Chapter 14
I’d been tracking my parents’ location since my mother told me they were on their way. When I saw them park in front of the Airbnb, my stomach sank to my feet. I was extremely nervous about how this would go.
Niko already had my mother’s vote, but I wasn’t sure she would think he was worth risking my coaching career. My father’s reaction would solely be based on how being with Niko would impact my current and possibly future positions.
“Randi, who’s house is this? What is going on?”
My mother began questioning me as soon as she saw me standing in the doorway. They hadn’t even made it to the porch yet.
“Come inside, and I’ll explain everything.”
“I told her the same thing a hundred times on the way here. It didn’t stop her from trying to figure out what was going on.”
I let my parents inside, and we exchanged hugs and kisses. My mother looked around the living room, surely looking for something familiar to help her solve the mystery.
“It smells delicious. Did you cook or order out?” Ma asked.
“The food is from Soulful Diner,” Niko announced when he appeared at the entrance to the kitchen.
My mother gasped, and my father looked confused.
“Niko, what are you—is this your house?” She gasped. “Wait a minute! Are you two seeing each other? Why didn’t you tell me?” my mother grilled.
“Marissa, calm down. Are you the server from the restaurant?” my father asked.
“Yessir.”
“I thought you looked familiar.”
Niko approached my father, and they shook hands. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“I knew you two would hit it off. How long have you been a thing? Why all the secrecy? Have you?—”
“Marissa, baby. I’m sure they invited us here to answer those questions, if you give them a chance.”
“Mr. Sampson is correct. We’re just waiting for?—”
The doorbell rang, and I almost jumped out of my skin. Niko noticed and mouthed breathe before heading toward the door to let his parents in. He returned with them and was holding a miniature version of himself.
Deuce and I made eye contact, and my heart melted. When he smiled and waved his little hand, I accepted that he could do no wrong in my eyes.
“Baby, c’mere.” Niko summoned me, and it felt like I floated toward him. “This is my girlfriend, Aranda. Baby, these are my parents, Anthony and Nikolette.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” I said.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, but I have questions,” Nikolette said.
“I’m sure you’ll get them all answered before we leave. It’s nice to meet you, Aranda.”
“And this little one is my son, Deuce. Son, this is daddy’s girlfriend, Ms. Aranda.”
“Hi, Ms. Randa.”
With Niko still holding him, he leaned toward me, wrapped his little arms around my neck, and then released me with a giggle.
“Hi, Deuce. You give great hugs. I’m glad to meet you,” I replied.
“Daddy, she sounds like the lady on the phone,” Deuce said.
Niko and I laughed before he responded with, “That’s because she is.”
“You pretty,” Deuce complimented.
“Thank you, and you’re very handsome. Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Kemper. These are my parents, Randall and Marissa.”
I moved to the side, giving them the space to exchange greetings. There were a few awkward moments of us just standing there before Niko suggested we head to the dining room before the food got cold. About five minutes later, the small dining room felt even smaller with seven bodies filling it.
Niko stopped by his apartment to pick up the booster seat for his son, who sat between us. The table was round, and my father sat beside me while Mr. Kemper sat on the other side of Niko, and their wives were between them.
My father offered to bless the food and kept the prayer short and sweet. Once everyone had what they wanted on their plate, the interrogation began. Of course, my mother broke the ice.
“Anthony and Nikolette, I assure you I have manners, and very shortly, I want to know all about you. However, I’m dying to know the details of how these two became a thing,” she began.
“Oh no, honey. We’re on the same page because we had no clue our son was dating anyone seriously enough to introduce her to his family,” Mrs. Kemper said.
“Especially not serious enough to live together,” her husband added.
“Start with why you’ve been so secretive,” my father chimed in.
“You want me to start?” I offered, hoping Niko would take over.
“Nah, I got it, baby. First of all, we don’t live together. This is an Airbnb.”
“Is there something wrong with your apartment?” his father asked.
“No, but it would be risky for us to be seen together, so we come to Ravenswood when we can.”
“Hold on. Why can’t you be seen together?” his father questioned.
“Because Aranda is the new assistant coach.”
