Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(7)

My throat clogs, my eyes mist and I move away from the wall. I head back to my room, crawl into bed and pull the covers up over my head.

Then I do something I’ve never done over a man.

I cry.

***

I see Tasha out of the apartment, lean back against the door and think.

What just happened?

Tasha and I were screwing. Pretty loudly. But we were havin’ a good time. Then out of nowhere comes my living fantasy. To my apartment. While I’m screwing another woman.

Yeah, not good.

My chest aches.

What do you care? She doesn’t.

Yeah… I’m sure she doesn’t. Although, when she realized it was me, she looked kinda hurt.

Nah. Nat doesn’t feel. Ever.

Yep. That’s for sure. I’ve never met a woman like her before. She’s a total bitch.

Goddamn, she’s sexy though.

Ain’t it the truth?

Even wearing ridiculous mouse pajamas and slippers, she looked hot, which put me off Tasha right away. Not a stitch of makeup on and her red hair up in a stupid looking ball at the top of her head, wearing a tiny tank top with no bra.

Hot.

I don’t know why I felt the need to explain to her that Tasha and I were only screwing. I don’t do relationships. They require people to eventually move in together and sleep in the same bed together. And I can’t do that.

I have extreme nightmares. Well, technically, they’re memories.

Memories of my father, mother, my childhood, pain and hurt. Everything that came with growing up in my house.

Ever since I lived with Nik and Max’s family, I knew something was wrong. They looked at me with pity for days when I got there. I never woke in my nightmares. Only one night when Nik’s mother, Cecilia, tried to hold me during a fitful sleep and I attacked her, did I ever find out about what I was capable of during my sleep. I punched Cecilia in the face. I was so worried Nik’s dad would kick me out, I actually cried. I couldn’t go back home. But Nik’s dad, Ilia, was more of a father to me than my own. He was a kind man, but if you crossed him, you got yours.

I planned on killing my father. Ilia told me if I was serious about that, he would do it for me. Ilia was part of a Russian gang called Chaos. He claimed me as his own, so when Nik was recruited after Ilia died, Max and I joined with him. I felt I owed it to him.

I never knew what having a family was like until Nik befriended me. I’d never even had a friend before. He had my back before he even knew me. In high school, I got picked on for having ripped or dirty clothes. Nik approached me one day while I was getting picked on and asked if I needed a hand. He’ll never know what that gesture meant to me. I sorta tagged along with him after that and I was surprised he let me. Everyone wanted to be Nik’s friend in high school, but he was selective. After I met his father, I knew why. Nik only befriended people he could be real with.

Then Ilia suggested I sleep at their house whenever I felt unsafe at home. Which was always. So, I basically came over one day and never left. I even had my very own room. Cecilia, who I call Mama, went out the next day and bought me an entire closet full of clothes and three pairs of shoes.

I didn’t even know people could own three pairs of shoes. I had one pair and they were falling apart.

Ever since that day, Nik started introducing me as his brother. And I really do consider Nik and Max my brothers.

One day in gym class, Nik happened to see my scars and bruises. He asked me about them but I took off. I didn’t come home for a week. When I finally returned, Mama cried with relief. I’d never had someone be worried about me. She told me I was grounded and to never scare her like that again.

I smile at the memory. I took my punishment without a word. Mama’s tears of love were worth a week of chores.

Mama likes Nat. She told me to get off my ass and ask her out.

Yeah.

Quite frankly, I’d rather have fire ants nibble at my balls.

So the shrew is my new neighbor.

Kiss my grits.

I smirk.

At least the view will be nice.





Chapter Two

Befriended by a Ghost





I make it to work just after nine.

Being kept up most of last night didn’t help me any. I heard my alarm, but my body acted of its own accord and pressed snooze.

Four times.

I dragged my ass out of bed and don’t even remember showering. Somehow, in my comatose state, I managed to put together a half decent outfit and drive myself to work. I walk through the door and Mimi looks up from the counter. Her eyes widen and she declares, “Wow. You look like shit.”

I flip her the bird and she chuckles. I walk into the studio and yell out, “Gather.”

Tina and Lola approach Mimi and I at the counter looking a little wary.

Oh, chicas. You have no idea.

Tina says softly, “Oh, honey. You look ill. Are you okay?”

I reply, “No. Not okay. Not in the slightest.”

Lola looks concerned, puts a hand on my shoulder and asks, “What is it, Nat?”

My mouth waters when I spot Tina’s chocolate peanut butter cupcakes behind the counter. I grab one, unwrap it and shove the whole thing in my mouth. I close my eyes in bliss and moan.

My mouth is full so my response is a little garbled. “I had a run in with my neighbor last night.”