Page 42 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

There wasn’t a point in asking that of myself; there was no question I’d trade everything for her. But there was still a chance she didn’t feel the same, and I was taking a risk that might have lifelong career repercussions. What if I was reading too much into that kiss? What if she came in here just to tell me she couldn’t see us as more than what we were?

My mind rushed as my body worked, hearing orders and responding with as much speed as always, but with none of the care. My customers didn’t get a smile today, they didn’t get banter or questions about what lay ahead in the day for them.

Then two familiar faces pushed their way into my vision, their haggard exhaustion facing me unabashedly, like I was the dealer of their favorite drug.

“Hey guys,” I greeted. “Usual?”

They nodded, and I felt Jake’s eyes on me as I positioned myself behind my coffee machine.

“Tristan, you came by our office yesterday, right?” he asked.

Jake was a tall, wiry guy. He was pale as a ghost, with sandy-brown hair and eyes. His whole bearing was disheveled. His hair flopped messily over his thin, unshaven face, his gray suit was rumpled, and he stood hunched forward like a stranger to his own skin.

I nodded, and Kelly smiled wryly. “Yeah, it’s like I told you. He came by to kiss Nikki.”

A fire raced under my skin as I tightened my jaw, my teeth grinding against each other.

Lilly was the one who spoke back to them. “So what if he did?” she asked, hands on her hips, defensive and loyal to a fault.

Jake flicked his glance to her once before he said, “It’s nothing, just surprised. You could say I just don’t see the appeal. She’s a bit… hard to handle.”

Kelly’s gaze was downcast, and whether or not she knew she was doing it, she shifted away from Jake.

I looked up at him, my gaze hard. “If you want to say something, say it.”

He put his hand on my counter, fingers spreading on the wood like a spider I wanted to smash, and leaned closer. “You’re a nice guy, we like you, but you know Nikki’s a bitch. You don’t want to get mixed up in her shit.”

The urge I had to hit him across the cheek with my filter handle was as intense a rush as I’ve ever felt. I couldn’t speak as I fought to keep my entire body from clenching.

Lilly stretched on her toes, yipping like a wounded puppy. If she was about to say something, I beat her to it.

“Get out of my shop before I beat your face in.”

Jake scoffed at the low growl in my threat. “Whoa, relax. I’m just trying to give you some advice.”

I snapped my hand out and gripped his suit jacket, pulling him across my counter, making him clasp the wood with both hands as I brought his face close to mine.

His eyes widened with fear as I growled, “Don’t insult Nikki in front of me again. It won’t end well for you.”

The other customers were mumbling and shuffling, obviously watching and waiting for something to happen, but I might as well have had blinders on. All I saw was Jake, circled in a red haze that made every one of my muscles tighten.

Shawn’s voice called me back. “Hey, hey, easy Tristy. He’s not worth it. Let him go.”

It took a minute for his words to sink in, but I managed to loosen my grip.

Jake pushed himself back from my counter and turned, leaving my shop and Kelly behind without a word. My remaining customers erupted into conversation, crowding closer as Kelly took the coffee Shawn made for her with a slight wrinkle on her nose.

As the red-hot heat ebbed out of me, I lowered my glance to Kelly. She met mine and offered, “Look, if you like her… maybe she isn’t all bad.” Then she slapped a ten-dollar bill on the counter and left.

We served the rest of the morning rush, and I dealt with comments like:

“Shit, that was intense, you okay?”

“I’ve never seen you like that. What happened?”

“Was that guy rude to you or something?”

“Are you okay?”

“Were you really going to hit him? It sure looked like it.”

Disapproving and excited faces swam by me, and I apologized to every one of them. Threatening Jake shouldn’t have been my first response, I should’ve handled it better. It hadn’t really been Jake that stirred the bulk of my anger, anyway. He was just an easier target to deal with than the mess I made with Rochelle.

When the crowd behind my counter thinned, I left it to Lilly and Shawn as I slipped into the backroom, then into my studio. I stole a look at my unfinished painting as I put both hands behind my head and messed up my hair. I had to figure this out. Things with Nikki couldn’t be over before they started.