Page 11 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

Chapter6

Tristan

Late Thursday afternoon, closing time

She finally smiled at me,and it was as if she had been lit from inside. Her face, normally pulled into a frown, usually so stern, lifted and shone. Her warmth seemed so real, like something I could reach out and touch.

If I could capture that, that image of my Nikki as she was today, as she used to be, then I could call myself an artist.

Lilly hummed at my back, mopping, while Shawn stacked the dishwasher, telling Uncle Henry stories that I didn’t think were appropriate for the old man to hear. But once his guffaw sounded from across the shop, I guessed maybe Shawn wasn’t doing too badly with him. I shook my head as I locked up behind my last customer of the afternoon.

I really screwed up with her today. I mocked her and her job. She used to be my best friend and was my most regular customer. What the hell was wrong with me? Did she get under my skin? Was that why I snapped at her?

I groaned as I went behind the counter, checking inventory and moving crates of supplies to the backroom. I was such an idiot. She would never come back now. She’d probably back out of taking Uncle Henry to my class, now that she knew I was the teacher.

Lilly finished mopping and joined us in the backroom, where Shawn threw himself on the old sofa. I kept stacking bags of coffee beans onto the low shelves as Lilly spoke to Uncle Henry.

“Nikki was so happy to see you today. I haven’t seen her like that in so long.”

Uncle Henry grunted as I shifted in my squat, moving my weight from one leg to the other, pushing another bag into place. “She was, she was. Ah, maybe… maybe I should come back here and work more often. It was a good day, yes?”

Lilly made a noise as I frowned, knowing they couldn’t see me with my back to them. I didn’t want to put more stress or strain on Uncle Henry. He was in his sixties now, the eldest of his siblings, and old enough to have been Lilly’s grandfather. But… maybe sitting in that apartment, not sure of what to do with his time, was actually worse for his health. Maybe if I let him take it easy… he could spend a few days with us here.

“Uncle, if you come here every day, you’ll ruin Tristan’s chances with Nikki.”

My brows shot up and I half-turned, scoffing as she shot me a playful smile. “Lilly,” I said, using her name to rebuke her.

She wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest, sticking out her tongue before saying in a teasing, sing-song voice, “You’re still crushing hard, Tristy. We all see it.”

Shawn piped up, his voice quiet and deep. “She’s pretty hot. I don’t blame you for eyeing her.”

I shook my head and clucked my tongue, turning back to my stacking as I spoke. “I’m not crushing on her, Lil. And she can’t stand me, remember?” Crushing on Nikki was an understatement; my denial wasn’t technically a lie.

I could picture Lilly with her hands on her hips as she teased, “Yeah, yeah. I see the way you look at her.”

“I don’t look at her.” Now that was a lie. I kept stacking.

“Oh yeah, okay sure. You don’t stare at her when she comes to the counter, you don’t find excuses to talk to her, or to be the one to take her order. You definitely don’t want her coming to your art class on Sunday. Yep, nothing could be worse than that.” She made a noise and softened her tone. “If you tell her how you feel, you won’t have to pretend anymore. Maybe if she knows the truth it’ll fix things between you guys.”

Uncle Henry let out a chuckle as I sighed, trying to ignore the heat running down my spine. “She was my best friend, and that’s all she’ll ever be, Lil.”

Uncle Henry let out a rumble before he spoke. “But why? Why not try with Nikki? She’s a good girl.”

I tightened my jaw, taking hold of the next bag with a grip that turned my knuckles white. “I don’t think she likes me much, Amo. Not anymore.”

He snorted and Shawn let out a low-pitched laugh. “Man, doesn’t that make it even better? The best ones have an edge to them. I bet Nikki’s a lot of fun–”

“Oh, please shut up, Shawn,” Lilly muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Yes, your mouth should stay closed,” Uncle Henry agreed with a laugh. “But Tristan, she is still your friend, and she is still the same Nikki. She is taking me to your class.” He hmphed and I pictured him jabbing his thumb in Lilly’s direction. “She’s better to me than this one.”

“Uncle!” I could bet Lilly’s arms were crossed as she pretended to be offended.

Finally done with the bags, I shook my head, straightened, and shot them my sternest look, something I learned from my parents while growing up. “We’re not talking about this anymore, alright? Nikki and I, there’s nothing there, trust me. There never was and there never will be.” I put my hands on my hips and ignored Lilly’s eye roll. “I’ve got some painting to do now, okay? You guys need to get out of here.”

Shawn shot up from the couch, suddenly full of energy. “Don’t have to tell me twice. See you tomorrow, Tristy.”

I groaned. “Stop calling me that, guys.”

Lilly puckered out her bottom lip and, with a bit of an edge to her voice, said, “You only hate it now because Nikki used to call you that.” She stooped to pick up her coat as Uncle Henry slid off of his fold-out chair.

My frustration was threatening to tick over. “Lil, will you please give it a rest?”

“Yeah, you’re being a bit of a bully, Lil,” Shawn said, shoving a beanie on his head. “Leave the poor lovesick guy alone.”

They laughed and I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, begging, “Give me strength, please.”

Lilly giggled. “See you tomorrow, Tristy.”

I let out a growl. “Lil, will you please stop calling me that?”

“Bye!” she called out as they left my shop, the three of them laughing at me.

I shook my head as I watched them go and smiled. The day was done, and now I could spend the rest of it with my Emi.