Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

I ask, “Does this feel weird to you?”

He tilts his head and says, “Nope, just the opposite. It feels right. ”

I whisper, “Yeah. I know. Isn’t that weird?”

He smiles big and responds, “I wanted you since I met you, baby. From the first time I saw your ass in that sexy skirt. ” I frown and he chuckles. “The best thing that could’ve happened to us was you insisting we be friends. Now I really know you. You never acted like a woman trying to impress a man. You were my friend. ” He lightly flicks my nose. “My really good friend. And now that we’re more its feels like it’s just an extension of our friendship. So, no. it’s not weird. It’s amazing. ”

Wow. See? Sweet.

I smile, lean forward and peck his lips. I say quietly, “You’re too good for me, Niki. I’ll never know what I did to deserve you but I’ll thank god for it every day. ”

He hugs me tighter and says, “Tell me about your family. ”

I stiffen at this. I quickly relax and answer as vaguely as I can. “Mom died a couple of years ago. No brothers of sisters. I’ve got some aunts, uncles, and cousins in Cali and even more in Croatia. Dad still lives in Cali. He’s pretty close with his sister and her husband. ”

He strokes my hair and asks curiously, “It must’ve been hard leaving him. Why did you come to New York?”

I force a laugh and say, “Cali just wasn’t my scene anymore. It was hard leaving Dad and Nat. Dad loves Cali, though. He’s got his friends and some family there. He’s heavily involved with the Croatian community. He has a life there. ” I shrug lightly.

This is true. Dad, or Tata, is involved with the Croatian Club in Cali. My dad has lived in America for about 30 years and still has a heavy accent. This is because he’s friends with Croats, he works with Croats, and he speaks more Croatian than he does English.

Nik remains thoughtful. He knows I’m avoiding his question. Nik isn’t dumb.

Before he can question me further I play with the fingers on one of his hands and ask, “What happened to your Dad, Nik?”

He sighs and leans back further into the sofa. He smiles as he explains, “Dad was awesome. Best dad anyone could ask for. He came over from Russia, met and fell in love with Mom, a Mexican immigrant, and never left. His name was Ilia. ” He softens his voice a little and holds me tight. “Dad was a good man. A really good man, baby. He didn’t like all the small injustices of the world and did whatever he could to fix ‘em. That’s how Ghost came to live with us. Dad got through to him. ” He sighs heavily and runs his hand down his face as if he’s about to drop a bomb on me. And does.

He says, “In saying that, my father was the vice president of the Russian gang, Chaos. He was high up in organized crime, baby. ”

My mouth falls open and I whisper, “No. Freakin’. Way. ”

He nods solemnly. “Yeah. Dad died of a heart attack. Just dropped dead one day. I was recruited into Chaos shortly after. I did it so I would have money to give my Mom. Max and Ghost wouldn’t let me join alone so we all joined together and til I turned twenty, we were enforcers for them. ”

No way!

That is crazy. I’m speechless at the moment so Nik continues. “That’s this tattoo right here. ” He points to the tattoo on his upper arm that spells XAOC. “It’s Chaos in Russian. Max, Ghost, and I all have them. The guys you met last night, Alexei and Lev, are a part of the Chaos brotherhood. ”

I’m silent a moment then ask quietly, “Did you ever kill anyone?”

He smiles and shakes his head. He explains, “As enforcers we used force to get our money if necessary. And yes, I’ve shot people but never to kill. I’ve broken bones, baby. I’ve shot people and done that shit without flinching. ” He looks ashamed. “That is who your man is. A street thug. ”

No!

No way.

That isn’t the Nik I know.

The Nik I know is lovable, sexy and funny.

The Nik I know loves his niece so much he’ll do anything to keep her happy. Even have a birthday cake and blow out candles when he really doesn’t want to. The Nik I know takes his brother and paraplegic niece into his home without question. The Nik I know had no time for a childhood because he was too busy doing all the things his dad would’ve done for his family.

That is the Nik I know. My Nik is not a street thug.

I lift my head and look right at him.

I startle him when I push at his shoulder a little too roughly and blurt, “Nuh uh! You are not a street thug. You are an entrepreneur. You are a family man. You are a survivor. And that makes you sexy as hell. You are wonderful. ” I stroke his cheek softly and say firmly, “And I am proud that you’re mine. ”

His eyes search my face and his brow furrows.