Page 45 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

Lilly brought over the plate of shaabiyat and the coffee Shawn made for Nikki, put it on the table we were standing by, winked, and walked away. Nikki blinked at the takeout cup and pursed her lips. “Shawn made this one, didn’t he?”

I smiled down at her. “He’s been getting better.”

She shook her head but lifted it to her lips. At the first taste, she bunched up her face. “He really needs to stop burning the milk.”

I laughed and nudged my head toward the counter. “I’ll make you a fresh cup. Sit. I’ll be back.”

Behind the counter, Shawn prodded me in the ribs, meaning for me to get out of the way so he could try again. “I’ve got to get this right, man. If I can’t meet Nikki’s standards, I don’t deserve to make coffee.”

I held back a laugh and nodded. He was taking this seriously, as if Nikki’s critiques were pushing him to be better, so I let him work the machine as Lilly crooned about some love song. My two baristas could do or say anything they wanted right now; I couldn’t have cared less. I had my shot with her. Things were going to work out now.

I went back to the booth, and she smiled up at me with a slyness I hadn’t seen in a while. She leaned on the table and teased, “Do you think you’re going to need a lawyer? Jake might file an assault case against you. I don’t come cheap, but I could offer you a discount.”

I groaned and slid into the other side of the booth. “Nikki, come on. It wasn’t that bad. I grabbed his jacket, but I didn’t hurt him.” I frowned. “You’d really charge me? Your best friend?”

She pulled one of those maybe-I-would-maybe-I-wouldn’t faces and I chuckled as I took hold of her hand, running my thumb along her dainty knuckles.

Her face lifted and she bit her lower lip, making me want to kiss her again. “So, we’re still friends?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Always. But I want more than that, Nikki. I mean it. If these last five months have shown me anything, it’s that I’m miserable without you. I need more from this. I need you.”

Her eyes glittered, wide and beautiful. “You need me?”

“So bad it hurts.”

She swallowed, her eyes dropping to my lips.

She changed the subject though, asking with a heaviness in her voice, “What did Jake say to make you so angry this morning?”

My brows rose and I straightened. “It’s not worth repeating.”

“Please? I can handle it.”

I looked away, chewing the inside of my cheek before I told her.

“He called you a bitch and said I shouldn’t bother being with you. Kelly obviously mentioned that I came by yesterday, if he didn’t see me there himself.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t take hearing him talk about you like that.” She lowered her glance, and I leaned on the table to make her look at me. “They don’t know you, Nikki. Not really.”

She shrugged. “It’s okay. I figured he would’ve said something like that. I don’t mind, really. I’ve earned it after all.”

“Nikki–”

“I’m sorry you lost a customer because of me. But I think Kelly will keep coming here. She doesn’t hate me so much anymore. I think.”

I searched her face. “Are you sure you’re okay with the way they treat you?”

She nodded, her teasing smile coming back and making my chest skip. “I can handle myself, Tristy. Besides, I think things might be changing in that place.”

Shawn wandered toward us with another takeout cup, raised his voice and said, “Here you go, Nikki. This one’s perfect. I know it is. Give it a try and–shit!”

Shawn made it back to the booth and tripped, the momentum popping the takeout lid and forcing hot coffee to explode and splatter all over Nikki’s chest.

She let out a surprised yelp and stood, looking down at her soaked skin.

I gripped onto a handful of paper napkins, leapt out of the booth, and pressed them to Nikki.

“I’m sorry, Nikki. It was an accident, I swear.”

Nikki looked from me to Shawn, taking in my tight lips and intent pawing of her décolletage, and said, “Burnt milk equals a burnt Nikki. Touché Shawn.”