Not My Type Page 2

  Chapter Two

  MIKA LET OUT A GRUNT then a sigh, as she shifted the box she’d just finished taping to the side. It was late September, and Michigan weather had graced them with an Indian Summer. Thank god for air conditioning as they were packing the second floor of Andrea’s house. Swiping an errant curl off her forehead, along with a little sweat Mika asked, “So have you decided to sell or what?”

  Andrea plopped down on the bed exhausted. She and Cam had come by Friday night to pack, and here she was again with Mika the next day. Since the movers were coming on Monday it was a sure bet she’d be here tomorrow as well.

  “Andrea?”

  “Sorry. Between the heat, packing and planning for the move I’m a scatterbrain. Thanks again for finding time to help.”

  “You’re welcome, and you owe me some pizza and wine to replace all the calories I’m burning. I forgot how hard packing and moving could be. I haven’t done any of this since college.”

  “Done! You're cheap labor. We’ve decided to keep the place and rent it out. I’m thinking a short rental. If we don’t get enough traffic that way we can do Airbnb. Particularly since it’s close to the airport. Extra income to invest.”

  “That sounds like a great plan. You’ve always been money savvy.”

  “Yeah, but Cam and Robert take it to another level.”

  Mika’s head snapped around, but luckily Andrea had her eyes closed. “What does Robert have to do with it?”

  “Well you know he’s a financial investor. He’s handled Cam’s investments since they met years ago.”

  “Ahh, I get it. He’s responsible for Cam being able to buy all your wonderful jewelry.”

  “Yep, a big part actually. Cam’s convinced me to take the extra from the rental and let Robert handle it.” Andrea got up, stretched and went back to removing items from the closet. How did one person accumulate all this crap? “You should let him invest for you as well.”

  “Who Cam?”

  “No, Robert. Now who’s slow? You should talk to him about setting up an account, get a better return on your money.”

  “I do invest you know,” Mika told her.

  “Barely. With as much as you make, you could be investing a lot more and getting better returns if you let a professional do it.”

  “Ugh, he’s the last person I’d ask for help,” Mika mumbled.

  “What? Why not?”

  Mika turned to see Andrea looking at her with genuine curiosity. Shit, what should she say now? She hadn’t told her bestie that she and the best man had done the old tango in the sheets routine. Or that she had a keen dislike for the man.

  “Am I missing something?” Andrea asked when Mika didn’t answer.

  “No...I just don’t know him like that to trust him with my money.”

  “I get it. But he’s solid. You should really think about it,” Andrea said, turning back around.

  “Yeah okay. I will. But I have plenty of money.”

  “I know...and you’ll go see Robert if you want to keep it,” Andrea scolded.

  TWO HOURS LATER FOUND both women downstairs devouring the delivered pizza and drinking.

  “Thanks again girl. I’ll have to take you to dinner as a real payment. I hate it’s only our second time catching up since the wedding, and I have you doing manual labor.”

  Mika waved the comment away as she chewed a string of cheese. “Honestly, its fine. I’m not married like you. Not like anyone is waiting for me at home. I had nothing else to do.”

  Andrea furrowed her brow at the hint of wistfulness in her friend’s tone. “Well then, we need to get you hitched.”

  “No thanks. Don’t be that happily married friend who tries to fix everyone else up.”

  “I wouldn’t do that!”

  Mika gave her a side eye. “Mmm-hmm. I know you can be a schemer when you want to be.”

  “This is true,” Andrea said grinning. “Tell you what, we’ll work with your current roster before I go sticking my nose in.”

  “My current roster is empty.”

  “Come on...I know you usually keep a few on the bench. You telling me there isn’t anyone you’d like to revisit?”

  Mika actually thought about that question between a few sips of wine. As the silence grew, she frowned. “No. Nobody comes to mind actually. Which is fine by me. I’m not ready to take the plunge yet. I would like my dating life to ramp back up though. I think I’m getting bored.”

