Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

Mimi spots me and winks. “Shake that ass, baby.”

I grin at her and add a little sway to my step. When I reach her, I turn. She places both hands on my butt cheeks and squeezes. A silence encompasses the room. I look around to find all the men in the room looking down at Mimi’s hands. Trick, Nik, and Max have an identical dreamy look on their faces, while Asher’s lips twitch. Trick suddenly announces, “I have to use the bathroom,” at the same time Max states, “I’m needed in the kitchen.”

They both scatter, and Mimi cackles. “Fucking amateurs,” she taunts, then she kisses my cheek. “How you doing, babe?”

Thoughts of this afternoon swarm my head. I force a smile. “Fine. Just fine.”

A look of confusion crosses her face. She sniffs the air and utters, “I smell bullshit.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing.”

Before she can dig, I move over to Lola and wrap my arms around her from behind. “Lola, why are men dicks?”

She pats my arm, leans back into me, and laughs through her nose. “I realize I should have the answer to this question, being that Trick is Trick, but I don’t.” She pouts. “Sorry.”

Speak of the Devil. Trick appears in front of us. He looks up and spots me. He fakes offence, “Did you sneak in here without saying hello to me? What kind of monster are you?”

I play insulted. “I would never!”

He takes a finger and taps his cheek. “Pucker up, sister.”

I reach over to kiss his cheek, but at the very last second, he moves and I kiss his lips. I squeak and slap at him while Lola laughs out loud. “Get out of here, you little shit!” Both laughing, Lola looks to me and says, “I’d apologize for him, but,” she shrugs, “you totally fell for it.”

A chuckling Trick runs away, then he bursts into song. “You make it hard to be faithful, with lips of an angel.”

Nik comes out of the kitchen holding an oven tray full of ribs. He places them on the dining room table before engulfing me in a bear hug. He holds onto me, rocking me back and forth. “Hey, little one. How’s work?”

“It’s great. I love it. I’m so glad I took a chance.”

His dimple makes an appearance, and although it’s a nice dimple, it doesn’t make my belly turn like Max’s does. “I’m glad you took a chance too. Now I get to see you and all my girls happy. And seeing my girls happy…well…that makes me happy.”

I tut. “You need to stop with all the sweet. I can’t fall in love with a married man, Niki.” I lean forward, take his oven mitt-covered hands in mine, and whisper with regret, “It would never work out.”

He chuckles and leans down to kiss my forehead. “Goofball.”

Arguing from the front door has all our heads turning. “Don’t you turn away from me.” But she does. Ceecee comes down the hall and into the living area, and without greeting a soul, she wheels past us all and down the hall leading to the kids’ bedrooms. “Ceecee, get back here. I’m not done talking to you!”

Whoa. I’ve never heard Max talk to his daughter that way. I’m guessing whatever happened it wasn’t something small.

Nik mutters, “Excuse me,” then joins his brother down the hall.

I move over to where Nat stands and try to ignore the heated exchange between the brothers, but it’s not easy. Also, I’m nosey. I whisper to Nat, “What do you think’s happened?”

She responds quietly, “Who the heck knows? She probably disappeared again.”

Wha—? I whisper shout, “What? When did she disappear?”

Geez, Louise, my sister loves gossip. She discreetly looks around before leading me a few steps away from everyone and explaining, “You know the weekend you arrived and we all went to The White Rabbit?” I nod, so she continues, “Well, the kids were getting packed up and ready to go, but no one could find Ceecee. They looked everywhere in the house for her, and Max was just about to head out onto the streets looking for her, when Nik spotted her at the front of the yard.” Nat’s face turns annoyed. “She had to have heard them all calling her, but she didn’t call back to let anyone know she was okay. Max was so shaken over it he skipped work. And he never skips work.”

Mouth parted, I swallow hard and mutter, “I thought he was a just a slacker.”

Nat snorts. “Max? You’re kidding, right? The guy is seriously ambitious. And he’s a good guy, and a great dad too.”

I’m beginning to see that. Also, I’m a judgey bitch. Shame makes my middle tense. Shaking my head at myself, I sigh. “God, can I be more wrong about a person?”

Nat bumps her shoulder into mine. “I really wish you would give him a chance.”

“I am.” I look over at her and promise, “I will.”