Niki

Usually I’m not a morning person, but this morning, I was up at the butt crack of dawn, fetching myself coffee on the way to the gym. Well, maybe I didn’t make it to the gym, but there is this bakery next to it that has these toasted croissants with a chocolate, hazelnut glaze that are to die for. I mean, if there was only one left, and I had to fight to the death, the winner’s reward the croissant, I would volunteer myself as tribute and fuck those customers up. Just sayin’. Nothing comes between me and my sweets.

I try to put last night out of my mind, something I have yet to accomplish. Sleep never came; I tossed and turned, frustrated and pissed that I let a stranger get to me.

“Incoming call from Gavin Shaw.” My car reminds me that I never told Gavin where I was going last night. That I up and left him at Spotlight, the bar where we both work. Well, he manages and I’m merely summer help. It’s cool though. It gives me a break from the kiddos I teach during the school year.

Cringing, I accept the call.

“Seriously? You sent me to voicemail?” His voice rumbles over the speakers.

“Oh shit. I totally forgot, Gav. I’m sorry…I had my blinders on. There was only one croissant left and—”

“Say no more. I get it.” He chuckles.

“See, you get me. You really get me.” I nod my head. For what? I don’t know. No one can see me.

“You want to meet for afternoon coffee, my treat? I want to run a few things by you. Get your opinion about having an open mic night for singer/songwriters—”

I interrupt, “I’m meeting Aubrey for coffee. I found out a little something something last night I feel she has the right to know about.” My heart starts beating faster at the thought of breaking the news to her.

Ding.

“Ohhhh…about Dougy the douche and his extracurricular activities while married? I overhead Jake talking to Cindy while prepping for the rush. Apparently his secret affair wasn’t so secret.”

“What am I going to do?” I sigh.

Ding.

“You tell her. It’s the only thing you can do. You tell her, and then you are there for her if she falls, but she may not fall.”

“You’re right, Gav.”

“Damn straight I am. So, are you going to address the big elephant in the room, or in this case, your car?” He goes silent, waiting for me to update him on my night.

“And what would that be?” I tease.

Ding.

“Who in the hell is texting you like crazy?” Gavin, once playful, is now irritated.

“Oh, it’s probably Aubrey, telling me she is running late.” I resist the urge to look at my phone.

“Uh-huh…”

“Gav, I didn’t go home with some stranger if that is what you were thinking,” I reply quickly, hoping that little bit of information will set his mind at ease.

“Really? Because last night, it looked like it was going to end a totally different way.” He seems more hurt than accusatory. “That spotlight was meant for you.”

Silence.

Ding.

Gavin groans.

I shouldn’t care, but I can’t help it. This man means more to me than he will ever know, but we can’t happen. Trust me, I’ve thought about it time and time again, but his friendship is something I’m not willing to take a risk on.

“Oh. Umm…”

“What was up with the suit? I haven’t seen him around here before.”

“I’m not sure. Right before the spotlight came down, he pulled me into the corner to talk.” My hand involuntarily touches my lips as I remember his taste.

Ding.

“For Christ’s sake, Nik. Just answer your phone already or put it on silent. It’s distracting.”

“Geesh, hold on. I’m pulling in now.”

I pull into the parking lot in back of Java Talk, grab my phone and scroll through my messages.

AA: Good morning, beautiful.

AA: I’m sorry I had to leave you last night.

AA: Meet me for lunch. I have a proposition for you.

AA: Niki, I’m a very busy man.

AA: Patience is not my strong suit.

How in the hell did he get my number, and what does he want with me? I just can’t — or can I? I glance at the time.

Shit!

I can’t bail on Aubrey.

“You still there?” Gavin breaks the silence.

“What? Um, yeah. Hey, I’m here. I’m going to go in and get our drinks before Aubrey gets here.” I grab my purse, hopping out of the car. “Call you later?”

“Sure.”

“Peace out.” I hurry inside, order the coffees and grab the spot furthest away from the gossipers.

Ding.

I flip my phone over, anxious to see what he has to say now.

AA: Waiting.

Fuck it.

Me: You left me waiting all night. What is a few more minutes?

AA: Ahh! Someone wake up cranky today?

Me: Something like that.

AA: Couldn’t sleep?

Me: Cut the crap. How did you even get my number and why now?

AA: I have my ways. So, lunch?

Me: Sorry, I’m meeting my friend for coffee.

AA: Dinner?

Me: Maybe some other time.

AA: I’m flying out tonight. Meet me and I’ll explain.

Me: ?

AA: 7 p.m. sharp. I’ll have a car pick you up.

Me: What’s your name?

