Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

Trick takes a seat next to Lola but Ghost remains scowling at Natalie who is staring right back at him.

Oh damn, it’s a stare off.

I’m just about to tell Ghost to sit the hell down when Nat straightens her back, leans her head forward slightly, and scowls theatrically hard at him.

I can’t believe my ears when I hear him chuckle behind me. Ghost isn’t what many would call a people person. But he has his reasons.

He rolls his eyes at her and plonks himself into the seat next to her.

Everyone has a drink and starts conversations with each other and I find myself listening to answers Tina gives to the questions asked of her.

I find out she’s lived in New York two years, formerly a California girl. She’s twenty eight. Nat shares Tina’s apartment with her. She has a cat named Bear. Her dad lives in Cali but her Mom’s passed away. That’s too bad. She and Nat have been friends for as long as they can remember and they’re both of Croatian descent. She also advises that she’s a lightweight and to not let her drink more than three drinks.

Two hours pass and we’re all still deep in conversation with each other. Tina is on her third drink and I won’t let her drink anymore tonight. Ghost is not much for conversation but he seems to be listening to whatever Nat is talking to Mimi about. Everything is going well and I’m glad we’re all getting to know each other better because these girls are the shit. And I can’t stop looking at Tina.

She’s beautiful and she looks so relaxed, laughing so hard she almost chokes on her drink. I rub up and down her back and her skin’s bare. Her skin is so soft.

Jeezus.

I like these girls. A lot. They are real deal kind of girls. Nice girls who like to have good conversation. No drama kind of girls.

My kind of girls.

And then…

> “You fucking asshole!”

***

“You fucking asshole!” The entire booth turns to face the shrill voice.

Oh, dear god!

There at the end of the booth stands She-Devil.

Miss I-Wanna-Return-My-Three-Hundred-Dollar-Ruined-Dress.

Nik’s face turns hard as he snarls, “Sissy, what the fuck are you doin’ here? I told you, it’s done. ”

Her scowling face turns to mine. She asks, “So, you fuckin’ her now?”

Nik’s reply makes my stomach knot, “None of your damn business. ”

Damn it, why didn’t he say No!

She-Devil Sissykins smirks at Nik and leans forward a little and states tartly, “I am going to make your life a living hell. ”

Oh, Hell no. That shit doesn’t fly.

I stand up and out of the booth, I’m immediately flanked by my girls and we stand tall.

Nat speaks first, “Oh, hell no, Hoochy Spice. You do not come into this man’s club,” she points her thumb back at Nik, “and start shit while he’s hosting a private party. You got shit to say to him, you wait for an appropriate time or make an appointment to see him. What you don’t do is bring your two dollar made-in-china silver hair extensions to our booth and make a fuss like a five year old. ”

Mimi speaks next, “And there is no way you’ll do anything to make his life a living hell, either. I know you think he’s your man or some shit but have some dignity and move on graciously, bitch. ”

Lola turns it up a bit, “And if we find out you’ve done anything to make any of these guy’s lives harder than it should be,” she whispers loudly, “we’ll come after you. ”

I hide the fact I’m flushed, itchy as hell, and finish it up, “I know you’ve got no problem starting something here where you can talk big but I promise you,” I take a step closer to her, “you do not want to take us on. Because back there,” I point my thumb back at Nik, “you’ve got a man who won’t lay a finger on you. But right here, you’ve got four angry women just itching to rip those ratty hair extensions out of that pretty head of yours. ”