  Andrea didn’t say anything for a moment, just studied her bestie. Mika was fiddling with her earrings while stuffing her face with food. “Ahh, I get it you do seem to have a lot of pent up energy. But be serious, you can have sex whenever. What are you looking for in a guy for a long-term relationship?”

  “That’s the point. I’m not looking...well not really.” And Mika wasn’t. Long-term relationships seemed like a lot of work.

  “Whatever, neither was I. I know you eventually want to get married and for that to happen you need to start with a real relationship. Quick give me five things you want in your Mr. Right!”

  “Okay, he needs to be...umm adventurous, outgoing, fun, manly and at least 6’2.”

  “Three of those things mean basically the same thing. Think deeper than that. Does he need to be well off?” Andrea asked knowing Mika’s background.

  Mika twisted her mouth and shook her head. “Not really. I mean he needs to be taking care of himself, but I don’t want a career obsessed man. Nor do I need one. I have money and money isn’t everything.”

  “Well what do you want besides fun in a mate?”

  “Look Andrea, I don’t know. Not everyone can nab a good looking, funny, caring and successful guy like you did,” Mika said standing up and brushing pizza crumbs off her jeans, before grabbing her purse. “Maybe in five to ten years I’ll run into my own unicorn. Thanks for the pizza, but it’s late and I’m beat. I’ll talk to you later!”

  Mika yelled the last as she was walking out the door, Andrea’s mouth still hanging open from her outburst. Reaching the car, she blew out the breath she was holding and let her head fall onto the steering wheel. She had no clue why she’d just blown up at Andrea. She couldn’t be happier that her friend had in fact found a black unicorn, she deserved it. Yet here she was, lashing out like a bitter shrew. When her phone buzzed, she pulled it out to read the text.

  Andrea: Not sure what happened. Sorry I upset you

  Andrea: Still, let me know you get home safely

  Great. That made her feel like even more of an ass. Why did she have a friend who took the high road more often than not? She could have at least called me a bad name or two.

  Mika: I will

  Mika: I’m sorry too. Wasn’t you, was me :(

  Putting on her seatbelt she pulled out the driveway and started for home, deep in thought. Could she be jealous of her friend? Maybe. After all who wouldn't be a tad bit? Andrea had gotten that random meeting that turned into a whirlwind romance. The shit that people wrote books and poems about. At the same time Mika wasn’t sure she was ready for a heavy relationship. The thought of having to put someone else first made her cringe. All for a fifty/fifty chance they wouldn’t cheat on you, be secretly gay, or heaven forbid both.

  Maybe it had been Andrea’s implication that my relationships weren’t “real”. Did she have a point? While Andrea had rarely dated when she did, it often morphed into a longer arrangement. While she on the other hand dated often and the potential mates morphed into thin air. The longest relationship she’d ever had was eight months long. Was that right? While sitting at a light she mentally went back to college and worked her way up. She didn’t like the answer she came up with. She’d only had about three relationships to reach six months. Not realizing it since she usually moved on to the next fairly quickly. Casual dating taking the place of forming lasting relationships.

  “Well, damn...”

  What kind of guy could make her want to settle down? She wasn’t sure, as she honestly didn't spend much
time thinking about it. What she wanted was someone she was passionate about, and who felt the same about her. Someone who liked her for all her quirky habits and wouldn’t try to change her into a Stepford wife. All the successful black men seemed to be stiff and dull. As if they didn’t know how to relax outside the office. She wanted the perfect man for her. While she might be sketchy on exactly what that looked like, she felt certain she hadn’t met him yet.

  Chapter Three

  “EXPLAIN TO ME AGAIN why you waited so late to ask her?” Cam asked as he walked past, pulling on his shirt.

  Andrea gave his disappearing skin an appreciative look before shaking her head. “Well I probably would have thirty minutes ago, if someone hadn’t ambushed my shower. I told you this way she has less time to think about it.”

  “What if she has plans?”

  “She doesn’t. Unless she added some since yesterday...which is possible. About to call and find out now.”

