What game you watching?”
“Not this one,” Mika said irritably, already turning to a movie she remembered passing. “I want to watch a romantic comedy.” She was going to make him suffer, for once again coming to her house out the blue.
“Now who a damn lie,” Robert said dryly.
He knew she was being contrary just to spite him. He was lucky she hadn’t thrown something at his head. He was a man who’d grown up with two females. He understood that sometimes, their periods turned them into crazy people. She finally found the show she wanted before stretching out fully, plopping her footie covered feet in his lap. He got comfortable and then pulled out his phone.
“Why don’t you understand how to take no for an answer?” Mika grumbled.
“Just part of my DNA I guess. Folks who do don’t go far in life,” Robert replied still distracted with his phone.
“No, you’re just annoying. Your mother didn’t beat your behind enough.”
Looking up he grinned at her. “I got my fair share. But I wasn’t trying to make my mother’s life harder.”
“Right now, I find that hard to believe. Put your phone down, I’m supposed to be torturing you with this stupid movie.”
“I will in a minute. This app just got done downloading. Okay, which day of your period is this?”
“What?”
“Is this day one, day two? How long does your cycle usually last?” He asked his questions slowly, as if she might be having a hard time understanding him.
“Day two,” Mika answered before she caught herself. “Why in the world are you asking me this?”
“So I can track it in this period app.” He swung his phone briefly to her so she could see, then back around to enter the info. “Are you five days or seven?”
“None of your business. Why in the world are you tracking my period?” Mika was outdone. She didn’t know whether to laugh or hit him.
“You don’t take pills, so I’ll go with the average which is seven days,” he mumbled to himself.
A few seconds later he was done, placing his phone on the table. “What do you mean why? You’re not on birth control, and we’re sleeping together. Like I’ve told you before, I don’t do kids. I might as well track you, it’s another way to know your least fertile days. Condoms of course will still be used.”
Her mouth gaping she stared at him. He said everything so nonchalantly and technically he had a point. “You are such a methodical stalker.”
Suddenly she was tired. She rolled her eyes at him once and flopped back down. She had never met a man so comfortable talking about periods. Grown men often fled the room whenever a hint of a woman's bodily function was mentioned, as if the cycle didn’t give life to their ass. If she wasn’t having mild cramps she would have found his outlook refreshing.
Robert allowed the conversation to drop and they both watched the movie. It was sappy, but luckily funny as well. At some point he started massaging her feet, and that elicited a groan of pleasure so he kept at it. He knew some women were funny about a man touching their feet. He had never understood why. Even the worst woman’s feet couldn’t compare to a man’s. Sure, he could admit sex had been on his mind when he’d called. However, he had no problem shifting gears and relaxing for the afternoon.
Not thirty minutes after he started she was fast asleep. He finished watching the last few minutes of the movie and of course the couple got together. Turning off the unrealistic movie for a sports channel, he settled back and watched the updates as she shifted onto her side curling up. He absentmindedly rubbed her lower back while she sighed and slept on.
––––––––
WHEN MIKA RE-OPENED her eyes blinking groggily, she saw an extra bottle of water and Robert’s cell phone but not the man himself. She hated her period. The foggy mind and tiredness was the antithesis of her normal self. Her flow would be coming down in earnest before the night was over. Checking the time, it was almost four pm. She slowly sat up holding her stomach. Yep, the real deal was on the way.
“My bad, did I wake you when I got up?” Robert asked walking back into the room.
“No...yes. I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter.” She stood up and handed him his phone. “You did good, I release you from your sentence. Now get out, so I can shed my uterine lining in peace.” She started pushing him towards the front door.
“Okay, okay I’m gone. You sure you good?” He asked stepping into his boots as she handed him his coat.
“Yes Robert. Thank you for the concern and the foot massage, but I’ve handled this thing called a period all by myself for a long time.”
His phone rang and after a quick check he answered. “Hey man, hold on a minute.”
To Mika he said, “I’m leaving. Lock up and get some rest.”
“Sure thing Dad. Drive safe and stop showing up at my house before I sick my neighborhood watch on you.”
He only smirked as she shoved him out the door. He heard the lock click and started walking to his car, belatedly remembering Cam was on the phone.
“My bad man. What’s up?”
“What’s up with you is the question? Who house you leaving?”
“A friend.”
“Hmm.” Cam was trying to figure out if he was going crazy or not, but figured there was only one way to find out. “Funny, but your friend’s voice sure sounded like Mika’s.” Cam waited for Robert to tell him he was wrong...and waited. “Fuck, Robert. What the hell?”
Robert transferred the call to his car as he pulled out the driveway, “Yeah, it was her, so what? We kicking it.”
“Define ‘kicking it’. How long has this been going on?” If Cam hadn’t been so caught up in all the changes in his new life, he probably would have noticed sooner that Robert hadn’t mentioned dating anyone in months.
“We really about to go through this?”
“Humor me,” Cam said tightly.
“We hook-up, have sex from time to time just in case you need clarification. It’s been going on for a while.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it wasn’t that big of a deal, and it still isn’t. It’s an every once and a while thing. No strings on either side.”
“A mutual agreement huh?” Cam’s vague anger dissipated as he pondered this new development.
“Yes, an explicit mutual agreement. There was no room for confusion. Look you cool with this or...?”
“If ya’ll on one accord, it’s all good. I mean I’m surprised but we’re all adults. Still don’t know why you never mentioned it.”
“Not really your business,” Robert countered.
“Yeah whatever. I bet Andrea knows.”
“I’m thinking she doesn’t...otherwise you would have.”
“I guess you right on that. Is this a secret or not?” Cam asked.
“I wouldn’t say that. I just think neither of us were thinking about either of you, when we made our decision. Except in the beginning when we were trying to figure out if it was worth it or not. We could barely stand each other. Neither of us is looking for a relationship, particularly with the other. Just some fun when the mood hits.”
“I won’t touch the part about you two not liking each other but still sexing. I can mention this to my wife then?”
“If Mika hasn’t told her...I wouldn’t go telling a woman's business.”
“Just great! The first secret I’m keeping from my wife is that her best friend is sleeping with mine.”
Robert laughed over the connection. “Well, at least the first one is a good one.”