I set the phone down as I hear the door chime. Aubrey works her way through the crowd, making her way to the table.

Leaning back in my chair, I try to look calm and collected, but in all reality, I’m nervous as hell. Between the information I’ve been holding and now these texts, I’m all kinds of crazy.

Coffee in one hand and reaching for my phone with the other, I try to busy myself and push down the guilt I’m feeling.

Crap, be yourself.

Setting my phone down, I slide up my shades. “Look who decided to grace us with her presence today.”

I can’t help but give her a little hell. Normally, I’m the late one, but for coffee, I’ll be early. Every. Damn. Time.

“Girl, we gotta talk!” Aubrey seems to ignore my current state of weirdness and takes a seat. She grabs her coffee and pries the lid off to release the steam.

“Coffee is just the way you like it. I even had them add a couple ice cubes. So if your fragile mouth can’t handle this, we are going to revoke your coffee drinking privileges when you are around me.”

This girl should know that I know how she takes her coffee. Prying her hands away, I take the cup from her and take a sip. “My God!” I shake my head, scrunching up my nose. That stuff is just gross. Cold and disgusting. To each their own, I guess.

“Perfect!” A giggle escapes as she reaches over and snatches her cold-hot brew back.

“Sooo?” I settle back, trying to keep calm as I figure out how in the hell I’m going to break the news to her. “I came across some interesting—”

“That has to wait because I had something happen today that is going to BLOW...YOUR…MIND!” Aubrey interrupts, not able to contain herself anymore.

Does she know? Does she not care? She wouldn’t be acting like this if she did.

“Girl, spill it!” I lean forward, giving her my full attention. Maybe she knows what I’m getting ready to tell her. Maybe she just wants to beat me to the punch or maybe…

“Well, you know the guy I was dancing with last night?” Aubrey is practically busting at the seams, excited. Holding this info in has to be killing her. We share everything. If we don’t talk, we text; if we don’t text, we meet here. In our spot.

“Yeah, Mr. Spotlight?”

“Yes! That’s the one.” Her smile stretches from ear to ear.

Well, hell. How in the world do I follow this? How do I tell my best friend that her newbie douche of an ex-husband had an affair while they were married? Maybe I shouldn’t tell her. Maybe, I’ll let sleeping dogs lie and just go with the flow.

“Oooookay? You going to let the kitty out of the bag or did you...” I nod my head toward her crotch.

“Niki!” Aubrey gasps.

“What? It wouldn’t hurt for you to play with a couple balls of yarn.” I lean back, mentally patting myself on the back. Good one.

“Whatever. Actually Mr. Spotlight has a name. He is none other than Andrew Williams, owner of WilliamSon Construction. The company I hired to add on to the pool house.”

“Aubrey, seems fishy to me. He sought you out last night, and now he is at your house the next day, a Saturday, on top of it. Who works on a Saturday?”

“Um, you do?” She brings the mug to her lips, a small, smug smile lining her face.

“That is neither here nor there. Anywho, tell me more.”

“Well, I walked into the kitchen and noticed Putter got into the trash again.”

“You really should train that dog. I know a person who has a person.” I pick up my phone to look for the number when I get another text from him.

AA: Meet me and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.

“I can’t afford a person right now,” Aubrey whispers.

“Get your in-laws to pay for it.” I take another sip before I go on with my lecture. “Seriously, Doug owes your ass. You didn’t even want that dog. That’s something he and his mom decided Reece needed to help her with the divorce. Seriously, Aubrey. That is complete and utter bullshit.” I look up and wait for her reaction, but it doesn’t come, so I continue listing all the gifts she received that ended up being more of an obligation.

“Niki, he saw me naked!” Aubrey hollers above my rant, but instead of it falling upon deaf ears, it falls upon every single ear in Java Talk. Everyone turns. Girls stare, workers chuckle, men are popping woodies right and left.

“Nice! I knew you had it in you.” I reach up, holding my hand out for a high five.

“Ugh.” Aubrey lays her head on the table, shielding herself from the stares. She finally holds up her hand, giving in to my celebration.

A couple refills later, Aubrey is practically hopping out of her seat, explaining every single detail about hot construction dude and their one-night stand. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a one-night stand, but he did see her goods today, and that’s almost a single notch in a bed post.

I wonder what suit and tie guy is doing? How come he hasn’t responded? Should I meet him? Should I not? I just don’t know what to do.

What do I do?

Will he text me back?

Of course he will.

How in the hell did he even get my number? Better yet, how did it get programmed into my phone? I know I was pretty tipsy, but I would have remembered if I had stored his number. I remember him leaving me high and horny; that’s for sure.

“And Nik, you won’t believe what Doug did today. Nik?”