  MIKA SAT AT HOME IN her favorite chair almost finished painting her nails hunter green, while watching “Wifey Club of Charlotte”. Why she watched this trashy show she didn’t know. It reminded her of her cousins, which wasn’t a good thing. She figured she could get another episode in before the game came on. She loved mid-October as she knew the rivalry of Michigan vs. State would be an entertaining game. Most years she went to a viewing party given by friends or colleagues. She’d even randomly picked a sports bar a few times and joined the animated crowds.

  Occasionally, she had dragged Andrea to a few events over the years. Her friend didn’t mind sports now and then, but said the craziness of this particular game annoyed her. Mika agreed it could get wild, which was why she would be screaming out her lungs in the privacy of her own home this year. Her phone rang just as a lady on “WCOC” was getting overpriced champagne thrown in her face.

  “Hello.” She hadn’t even looked at the caller ID. Her eyes still glued to the screen as a table was flipped. Seriously, why were these people not banned from all nice places by now?

  “Hey! What you doing?”

  “Watching these fancy waiters trying to break up a fight. Girl they don’t get paid to do all that! I’d quit.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re watching that crap again.”

  “Yeah. Figured I’d catch up on my DVR before the game came on. What’s up?”

  “You want to go to a watch party with us? A friend of Cam’s is hosting.”

  Mika gave Andrea her full attention now that a commercial was on. “Huh? I thought you hated this game.”

  “True, but I figured since Cam wanted to go...”

  “Ha, part of your marriage duties! I’m becoming old like you, I honestly didn’t want all the drama this year. I told you that’s why I’m watching solo.”

  “I know, I know. But this is a small gathering maybe twenty people. Right Camden?”

  Mika heard him agree in the background before she spoke up again. “Yeah, but...”

  “Come on, no buts. We can hang out and you can wile out for your team at the same time. We’ll even pick you up, so you can drink as much as you want.” When Mika still hemmed and hawed Andrea quickly added in a whisper, “Please go! That way I’ll know at least one other female there. Hell, I don’t even know if there’ll be other women.”

  “I really doubt Cam would take you to an all male party,” Mika said dryly. “Fine. I’ll go.”

  “Yay, you're the best! We’re on our way. Give us about thirty-five minutes.”

  “That’s fine, you know I’m already dressed.”

  “I know it! You’ll have fun in a smaller setting.”

  ‘Yeah, yeah hurry up, the game starts in about an hour.”

  IN THE TIME IT TOOK them to get to her house she freshened up, then hunted up a couple of extra props. Grabbing a jacket and a bottle of wine as a gift to the host, she was ready and waiting when Andrea texted they were outside. Locking up, she jogged her way out to the car and got in the back.

  “What’s up people! Thanks sexy Cam for driving!”

  “Not a problem Ms. Trouble.”

  Conversation flowed easily between the three as it always did, making Mika glad she’d come out. She’d gotten used to being the third wheel while the two had dated. Overall it didn’t bother her because she liked Cam so much. He was like the indulgent older brother she’d never had. Easy to talk to, quick to laugh and 250% in love with her friend.

  Funny how time seemed to go more quickly when someone else drove. In no time they were pulling into a curved driveway. They stood outside the home’s door still chatting, as they waited for it to be answered. She finally noticed neither had on anything that represented a team. “Cam you went neutral too? I’m disappointed in you. Pick a side!”

  “Nope, I have no skin in this fight. I’ll leave all that craziness up to you and Robert. Though I do put a small bet randomly on a team each year, just for the hell of it.”

  Mika face twisted hearing that name. It had taken her almost a full month to stop having random flashbacks of that man. So imagine her dismay as the door opened and there he stood.

  MIKA SAW THE SURPRISE in Robert’s eyes as well. As he and Cam greeted each other she whispered to Andrea, “You didn’t tell me he would be here.”

  “Well it’s his house party.” Looking confused Andrea asked, “Does it matter?”

