Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

Ghost runs a hand through his blonde hair and turns his brown eyes towards me.

He guesses, “A new car?”

“Nope. ” Max pops the p. He turns to Diego and tells him, “Trick you get one guess. ”

Trick looks like us in every way, same facial structure and skin tone. He is a little shorter than us but is still tall. He’s the same age as me but we went to different schools. His mom and mine are sisters. The only difference between us is his eyes are hazel.

Trick asks, “A dog?”

Max starts laughing. He says, “Get this,” Shut it knucklehead. I glare at him from across the table. “He’s got a new friend. And it’s a girl!”

Both Ghost and Trick jerk their heads up wearing questioning expressions. I nod in confirmation.

They are silent for a while before Trick smirks at me and asks, “Wait, is this a friend-friend?” He wiggles his brows at me.

I laugh and respond, “No, man, just a friend. She works across the street at that chick store Safira. ”

Max chuckles “She sent him candy and a note!”

Ghost, who is staring at me like I’ve lost my damn mind, bursts into fits of laughter. He says, “What are we in fourth grade?”

I glare and tell him, “She’s nice. ” I say nice like it’s a bad thing.

Trick tilts his head to the side and looks over my shoulder like he’s thinking. He enquires, “I don’t think you’ve ever had a girl friend. I mean a friend who you won’t be gettin’ any nookie from, right?”

I frown and nod.

“You’ve lost your damn mind,” Ghost mutters. “You better get a file on this broad. Just in case. ”

He’s right.

Damn it but he is right. I need to call my guy and get file a put together. This is one of those things that comes with having money. It’s not that I don’t trust people but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I work with family and I have to make sure their safety comes first. Always.

All I know about her is her name is Tina. She took my card so I guess I’ll have to wait for her to contact me.

***

Rawr Raaawr

I look to the front of the store, smile and say, “Hey Honey, how’s it going?”

Lola runs across the studio to the staff room. She’s running a few minutes late and she knows I won’t care but she always makes an effort to please.

She comes out of the staff room replying, “Not so good. Any cupcakes today?” She looks hopefully up at me.

I grimace through my response, “No, sorry hon. I’ll make a batch tomorrow. ”

Her face falls a bit. I love that she doesn’t try to hide her disappointment. She says pitifully, “That’s okay. ” She sounds so forlorn I can’t help but chuckle.

“Bad day?” I ask.

She logs onto the register and says, “The worst. ”

I wince as I ask, “How bad sweetie?”

She wails, “Cupcake bad!”

I laugh inwardly.