Tina stands abruptly, pushing the chair out so hard it almost flies backwards onto the floor. She snatches up one of my business cards out of the holder on the desk, smiles brightly at me and says, “Great! So I guess I’ll be seeing you around, friend!” enthusiastically waving my business card back and forth in the air like it’s a Polaroid picture. She finishes with, “I’ll be in touch.”
And then she’s out the door. I sit back in my chair and my brow furrows once more as I scratch my chin.
Seriously. What the fuck just happened?
***
I walk myself down the stairs and out of Nik’s building, thankfully remembering the way Max showed me. I make my way across the street to Safira, bound through the door grinning from ear to ear and holding Nik’s business card. Mimi looks at me, her face twisted in confusion. She looks around the store then back at me. She narrows her eyes and slowly walks over to me. She takes the business card out of my hand and reads aloud, “Nikolai Leokov. Owner. The White Rabbit.” She breaks out into a huge smile and shakes her head in disbelief.
She claps her hands together and yells, “I can’t believe it! You’re actually going out with him!” Still smiling, she pats my hand. This small action is huge for Mimi. In Mimi Land, that is a hug.
Meems knows all about my past relationship; in fact all my girls know about Jace Weathers. I don’t keep secrets from them. One girl’s night out, after one too many cherry bombs, I unloaded my past onto Mimi and Lola. They listened intently as good friends do and offered me unconditional support.
I love my girls.
They are awesome.
Mental note; make the girls cupcakes.
I feel the rush of warmth in my middle; my face softens a little but I quickly pull on a poker face and straighten my back. I prepare for the wrath of Mimi.
I overdo it a little with the cheer, smile big and say, “Actually, we decided to be friends!”
Mimi does not speak for almost thirty seconds.
I chance a look at her. She is leaning gracefully with her tall, lithe body against the counter, one leg crossed over the other. Her eyes are narrowed (stop that darling, you’ll get wrinkles) and she wears a facial expression that clearly says Are you freaking kidding me? And not in a good way.#p#分页标题#e#
She shrieks, “Are you freaking KIDDING me??!”
Thar she blows!
I cringe and bite my lip before returning with, “It’s better for everyone this way.”
She counters with, “Umm, No. It’s better for you.” She shakes her head slightly and looks disappointed.
That sucks.
I don’t want to disappoint Mimi.
She and Lola have been on a mission since I told them about Jace the Moron (which Natalie calls him, or The Moron for short). They both set me up on blind dates hoping I would meet a nice man and fall in love. I went on four dates in the last four months and all the guys were nice. But, firstly, I don’t want to fall in love again and, secondly, I’m happy with my life as it is.
I don’t need a man.
I start, “Meems, I appreciate your interest in my social life…”
“You mean Lack Of social life!” she bites back.
I continue “…and you’re a great friend. But I’m busy with the store and I don’t have the time for a boyfriend right now. To tell you the truth, I don’t want a boyfriend right now. I love my life. I’m back on track and loving it.”
Jumping up, she plants her butt on the counter in front of me. She leans in and whispers, “You’re my best friend.”
My throat closes up and my eyes mist. I whisper, “Honey…”
She goes on, “You gave me a chance when no one else would. I’ll always be in your debt.” She looks uncomfortable and I know telling me this is taxing her. “I know I’m not the most cheerful person and I don’t do emotions well,” she whispers so quietly but I hear the words clearly. “That man damaged you. I just want you to be happy.”
Mimi is not wrong. Jace did damage me. Not physically but mentally. I don’t trust the way I used to. It took me over a year to trust Mimi and Lola enough to tell them about myself. They know most of the dirty details of what Jace put me through. They know that loss hit me hard and, yes, damaged me.
Who isn’t damaged in some way or another these days?
I’m a glass-half-full kind of girl.
My palms start to sweat as I think about what I left behind in Cali.
I miss it. A lot.
It sucks badly but I’m glad that soon I’ll have the best part of Cali right here…Natalie!
Just another week. Almost there.
My bff is a hoot; so much attitude and sarcasm in such a small package. I love her for that; she makes me laugh all the time. Humor is my way of dealing with a plethora of things. I love to laugh. It calms me.