CHAPTER 8
Mindy crinkled her nose at the yearbook, embarrassed to see herself brandishing two rows of dental braces. She quickly tried to turn the page when Keisha noticed the source of her distress and laughed.
“Hold up!” she said, placing her hand in the way. “I forgot how cute you looked with that silver smile.”
“Ugh!” Mindy replied. “Why do they take school photos so early in the year? It’s cruel.”
“We do all look like babies,” Keisha murmured from next to her on the bed.
They were lying on their stomachs, flipping through their sophomore yearbook, indulging in a mixture of nostalgia and gossip.
They’d had a nice evening together, watching Heathers for the millionth time while eating pizza in the living room, upon Mindy’s insistence that she preferred the larger TV there, when in truth, she’d been hoping to run into Vonn.
No such luck. She had barely seen him since they’d made out on New Year’s Eve.
That was over a month ago. She should probably take that as a sign that it wouldn’t go any further, but Mindy wanted to know for sure and wasn’t likely to find out while trapped in Keisha’s bedroom, which was where they had retreated to after the movie.
Her best friend was singing under her breath while idly turning pages.
“All that she wants…”
“Is a bout of rabies!” Mindy interjected.
Keisha laughed. “I’m so sick of that damn song, but I cannot get it out of my head.”
“I want to like Ace of Base,” Mindy replied with a nod, “but I need them to back off a little. Or like, a lot.”
The smile slid off Keisha’s face, her attention on the yearbook.
Mindy followed her gaze and saw twin sisters. “How’s it going with Hope?”
“She’s got me walkin’ on eggshells, but I try to make it look like I’m tapdancing.”
Mindy pursed her lips. “Is that how a healthy relationship is supposed to feel?”
Keisha shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve never had one to compare it to.”
“Do you love her?”
Keisha flopped onto her back and exhaled while staring at her bedroom ceiling. “I’m not sure. I think I could. Or maybe I already do and wish I didn’t. The only thing I’m certain of, is that it’s exciting.”
That made her think of Vonn again.
“What about Galen?” Keisha asked. “Do you love him?”
“No!” Mindy said with a titter as she pushed herself up.
“I really like him though.” In the same way that she liked Vonn, but love had remained elusive.
If she felt that way for anyone… Mindy casually flipped through the yearbook until reaching last names that started with G, her attention lingering on a guy with a scowl so intense he looked as though he was about to punch the photographer.
“What about yours truly?” Keisha said, rolling onto her side and batting her eyelashes. “Do you love me?”
“You know I do,” Mindy said. “But your lack of a penis is a major turnoff.”
“There are ways to work around that,” Keisha said. “Speaking of which, are you ready for bed?”
Mindy laughed. “Yes. I’ll go get changed.”
“Your pajamas are right over there. You never used to leave the room to put them on.”
“That’s before I realized that a lesbo was checking me out while I did so.”
Keisha gasped as if scandalized. “That’s so homophobic! If you’re not willing to get naked in front of me like before, it means you hate gay people.”
Mindy laughed. “Nice try. Besides, I need to brush my teeth.”
“Fine, fine,” Keisha said in mock exasperation. “Break my heart, if you must.”
Mindy enjoyed the banter—how their closeness meant they could make off-color jokes without upsetting each other.
She didn’t want to betray that trust, which is why, after rounding the corner, she rushed past the door to Vonn’s bedroom and sought the safety of the upstairs bathroom.
With any luck, he’d never tell his younger sister what they’d gotten up to.
Not until it was ancient history, because even if Keisha didn’t mind, she would have hurt feelings that Mindy hadn’t told her.
Unless they actually started dating. That would make it more forgivable. Right?
“I have feelings for your older brother,” sounded way better than, “I’ve been making out with Vonn behind your back.”
Mindy stared at herself in the mirror while brushing her teeth and considered the possibility.
The age difference was enticing. Vonn was in college!
Or at least old enough to be. Her parents would be scandalized, which only made the prospect more appealing.
That, and finding a mature enough boy in her school was difficult.
Most of them were doofuses like Omar. Galen was sweet, but he didn’t have much experience.
Vonn probably did. She wouldn’t mind finding out how much…
by talking to him, of course. That was innocent enough.
For all she knew, he could have started seeing someone.
If so, that would make moving on easier.
She could finally focus her full attention on Galen. So why not simply ask and find out?