  Pressing her lips together Mika turned around and entered the house at Cam’s urging. Once they were all inside she tried to get her bearings, as Robert greeted and hugged Andrea. Okay, this wasn’t the end of the world. It was probably a given she would run into him from time to time. Though what were the odds, since she’d gone a whole year never meeting him before the wedding? However a married couple truly combined their lives, and that meant their friends too. Shit.

  Robert stepped up to Mika as their friends took off their coats. He was completely surprised to see her standing in his house, and right now he couldn’t decide if he was annoyed or not. “Didn’t expect to see you.”

  “Same here. Andrea didn’t say Cam’s friend was you. I would have stayed home.”

  “You sure should have, coming in my house wearing all that hideous green.”

  She snorted looking him up and down. He had on a maize and blue sweatshirt along with a watch with the school’s logo. “Whatever. You would be backing a losing team like the University of Michigan.”

  “It’s ‘Hail to the Victors’, all day long baby in this household. I’m a proud alumni.”

  “Why does that not surprise me. They usually produce boring, fake know-it-alls. I’m a legacy of the best, Green and White is the only way to go.”

  “Both of you give it a rest,” Andrea said walking back to them. “Camden why didn’t you tell me Robert was a Michigan fanatic?”

  “I told you he was a huge sports fan.” Cam wasn’t bothered by the other pair’s banter. That’s what these parties were for. So opposing teams could trash talk at each other the whole night.

  Andrea took the wine out of Mika’s hand and shoved it into Robert’s. “Here, she brought a peace offering.”

  “Nope for him it’s going to be a consolation prize,” Mika taunted, walking past Robert to join the rest of the gathering.

  RETURNING FROM PUTTING away the wine and his new guests’ coats, Robert found Mika sitting between his two younger cousins, both idiots already grinning. He took a seat off to the side so he could watch TV and keep an eye on the minx that was currently touching Devon’s knee. She seemed to have no problem relaxing with other men just not him. She probably wasn’t used to a guy not falling all over themselves for her. Like Darrell was doing now by jumping up to go get her something to drink from the kitchen. He also noticed a few of the other men giving her more than a casual look. More power to them. It was clear their mutual dislike of each other mirrored this game’s rivalry...instant and strong.

  Mika found herself having a good time despite the fact she was in his house. Everyone was lively, friendly and into the game. Wel
l mostly. Out of the twenty-two people that sat or chatted around Robert’s generous living room, there were about seven other women besides her and Andrea. It was obvious three were with boyfriends or husbands, and Mika couldn't tell about the other four. They all seemed to be well known and from pieces of conversation she caught this wasn’t the first year they’d watched the game here. From the side-eye looks a few were giving her she figured they were “friends” of the host.

  She found it interesting that he remained friendly with any of his past lovers. He hadn’t seemed the type. He struck her as overall rigid, like the type when a relationship was over, it was completely over. For her part she paid the women no mind, as they were civil enough. To her it was clear the women had come to get his attention, not to watch the game. However not her monkey, not her problem.

  Chapter Four

  MIKA WOULD GIVE HIM this, he threw a great party with excellent food and plenty of drinks. She was enjoying clowning with his guests. There was another State alumni and a few State fans in the house. She was surprised at how much she liked his cousins. They were nowhere near as stuffy as he was, and they were almost as fine too. A much better combination she thought, having fun flirting with the two. So much fun it seemed like she blinked and they were in the fourth quarter. The game was looking like it would be close.

  Robert was mildly pissed. His team was close but not winning, and he was tired of watching Mika flirt with his cousins and charm the rest of the people in the room. She’d quickly become the center of attention. Between her enthusiasm for the game and what she had on, he wasn’t surprised. She sported a white long-sleeved shirt, covered by a green and white State jersey that clung to her ample chest and curvy hips like a mini-dress, stopping right below her ass. Skin-tight white leggings traced her long legs, ending in stiletto boots with the Michigan State logo on them. Where in the hell had she found those?