Oh shit! She’s talking to me.

I suck. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I one hundred percent suck as a friend. Not only can I not recall what she just said, I’ve been so consumed with my fantasy that I failed to remember the real reason I asked her to coffee.

This could go either way. Either she won’t care, or her heart will be broken. I’m thinking it’s the latter. You can’t be married to someone for twelve years and not feel something for them.

There is no other way. I just have to rip off the Band-Aid. “Speaking of Doug the Douche. I heard something this morning at the gym that I think you should be made aware of...” My watch buzzes, indicting a message. I should have put it on DND. “Shit…” I tap the screen, hoping it’s a message from him.

AA: Aiden. Now be ready at 7 sharp.

What do I do? My life is flipping upside down and this mystery of a romance or whatever the hell you call it isn’t helping.

“Gotta go?” Aubrey breaks my trance.

“No, well, yes, but first I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay. Spit it out.”

“Aubrey, there is no easy way to tell you this, but apparently, Doug has been cheating on you with his assistant.”

Done. It wasn’t so bad.

“Cheryl? There is no way.”

Crap. She seriously has no clue.

“Not Cheryl, his junior accountant.” My words are not ringing any bells with her. My God, did he never tell her anything? Of course, he didn’t. Why would he when he is fucking his former high school sweetheart, his new junior accountant. And he wonders why we call him Dougy the Douche. Asshole.

“Niki, this isn’t funny. When would he have had time?”

I can see the realization creeping upon her face. She knows. She has to know now.

“Aubrey, his junior accountant is JoJo.”

“No...no-no-no-no-no...this can’t be happening. Not her. Not JoJo.” Aubrey’s voice cracks; her breathing becomes rapid. A panic attack is rearing its ugly head.

I have to get her out of here. “Just breathe. Aubrey, look at me, babe.” I reach for her hand across the table, reassuring her that I’m here. “In and out. Watch me. Just like this.”

“I-I-I can’t.”

He has given her more than six years of shit. I’m not about to let this situation bring her down in front of a room full of strangers. Jumping up, I gather our things, mumbling, “Jesus, girl, I didn’t think you would react like this. I should have waited. Aubrey, you fucking stay with me.” I lift her and let her body lean against mine.

“Miss is she okay? Do I need to call—” a voice begins.

“Mind your own business. She’s fine,” I snap as we head out the door to the nearest bench so Aubrey can sit down. Pushing her head between her legs, I gently rub her back, whispering comforting words in her ear. “Breathe, just breathe, baby girl. One, two, three…in and out. That’s good.”

“Nik?” Her voice is soft and broken.

“Aubrey, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have told you like this. I just figured with everything that has happened and the divorce that it wouldn’t have...hell, I don’t know what I thought.” I fall to my knees and hug her tight. Today is one of those days I hug. She needs me, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to be there for her.

“It’s fine. Seriously, I suspected he was cheating, I’m just shocked that it was with JoJo.” She pulls back. “How long?” She searches my eyes for the truth.

I wish she wouldn’t have asked that question. What good comes from this? They both have moved on and right now their focus should be Reece.

Shit!

“A little over a year.” I close my eyes, waiting for her attack, bracing myself for the lashing she wishes she could give the douche.

“I need to go.” The calm shocks me. She stands and grabs for her bag.

“Aubrey, don’t go. Not like this?” I reach for her arm to pull her back, but she’s too quick.

“It’s fine. I just need to process this.” She rounds the building to the back parking lot. “How about you come over, and we will have a little wine time?” She unlocks her car, turning to flash me a smile over her shoulder, showing me she is fine when she is everything but.

“I have a dinner date at seven, but it won’t last long.” I holler, shocked that I’m still contemplating going when just minutes ago, my friend had a breakdown.

“Anyone I know?” She wiggles her eyebrows, insinuating Gavin.

Gavin.

I wonder how he will feel about this. Why do I even care?

“The suit from the club, but don’t worry. He is nothing like the last guy and it’s not even serious. He flies out tonight,” I blurt out before she can give me another lecture on my type of men.

“Whoa, there, Nelly; slow down. I’m not judging.”

She doesn’t have to. I’ll do it for the both of us. Nothing good will come from having dinner with suit and tie.

Nothing.

“You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to get back out there and have a little fun. Maybe nail some wood with the carpenter guy?” It’s my turn to wiggle my eyebrows.

“Aren’t you running late?” Aubrey asks, avoiding my question. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes, I am, but don’t think I don’t know what you just did there.” I flip her the bird as I make my way back to my car.

Climbing in, I watch Aubrey pull off and a feeling of unease settles in.

What am I going to tell Gavin?