Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(8)

Mimi smirks. “Already getting into trouble? Babe, you gotta wait at least a week for that.”

Tina enquires, “What kind of run in?”

Lola’s eyes widen and she whispers loudly, “Oh, no.” Then she guesses, “Loud sex?”

I swallow my cake, fire imaginary guns at Lola and utter, “Bingo!”

Tina sympathizes, “Oh, sweetie. You love sleep! That sucks!”

I scoff and run my hands down my face. “You have no idea, guys. Three freakin’ times. I was up til three am before I decided to go over there. So this pretty little woman answers the door and she looks nice enough. Just as she’s about to apologize, her man comes along.”

Lola grimaces. “Asshole. He’s an *, right?”

I lower my face and chuckle through my reply, “You don’t know how right you are. Only we know this *.”

Mimi’s face scrunches in confusion as she asks, “Who?”

“Yeah, who?” Tina asks.

I take a step back, put my hands out by my sides and clear my throat. “My new neighbor is Ghost.”

All three women gasp loudly and Lola covers her mouth with her hands. I nod slowly.

Oh, yeah. That just happened, ladies.

Tina sputters, “Wha- I- He- How?”

Mimi can’t control herself, she bursts out laughing. Lola’s lips twitch. I narrow my eyes at them and wonder why I’m friends with these girls.

Tina and Nik found out about Ghost and I by accidently hearing us in the conference room the night we did it. I told Mimi and Lola one day at work when they questioned why Ghost and I never talk anymore. I don’t like secrets. I prefer to be honest with people. Sometimes, I’ve been told, I can be brutally honest. But I can’t change who I am.

Lola straightens and says softly, “That sucks, babe.”

Mimi chuckles. “Yeah. That sucks ass. Sorry.”

I scowl at Mimi. “You don’t sound sorry, hag.” She laughs harder and I fight not to smirk. Mimi treats me like my sisters do. That’s awesome because I miss them, and Mimi makes me feel at home.

Tina wraps me up in a hug and whispers, “Oh, honey. I’m sorry. That must be hard for you.”

I lie. “No. It isn’t. It would just be really great if I never saw him. Avoiding him is best.”

Mimi’s face becomes serious and she asks quietly, “Why do you need to avoid him if you’re okay with it?”

The girls stare at me for a good thirty seconds before I respond quietly, “He told her I was no one.”

Mimi frowns, Lola gasps and Tina shakes her head slowly.

I continue on a whisper, “It hurt. Really badly. And I may have cried.”

Tina lifts her face and blinks. “But you never cry.”

I reply an exasperated, “I know, right?! I’m blaming it on the sleep deprivation.”

Mimi responds softly, “Or maybe you really do care.” Lola nods in agreement.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “I don’t want to care! God, why does this always happen? Ghost needs someone like Tina. Someone who is caring and sweet and delicate. And I need someone like- like- I don’t even know who!”

Frustration eats at me.

“Why not go out on a date with someone? Get your mind off him?” Lola suggests.

My brows lift. That is not a bad suggestion.

Do it.

I put one fisted hand under my chin and pose.

The Thinker.

Tina giggles. “Not every problem is resolved with a date.”

Mimi adds, “But it can’t hurt either.”

Both good points.

I respond, “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date. I think that’s a great idea.” I smile and ask “What would I do without you guys? Group hug!” They smile and move closer to me. I wrap them up and squeeze them tight.

I love my girls.

***

Saturday night approaches and I’m pumped.

I can’t wait to get to the club and find myself a man!

Tina used to host the festivities before we went out which would consist of all us girls getting ready and yakking about anything and everything. But now she has Tatiana, and she can’t do it anymore. So I offered up my place.

Ghost won’t be there. I know he starts work at the club around seven.

I check my watch. It’s close to nine.

Perfect!

Mimi and Lola turn up minutes after I check my watch and we commence getting ready. We’ll meet Tina there.

We take turns using the bathroom mirror. I decide to save time and do Mimi’s makeup so we can get out of here earlier. Mimi fixes Lola’s hair and I begin to ready myself by letting my hair down and ruffling it.

Mimi dresses in a black tube mini dress with black heels. Her blonde hair is straight and her eye makeup is dark and smudged. She looks hot.

Lola dresses in skinny black low-rider jeans, a white tank and strappy sandals. Her long brown hair is half up and her makeup is minimal. But she still looks amazing. Now that she and Trick are a sort-of item, she doesn’t dress for anyone but him anymore. I’ll admit it. It’s kinda sweet.

I wear a bright canary yellow dress. It comes a little above my knees, has long sleeves and is tight. It hugs my curves. You would think I’d look like a clown wearing a yellow dress with bright red hair but, somehow, it works. I can’t wear underwear under this dress, it shows the lines. So I decide, for one night, to go without.