Everyone except Deuce froze. Four sets of eyes were suddenly glaring at us, and I wanted to disappear. I dropped my head and pretended my food was the most interesting thing I’d ever seen.
“Randi, are you crazy? Do you know what’s at risk?” I knew my father would be the first to respond.
“I considered them.”
“You couldn’t have. Division one college coaching positions aren’t a dime a dozen. If you lose this job for sleeping with one of the players, no other college will give you an interview, let alone a job.”
“You think I’d risk my dream job for sex? Wow. It’s great to know what you think of me, Dad.”
“That’s not what I’m saying, but you can’t sneak around forever. You’re bound to be discovered, and then what?” he continued. “You haven’t admitted it yet, but I suspect you think you’re in love. Regardless, I doubt it was love at first sight, so you had plenty of time to come to your senses.”
“I agree with your father,” Mr. Kemper said. “This is a lot riskier for you than it is for my son. He has a few more weeks before he graduates, and his college lacrosse career is over. Do you plan to keep this job long-term?”
“I want to.”
“Son, did you think about how this could affect her future, or did you let your, excuse my language, dick do all the thinking for you?” Mr. Kemper questioned.
“Wow, Pops.”
“It’s a legitimate question, Son, and you know you tend to do things on a whim,” Mrs. Kemper said.
“I have never done anything on a whim. You think that way because, by the time I bring my decisions to you, I’ve already weighed my pros and cons and considered all my options.”
“Well, I hate to tell you. This wasn’t well thought out. If you had thought this through, you would’ve seen how selfish and?—”
“Please! Everyone, stop! Niko didn’t make this decision on his own. I know what’s at risk, and I’m here. Contrary to what my daddy said, I know I’m in love with Niko and want a future with him. If the powers that be don’t understand it, I’m prepared to move on.”
As tears fell from my eyes, my mother came to console me. Surprisingly, she’d been very quiet while everyone else had something to say.
“Daddy, why is Ms. Randa crying?” Deuce asked just before I felt his tiny hand on my arm. “Don’t cry, Ms. Randa.”
His sweet little voice made me smile through my tears. With my mother’s comforting hands on my shoulders, I dried my tears and prepared to get through this conversation.
“You good, baby?” Niko asked, and I nodded.
He reached behind him, picked up a small backpack, and removed an iPad and headphones. My mother picked up the conversation after Niko got Deuce situated with the items.
“Let me tell you something about my baby, something her father should know but clearly has forgotten. She fell in love with lacrosse when she picked up her first stick at nine years old. Nothing in this world has ever made her happier. Her career ended sooner than she wanted because of an injury, and it broke her. Do you hear me? It broke her. I was worried I’d never see the light in her eyes again.
“When she was hired at BEU, her smile became brighter, and the light she lost four years ago returned. I’ve watched that light become brighter and brighter for the past two months, and I assumed it was because she was doing what she loved at a level she may have never expected, which may have been partially true.
However, it wasn’t just the love of the game that made her eyes sparkle again.
It was the love of a man… apparently, this man.
If she decided to risk something she loves with all that’s in her to be with Niko, her love for him has no bounds.
Lacrosse won’t give her the children she’s dreamed of having someday.
Lacrosse won’t tell her all the things she needs to hear when she’s going through a tough time.
Lacrosse damn sure won’t keep her warm at night when she’s feeling lonely. ”
I reached up and grabbed my mother’s hands, which were still on my shoulders and squeezed them. The tears I thought were done had reappeared, and my face was wet again.
“Thank you, Ma.”
She leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I may never be the smartest woman in the room, but I know love when I see it. If your heart leads you to him, follow it and be unapologetic about it.”
She returned to her seat, and my father reached for my hand under the table.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. Your mother is absolutely right?—”
“I always am,” she mumbled.
He nodded in agreement. “As usual, your mother is right. There hasn’t been a day in your life when you didn’t have my support, and today won’t be that day.” He kissed my cheek and released my hand.
I was grateful for my parents and their support. They didn’t always agree with how I handled things and had no problem voicing their opinion, but ultimately, they allowed me to live my life, make mistakes, and learn from them while supporting me every step of the way.