Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

He replies quietly ,“Got no life without you, baby. You’re it for me. ”

I burst into tears and he rocks me. I wrap him up tight as if he might disappear.

I don’t care who’s watching.

Nat, Lola, and Mimi all cheer, whoop and laugh around the store. I hear Nat yell out, “Get her out of here, you sly son of a gun. ”

I lift my face and he smilingly says, “You got boogers, baby. ”

I laugh and wipe my nose with my sleeve. That’s the least of my worries right now.

I have Nik! Nik is my man! Again…

I’m going to do everything I can to keep him. I love him so much.

Leaning my forehead against his, I whisper, “Love you so much, Niki. ”

His face softens as he replies, “Love you more, teeny Tina. ”

Heavens to glory, thank you God.

***

After I went over to Safira and reunited with my girl, we went to lunch.

Tina sat in my lap. Well, she sat pressed so close to me she practically was.

We had sushi, stole kisses and held one another. Just appreciating each other after our almost break up.

When we left we stayed wrapped up in each other til we reached Safira. I kissed Tina long and slow.

Never again.

I don’t know how I got on without her. More importantly, I don’t ever want to be without her again.

I check my wrist watch for the time. 2:11pm.

Time to get to a meet.

***

Two thirty comes and I arrive at the warehouse the Sixes own better known as the factory.

The factory is well known amongst gangs in New York. It’s heavily guarded during the day and at night; however, all that keeps it safe is an alarm system.

I know this because Marcus was killed trying to get papers with this information out of my father’s office. My dad never did give this information to Chaos and I’m not sure why. It would’ve been easy to arrange a raid and steal the drugs they have stored there. However, if Chaos did end up doing that it would’ve started a war between Chaos and the Sixes.

I guess that’s why my dad never gave this information away. Dad never was one for a fight.

I’m not stupid enough to come alone to see Uncle Jerm. I bring Ghost with me; people are generally scared of him with good reason. Ghost wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you in the face if he thought his life was in danger. Long gone is the boy who took his licks without a word.

We walk into the warehouse office and are frisked. This is not unusual.

It would be disrespectful to conceal a weapon at a meet.

We remove our guns but I know Ghost would never go completely unarmed.

We are escorted by a street thug, better known as a soldier, to Uncle Jerm’s office. I’ve only been here once before, when I was a teenager, but I remember it well. I was petrified the last time I was here. I thought I would take my last breath in this warehouse.