Page 9 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

Chapter5

Nikki

Thursday afternoon

Everyone else seemedto like going to Extra Shot in the morning. Jake and Kelly would walk in before eight with slumped shoulders, holding their branded takeaway coffee cups, chattering about their nights or the latest case they were working on with Harvey and me. So I decided I would go in the afternoon, when I had less of a chance of running into them.

I knew they didn’t like me. They probably complained about me as they ordered their coffees, loud enough that Tristan and Lilly could hear them, completely unaware that I used to work there.

I was okay with that.

I wasn’t their friend by any stretch of the word. In fact, I was probably the low light of their day. So, the least I could do was give them the mornings of peace and camaraderie that came from having a common enemy. It was like my little gift to them, whether they were aware of it or not.

Today, I ran case details through my head as I trudged up the slight slope, elbow to elbow with my fellow Manhattanites. The crowd moved slower, and I could only guess that most of them would’ve just finished lunch. Carbs always sent me into a food coma faster than anything else. But I barely registered the sluggish pace; my mind was too busy with my case.

I went over files until just after three in the morning, sure that the evidence was indisputable–my client was innocent. Tomorrow was the final scheduled day of the trial; it was almost over. I could sleep again until the next handful of cases graced my desk.

Ooof, and I really needed my double shot latte more than ever. My feet tripped over themselves in my four-inch pumps, and I stumbled, muttering an apology to the man I lurched into. He quirked his brow and looked as if he was going to say something, until I turned and stepped into Extra Shot.

The black-framed door shut behind me with a light tinkle, and I sighed in relief. The place was almost empty. Perfect. I could sit and hear myself think while I ate.

Then a familiar voice yelled across the shop as I shuffled toward the counter.

“Who’s that? Who is it?”

I lifted my bloodshot eyes. “Uncle Henry?”

“Nikki?”

He beamed at me, his smile forming wrinkles on his cheeks, deepening the ones around his brow. Bloodshot eyes be damned; seeing him like this brought tears to them.

He clutched the counter and sang, “Nikki, Nikki, my little Nikki, you came.”

I was so happy to see him, but delirious with exhaustion. I gripped the counter to steady myself as I leaned closer to my favorite person in New York, grinning like a lunatic. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’re here.”

From the corner of my eye, I could see Tristan’s mouth fall open just a little, his eyes wide. He muttered, “Wow,” and Lilly giggled at his elbow.

“Oh, is so good to see you too.” Uncle Henry leaned to the side, his hand diving into the glass screen that protected and displayed the shop’s sweets. “Come, come. Tristan will make your usual while we talk. Here. Tristan tells me the big piece is for you.” His eyes twinkled as he pulled out a prepped plate with the largest baklava on it.

Tristan set aside the biggest pastry for me every day. For a moment, amid my exhausted elation, all I could focus on was the fact that he did this for me despite the way I’d been treating him.

I dared to shoot him a glance, his gaze widening as our eyes locked. I mouthed, “Thank you,” unable to stop smiling, as he swallowed and Lilly’s laugh went from a giggle to a full guffaw.

I turned and followed Uncle Henry, taking in his familiar shuffling gait, keeping in a laugh as he paused and set down my plate before giving the bench a calculated look. He slid into it with pained noises, and I shook my head fondly as I sat on the other side.

“Oh, my little Nikki,” he started. “How have you been?”

I let out a small breathless laugh. There were too many ways to answer that question, so I shrugged, my smile wavering. “Uh, I’ve been better. And I’ve missed you. What’ve you been doing with yourself since you sold this place?”

His smile also wavered, and I sat straighter, leaning forward. “Oh, Uncle Henry, I didn’t–”

“Not much, you know… I think I may have sold this shop too soon. Now I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Uncle Henry’s wife died a handful of years ago, and while he had his brothers and sisters, his nieces and nephews, including Lilly, this was the first year he’d ever lived alone. Now that Lilly had moved into a dorm room, I could only imagine him grumbling and shuffling in his apartment, day in, day out, with nothing else to do.

I lowered my voice and asked, “Theios.” Uncle. “Why did you sell?”

He managed to bring his smile back and gestured wide. “I couldn’t run this place the way it deserved, agapi mou.” My love. I smiled wider at the familiar name. He kept speaking as Tristan walked over, a mug of coffee in hand. “And things needed changing.” Tristan bent down, placing my mug in front of me with a clink, and as he did so, Uncle Henry lifted a weathered, spotted and veined hand to clap onto his broad shoulder. “He’s done amazing things here, no?”