Friend-Zoned(20)

Max is the first to spot us arrive. He swoops up to us and picks me up, hugging me hard.

What the heck is it with these guys and picking me up?

Max exclaims, “Oh, doll face, you are a sight for sore eyes!” He looks at my girls and asks, “Have you tried this girl’s cupcakes?” They all nod and he continues, “They should win awards or some shit!”

From across the room, an older lady yells out to Max, “You watch your mouth, young man. You’re not too old for me to spank you, niño travieso!” She has a slight accent. She is also beautiful. I would guess she is in her mid to late fifties with salt and pepper hair, olive skin tone, and dark brown eyes.

Nik walks me over to her. He introduces me to her. “Mom, this is Tina.” He looks proud to introduce me. I melt a little.

She looks at me curiously and questions, “So this is your new friend?” She says friend in a teasing way. I don’t know what to make of it.

I clear my throat and respond, “It’s lovely to meet you…”

She takes my hand in hers and introduces herself with a kind voice. “Cecilia. But you girls can call me Mama.” She winks at me then goes to get my friends names.

Trick approaches with three other girls. They are all smiling big as Trick introduces them. “Tina, these are Max and Nik’s sisters. Leticia, Maria, and Isabel.”

Leticia looks the oldest. Not quite as old as Max or Nik but she is the oldest sister. She looks a lot like her Mom. As does Maria. She says, “Please call me Leti.”

I take her hand and shake it. I say with an awe-filled voice, “Wow, you’re all so beautiful. You must have great genes.”

Maria takes my hand next and responds, “We get told that a bit but it’s hard to see that in yourself.” She is humble and sweet. She looks about my age.

Isabel is the youngest. And I mean young. She is maybe eighteen. Nik has to be at least twelve years older than her. She looks a little like her sisters but shares the same eye color as Nik and Max. She gently takes my hand and shoots me a shy smile, “Call me Isa.”

Leti asks me about Safira’s. I tell them I’m the manager and which brands we currently stock. I also invite them to come see the store sometime. They all listen intently and seem genuinely interested. I like them instantly.

Ghost appears in the doorway carrying platters upon platters of sushi.#p#分页标题#e#

Oh dear lord, I’m in sushi heaven!

I freakin’ love sushi! I don’t love the raw fish bits but give me Teriyaki and Satay chicken any day. Ooh, and spicy tuna rolls. And spring rolls. And maybe the edamame beans.

Okay, so I love a lot of Japanese food items.

Nik comes up behind me and catches me staring with wide eyes at the platters. He smiles, I get the dimple again, and he says teasingly, “I promised you sushi, right?”

I nod up at him and he tells me, “Go eat then, sweetheart.” He gives me a little shove to move me along.

Looking around the room I see everyone chatting and laughing. Cecilia and Trick in one corner. Nat, Lola, and Max on the lounge, Ghost sitting on the arm of the sofa listening in. Mimi is chatting away to the sisters. Everyone seems to be having a good time and I’m glad we came. It seemed to be important to Nik.

I make a move to the table with the now open platters when a voice startles me.

“Daddy?”

Such a sweet little voice that my heart clenches.

I look up to see a young girl in a wheelchair blocking the doorway. I recognize her from the photo in Nik’s office.

She is around nine or ten years old and she has pale skin (like me) and auburn hair which is cut to her shoulders. Her eyes are the same color as Nik’s. The tooth that was missing in the photo has almost completely grown back.

This little Angel must be Nik’s daughter.

I’m a little shocked when Max walks over to the girl and kneels by her chair. He asks, “What is it, baby?”

She holds up a handheld game console and frowns. She whispers loudly, “I can’t get my game to work.”

He takes the game console from her, kisses her hand and says, “Hmm, let me see what I can do.”

The little girl rolls her chair into the room and right up to Nik and me. She looks up at him questioningly, “Hey uncle Nik, is this your girlfriend?”

He chokes down a laugh and explains, “No, Cricket. This is my friend Tina. Tina this is my niece Ceecee. She’s named after Mom but this is easier for us.”

I smile and take her small hand in mine and say, “It’s nice to meet you, Ceecee.”

Ceecee smiles back at me. She frowns suddenly and declares, “I’m hungry.”