Mindy changed into her pajamas and made herself presentable.
Then she ventured back down the hall to his room.
She stopped and listened, trying to detect if he was still awake, and heard a steady bass rhythm that matched her heart.
She rapped lightly on the door, not wanting to alert anyone in the neighboring bedrooms. Mindy held her breath and waited.
Singing tore her attention away.
“All that she wants…”
The voice was getting closer! As soon as Keisha rounded the corner, she would see her standing there. Mindy was just about to rush away from Vonn’s door when it opened.
“Hey!” he said, her impression of him brief as she glanced down the hall again.
How would she explain why she was lingering outside his room? She couldn’t! Mindy pushed past him, shut the door as quickly and as quietly as possible, and placed a finger to her lips.
Vonn smirked. He was wearing a red flannel shirt, the front open, revealing the dark skin of a toned chest. Her eyes travelled downward over a ripple of abs to jeans that were unbuttoned. And they weren’t the kind with a zipper, which meant she got a glimpse of bulging black underwear.
“I was just getting ready for bed,” Vonn murmured. When he saw the way she winced at the volume of his voice, he leaned close, bringing his mouth to her ear. “What are you doin’ here?”
She had come for answers, and yet, Mindy couldn’t recall any of the questions. The breath from his lips had sent a tingle across her skin, so she turned her head and kissed him.
Vonn pulled back in surprise. Then his eyes became half-lidded as he reciprocated.
Now she remembered! Mindy wanted to ask if he was still single, but obviously he was, or he wouldn’t have kissed her back.
Vonn had too much integrity. Like the way he believed in his own convictions enough to not eat meat, and to try to find a better way of tending the animals he cared for.
So hot! Now she only needed to figure out if he was truly interested in her.
Asking might come across as desperate, so acting on impulse, she took his strong hand and moved it to the front of her pajama bottoms.
He searched her eyes. Then his fingers began to rub her through the soft cotton.
Mindy stifled a moan by pressing her lips against his again.
He stepped forward and she moved back, like the beginning of a dance, until she was up against the bedroom door.
She needed the support. Vonn broke off the kiss, his expression questioning as his fingertips slid beneath the waistband of her pajamas.
Mindy grabbed his wrist to guide his hand downward and hoped he knew what he was doing, because she was winging it, acting on pure need.
Scant seconds later, she had her answer.
Vonn definitely had experience! He didn’t plunge a finger inside or anything clumsy or rough.
He simply rubbed, sometimes with his fingers, often with his palm, and it was driving her wild.
When he started kissing her again, Mindy whimpered against his lips as her entire body began trembling.
The flush of intense pleasure was followed by embarrassment until she saw the smug satisfaction on Vonn’s face.
He seemed pleased with the result. She certainly had no complaints!
The bulge in his underwear was considerably larger now.
“Um…” she said, unsure how to proceed. “I don’t have much time.”
“I don’t wanna rush this,” Vonn replied. “When can I see you again?”
Before she could reply, they heard a distant voice.
“Mindy?”
Keisha had noticed that she was missing!
They remained perfectly still, not speaking a word. Vonn was the first to back away. He crept over to the stereo system and turned it up. Then he gestured for her to join him next to it.
“Is this a bad idea?” Mindy asked him with a guilty wince.
“Sneaking into my room like that? Yeah. Let’s go on a date.”
Her heart fluttered. “When?”
“Valentine’s Day. Can I get your number?”
Mindy wrote it down for him. She didn’t ask for his. Keisha had a private line. He might too, but she liked the idea of him having to chase her down.
“I better go.”
He nodded. “I’ll make sure the coast is clear.”
Vonn stepped out into the hall and listened.
Then he gestured for her to follow. She daringly pecked him on the lips before hurrying away.
Mindy glanced back when reaching the corner and saw him leaning against the doorframe with a seductive smile.
She gave a little wave in parting. Then, where no one could see her, she pressed a hand over her chest while catching her breath.
Had she lost her mind? If so, the results were amazing!
“There you are,” Keisha said when Mindy reentered the bedroom. “I went to the kitchen for a drink and didn’t see you along the way. The upstairs bathroom was empty.”
“I used the one downstairs,” she bluffed. “For extra privacy.”
“I won’t ask why,” Keisha said ruefully. “Are you ready for bed?”
“Mm-hm!”