Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

Tina’s voice is steady as she sings. Her eyes are closed. Natalie’s lips quiver as she plays the piano.

Impossible…

The song finishes and Tina lowers her head. Her shoulders shake and I know she’s crying. In a broken voice she says, “I hate him so fucking much. ”

I want to kill the motherfucker that hurt her. I’ve never heard Tina swear like that. She’s been hurt bad and I don’t know what to do with this information. I guess I’ll just have to be patient and wait for her to tell me when she wants to. I motion to the guys to back away from the door. We walk back to the table and continue our Poker game.

Max plays with his cards, eyes lowered to the table. He mutters, “I don’t like it. ”

Me either, brother.

Chapter Ten

Fairy Godmother

Poker night was a blast! Not that I played any Poker. Or did much of anything else, but the company was phenomenal and we got to know each other even better. Real friendships are staring to form.

Even Ghost tugged my hair when we said goodbye. Which I guess is his equivalent of a hug.

After I sang for the girls and we had our cry fest, you’d think I would be in no mood to go back out to the guys and joke around. But when I broke down the girls all came over to comfort me, and I realized how lucky I am to have them. My life could be so much worse than what it is and I need to be grateful.

We pulled ourselves together and fixed our makeup the best we could then went back out to the guys. As soon as we walked into the room they all turned to look at us and I could tell they knew something was up.

Max broke the silence by asking, “How about a movie?”

This broke us out of our sorry spell. The girls and I love watching movies together! We all joke and tease the actors. It’s a sure good time. We all agreed quickly.

Nik went to a cabinet and pulled out two DVDs, he held up ‘S

tep Brothers’ and ‘Old School’.

They must be Will Ferrell fans.

We all wanted to watch Step Brothers. We arranged ourselves on the three huge three-seater sofas. Nik, Max, and myself on one sofa, Mimi, Lola, and Trick on another and Ghost and Nat on the third.

I sat in between my favorite brothers. Mimi sat on one end of their sofa, Lola in the middle, Trick laying with his head in Lola’s lap his legs dangling over the armrest. Ghost sitting on the end of their sofa with Nat sitting at the opposite end throwing scowls his way.

C’mon guys! Can’t we all just get along?!

The movie started and we all relaxed. Some way through the movie Nik, Max, and I had become all tangled up together looking a bit like a human caterpillar. Nik put a pillow on his thighs, I put my head on his lap and lay sideways in a fetal position, Max with his head resting on my thigh. We were all laughing our heads off and there were a few times I thought I’d actually pee.

Halfway through the movie I look around to see Lola take Tricks hand and play with it. That surprised me. Nat had fallen asleep. She’s funny that way, she could fall asleep at a rock concert and there is no waking her without physically picking her up and placing her on her feet. She was in an awkward position and I could see Ghost glowering at her sleeping form. After a few more seconds staring at her, he pulled her towards him, lay his body full on the couch, put a pillow on his chest and lay her head on it with her laying on top of him. Of course, he sighed like it was the biggest chore he’d ever done but within minutes, he’d fallen asleep, too. This surprised me even more. They actually looked really sweet together.

I can’t wait to tease her about it!

Nik was absent-mindedly stroking my hair and Max was snoring and drooling on my thigh.

And I was smiling like an idiot.

Ever since I met these guys, my life is more fulfilled. I love my girls with everything I am but I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. I feel I’ve found that missing puzzle piece. And we all look so stupid right now that I can’t stop the giggle that forms in my throat.

Nik stops stroking my hair, lightly pinches my cheek and asks, “What are you laughing about, sweetheart?” He sounds amused.

I tilt my head up to look at him. I give him a small smile and say, “Look around. We’re a bunch of misfits that fit perfectly together. ” He frowns and then turns to look at everyone. A big grin settles on his face and I know he gets me.

I turn to watch the movie and he begins to stroke my hair again.

***