Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(24)

Me: Hey, Sorry for the late notice but I’ve got the flu! I’m alternating sweating like a pig and freezing my ass off so I won’t be in tomorrow.

I re-read this message about ten times before I’m satisfied it sounds like me and press send. A few minutes later, I hear my phone ping.

Tina: Oh honey! I hope Tatiana didn’t get you sick! :( Of course, take as much time as you need. Cecelia is watching her tomorrow so I’m back in. Want me to send anything over for you?

The thought of her seeing me like this is enough to make me burst into tears. I’ve always been the strong one. I couldn’t bear for Tina to see me like this. I compose myself enough to write a reply.

Me: Thanks, babe. I have everything I need right here. Love you. I’ll let you know how I’m feeling tomorrow afternoon.

Tina: Okay, honey. Feel better. We love you too! Xx

There’s only one person I trust to help me in this situation.

***

Rather than stay at home to hear the concerto of sex coming from Nat’s apartment, I decide to hang out with the guys. It a long time coming, but we’re finally having a Trick intervention.

“Things are looking like they’re pretty serious with Lola. You know you gotta tell her soon, man. She thinks you’re not into her anymore.” Nik directs this to Trick.

Trick responds without heart, “I know, bro. I know. I just don’t know how.”

Trick, for lack of a better term, looks like shit. He’s a fraction of the man he was a year ago. With bags under his eyes and his constant bad mood, anyone could tell something was up with him.

“Just be straight with her. She loves you. She’d help out. You know she would,” Max says.

Trick scoffs, “I know she would, Max! The question is why should she have to? I want her more than anything, but I can’t commit to her without her knowing what comes with having a relationship with me. It’s not too late. She’s young. She can find someone who doesn’t carry a shitload of headaches with them.”

I shake my head and try to reason with him. “You can’t decide for her, Trick. You should just lay it out and let her make a choice.”

Trick rests his elbows on his knees and covers his mouth with his hands. He looks defeated. If there was any way I could help him, I would, but this isn’t something I can help with. Trick runs his hands down his face and responds quietly, “What if she leaves me?” I look around at the guys. No one says a thing so Trick continues, “This has been the hardest time of my life. Even worse than losing my dad. If I lose Lola, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

I reach out and grip his shoulder. “You’re gonna lose her if you don’t tell her, regardless. She already thinks you’re keeping secrets, bro.”

Nik tells him, “You know mom and the girls will help as much as they can. We’re family. We’ll do anything we can do to help out.”

My phone is on silent but it vibrates in my pocket. I check the display. My eyes widen in disbelief.

What the hell?

I check the text message and my blood runs cold.

Nat: Can you please come home?

Something’s wrong.





Chapter Seven

We are sisters of the Kovac convent





Knock-knock-knock

“Who is it?” I ask hoarsely.

Holy crap! Is that my voice?

I sound like a fifty-year-old devoted smoker!

Ghost replies firmly, “Open the damn door, Nat.”

My stomach drops and my palms sweat. I really don’t want him to see me like this, but I don’t really have a choice. It’s either him or Tina, and there’s no way I’d let Tina see me like this.

With shaking hands, I unlock the front door and open it a few inches. Hiding most of my face, I say quietly, “You can’t freak out, okay?”

He rolls his eyes heavenward and sighs but nods his head. I turn my face away from him and open the door fully for him to follow me inside. I hear the door shut softly. Ghost asks, “What’s the problem, Nat?”

With my back still to him I whisper again, “You can’t freak out, okay?”

Silence. Then he answers softly, “Okay, pretty girl. I promise. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

I take a deep breath to steady myself, close my eyes and turn to face him. His eyes widen before flashing in anger and he steps away from me. His breathing intensifies and he balls his fists by his side. I understand his reaction. I saw myself in the bathroom mirror.

In the past half hour, my eye has swollen shut and my bottom lip has puffed to double its size. My cheeks have purple bruises from where Cole pinched my cheeks together to make me kiss him. My wrist has also swollen quite a bit and is too sore to move.

Ghost swallows hard before backing further away from me, jaw set and eyes full of hate. Through gritted teeth, he whispers, “Be right back.”

He walks backwards through the door leaving me feeling confused and so lonely. A muffled roar shakes me. “FUCK!”

When I hear the distinct sounds of things being thrown around hard and glass breaking next door, tension fills my chest, making it hard to breathe, and tears blur my vision. Blood roars through my ears. Lifting a hand to my chest, I walk backwards til I hit wall and slide my sore, tender body down to the floor. Overcome by immense sadness, I cover my face with my hands and sob silently.