Decadent Dreams

“I’d be happy to bring you back again. I’m sure you’ll just continue to improve.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Practice definitely makes perfect,” she said, this time without the chuckle.

Another circle around and Malik led Belinda off the floor. It took another few minutes to find an empty table where they could sit and be alone. It was Friday night and it appeared everyone had the same idea to spend it at the skating rink. He ushered her to a chair and held her elbows as she sat down.

After a chuckle she said, “Thanks.” She was still smiling.

Malik took that as a good sign. Maybe she was having a nice time with him after all. He took a seat at the table opposite her and said, “I would offer to get you a slice of pizza and soda but the food here sucks.”

“Thank you for the warning.” She looked around for a few seconds as if searching for someone she might know. Then to his surprise she sat back against the chair and drummed her fingers on the table matching the beat of the song that played.

“You know this song?” he asked with what he was sure was a startled look on his face. It was rap music and not necessarily something he pictured Belinda listening to, or daresay dancing to.

“Yes, I know this song. I happen to listen to a lot of music. While rap is not high on my favorites list, I can usually get into a Drake song here and there.”

Admittedly intrigued, Malik pressed on with the conversation. “So what other music do you enjoy listening to?”

“I like a little of this and a little of that. R&B, country, some pop and rap, but not too much.”

“Okay, so who is your favorite female singer?”

She didn’t even blink. “Whitney Houston hands down,” was her matter-of-fact reply. Her voice held a tone that said she was ready should he have the nerve to dispute that.

Instead Malik smiled and nodded. “Okay, okay, so you know good music. Now what about your favorite male singer?”

“Solo or with a group?” she asked, seemingly enjoying the conversation.

“Oh, let’s live dangerously. Give me an answer for both.”

“Solo, Luther Vandross. I have to take it back old-school again and say New Edition and Dru Hill.”

Malik couldn’t help but laugh at that. Those entertainers certainly were old-school for their age group, but still had a lot of relevance today. “So do you dance, I mean when you’re listening to all this music?”

“I’ve got rhythm, if that’s what you’re asking. And why do you ask? Do I look like I’m too stuck-up to dance?”

That question effectively sobered the moment. “You don’t strike me as the type of person to let someone else’s words get to her. Yet all day long you’ve been preoccupied over what this guy said. Why is that?”

“You’re right, this is ridiculous. I’m much stronger than that. And besides, I can easily get another man since I’m so beautiful and so perfect.”

Even through the loud music, the sarcasm in that response did not escape Malik. “For the record, that’s not what I said.”

“But I’m sure it’s what you were thinking. It’s what everyone thinks of me.”

Malik took a moment to think about what he would say next. He’d learned long ago not to act impulsively. Whether it was on the court or with a woman, the same rule applied.

Belinda added, “That’s not all there is to me, you know? I’m much more than people see or than the reputation that precedes me.”

Malik nodded, proud to hear her say those words. “I believe you. Every now and then, I’m privileged enough to see that you’re more than your reputation purports you to be.”

She nodded. “I’m glad you can see that.”

Now it was his turn to nod. “You don’t have to keep that part of you a secret. It’s okay to be who you are all the time.”

She was already shaking her head negatively. “I thought you’d been around my family long enough to know better. Obviously not if you think what you just said is true.”

“So is your family what’s stopping you from being yourself? Is that what you want me to believe?”

“There are expectations in my family for each one of us separately and for us as a whole. Because our parents aren’t as active in the bakery business as my grandmother would have liked, my cousins and I were secretly named the dream team upon our birth. Haven’t you ever wondered why all of us decided to become bakers?”

Malik resisted the urge to shrug. He had wondered, but hadn’t spent a lot of time on it. People had different dreams and those dreams led them in different directions. He should be an authority on that whole subject. “I thought it was a dream that stemmed from the natural talents passed down from Ms. Lillian,” was his reply.

“That’s what each of our biographies says. A little more eloquently, perhaps.” She lifted her elbows and rested them on the table. “But they’re just words.”

“So becoming a baker was not your dream?”

“I didn’t say that,” she replied adamantly. “I enjoy working in the bakery. I did inherit a natural talent for it and I’m very interested in the future of Lillian’s.”

“But?”

She inhaled deeply. Now, that was new. He’d never seen Belinda with what almost looked like defeat on her face.

“But nothing. It is what it is. Are we going to skate some more?”

Malik almost smiled. The calm, cool and always collected Belinda had ended the conversation. And judging by her tone, she informed him that it was not open for discussion again. He stood, taking her arm, waiting while she got her bearings. And as they rolled out onto the floor, once more her focus shifted to moving her feet correctly and holding only his hand. But for Malik, the conversation was far from over.

He had not been wrong when he’d surmised that there was much more to Belinda Drayson-Jones than met the eye. Now that he’d seemingly cracked a little of her shell, his curiosity would not let him back down. Regardless of the ramifications he might face.

* * *

By the time they arrived at the pizza place, it was a little after ten in the evening. As this was a very popular restaurant, there was still a good crowd of customers. Luckily, Malik was able to get them a booth toward the back and out of the way of most of the noise.

“So, listen. I know this might not be the fancy restaurant you’re used to dining at, but I promise you’ll love Giordano’s pizza. It’s the best in Chicago and I know you like pizza.”

“I’ve had Giordano’s before. I was born in Chicago, remember.”

“Right,” he said with a smile and they both settled in their seats, picking up the menus.

“But you’re not from here, are you?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I was born in Philadelphia.”

“And you met our dear Carter in college,” she said with a slight smile.

“Carter’s a good guy,” he replied. Belinda knew he was Malik’s best friend and the closest thing he had to family in this world. That’s why Malik had moved here after his injury. There’d been no place else for him to go.

“He’s a great guy, with lots of potential,” she said. “I’m very proud of him.”

“And he’s very proud of you.”