Page 73 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

Last week, before Nikki surprised me in the shower, I had a moment of weakness. I was reckless enough to think Rochelle could be reasoned with. She’d called me, asking to renew our relationship, and I thought maybe it would be different this time, now that she knew about Nikki. Maybe we could work together as professionals.

But it was clear that was never Rochelle’s intention. She left voicemails, asking to meet that night, but I’d never agreed to it. When Nikki came in and left my front door unlocked, Rochelle took advantage, ripping everything I cared about from me in a single moment.

What killed me most was knowing that if I’d just told Nikki everything from the beginning, she’d still be here.

Carlos’s eyes widened and his lips clamped tight. “Rochelle can do that. Kenny’s up her ass, man. She sells his paintings directly to her clients and if she pulls that away from him, he’s going to do whatever she says to get back on her good side.” He shook his head at me. “I’m sorry, T. Really. This whole thing… I wish I could help.” He eyed me, taking in how tense I was, how hard I was trying to keep my misery tucked inside myself. “I have to ask T, because I’m looking at you right now and you’re not yourself. Is Nikki really worth it?”

I shot him a narrowed glance, and Carlos flung up his hands as if begging for me to listen.

“Nikki won’t even talk to you. Are you really gonna throw away your dreams for a woman who won’t give you a chance?”

I looked around the room, taking in the generous studio setting the ArtBox provided for its students and instructors. This was only my third week of teaching. I was only just starting to get the hang of it. It did feel like a loss to be fired from this place so soon, before I really hit my stride as a teacher.

But I knew what caving to Rochelle would cost me, and I wasn’t willing to pay that price a second time.

“Carlos, if I can’t have Nikki, none of this would be worth it anyway.”

He muttered, “Still a maldito idiota.”

It made me laugh, easing some of the strain in my chest. He hadn’t called me a damn idiot in a while.

“Fine. Have it your way, man. Just try not to drag me down with you, okay? It’s hard enough as it is trying to get my work out there as an assistant.”

I shot him a smile I didn’t feel, and nodded. “I’ll try my best. I swear.”