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The fucker.
I narrow my eyes and ask, “Why are we friends again?” I’m genuinely curious.
He chuckles and reminds me, “I think it’s because I always had your back, brother. ”
He’s right. He’s an asshole but he’s right. Not once in my life have I ever had to go through things alone. Before Ghost was Max. My little brother always has my back regardless of the situation. Then I met Asher. He was a tall kid with scruffy blonde hair and untrusting brown eyes. Very much like he is today if I think about it. I didn’t shoot up in height til after High School, now I’m taller than all the guys. He was getting taunted by some idiot jock. I went over, stood next to him and asked, “You need a hand?” He looked at me with narrowed eyes and shook his head. The next day I walked past him in the hall; he caught up to me and started walking with me. He said, “I’m Asher. ” Without looking at him I nodded my head and said, “I’m Nik. ” And that was that. Max, Ghost, and I have been friends ever since. He’s been with us through everything; Marcus’s shooting, Dad’s death, Ceecee’s accident. All the important things. And he’s always been solid, good at helping you when you’re at your worst and don’t think you need anyone. He spent most of his childhood escaping family when he was embraced by mine.
Ghost won’t say it, but he loved my dad as much as I did. The day Dad met Asher Collins he watched him closely. When Ghost was leaving dad pulled him aside and said, “You ever need any help, son, for anything at all. You call Niki and he’ll tell me. I’ll take care of it. ” He wasn’t even shocked at what my dad was saying. Dad was telling Ghost if his parents didn’t wise up and stop beating their kid they’d get themselves killed. And Ghost appreciated it. Ever since that moment, Dad was his idol. And Mom won him over early by being over attentive of him. He acted like he didn’t like it but I see how he looks at Mom, like he wishes she was his biological mother. Blood doesn’t mean anything to us. Ghost is my brother.
Ghost looks closer at the monitor and whispers, “Oh shit. ”
I’m immediately alert. I look at the monitor. One of the waitresses is picking up a broken glass by Tina’s feet. Mimi and Nat flank Tina and touch her in a gentle way and Lola is holding something on Tina’s leg. The waitress is talking a mile a minute and looking up at Tina apologetically. Tina waves it off, smiles and replies. Lola has removed whatever she’s holding on Tina’s leg. I see her reach over the table and pick up a bunch of napkins and put them on Tina’s leg. I realize she’s been cut and is bleeding.
Lightning fast I’m up and out the door. I run across the VIP area til I reach Tina’s back. Without even assessing the situation I pick her up in a bridal hold and move towards the door behind the bar.
Tina starts with a shrill, “Nik, what on…”
But I cut her off by saying ,“Just a second, sweetheart. ”
Tina softens her voice and utters, “Nik, I’m fi—”
And I cut her off again with a firm, “Tina, we’re almost there. Quiet, babe. ”
She listens to me that time. She quiets and loosens in my hold. Her arm winds around my neck and her hand softly caresses the hair at the back of my head. It feels so nice I’m worried I’ll push further into her hand and purr like her cat.
On a mission, I carry her all the way to my office and set her down on my desk. Luckily, she’s wearing a dress that comes to the knee. It’s a beautiful deep blue color with a V-neck and puffy short sleeves. She looks like a princess.
I kneel in front of her and hold her calf in my hands. There is a small nick there. It bleeds a little more than I’d like but it’s nothing major. I look up to see her gorgeous green eyes looking down at me and they’re dancing.
Covering my face with my hands, I lean my forehead on her knee and say a muffled, “Okay, I might’ve overreacted. ”
She places a hand on my head and her body shakes with silent laughter.
You’re such a putz.
***
Nik lifts his head from my knee and runs a hand through his hair. He looks tense and says, “God, Tina, I was worried. Like, out of my mind, worried. I thought you were really hurt. ”
Wow.
The whole thing was my fault, I was talking to Mimi while walking backwards and stupidly walked right in to the poor waitress who dropped one glass but saved three others.
Good for her I say!
Nik was so worried he came flying out of nowhere, picked me up and carried me away so he could fix me up himself. That’s ridiculously sweet. I didn’t know he could be that way.
I love this man. Actually love him. With all my heart. There’s no denying it anymore. I feel safe with him. Whatever sadness I feel living my life is gone as soon as I see Nik. He makes the days’ worth getting up for in the morning. My heart swells every time I see him shoot that dimple my way.
Please kiss me.
I touch his cheek and whisper, “Niki. ”
As soon as I say his name he takes my calf in his big hands and massages it. It feels so good I close my eyes and bite my tongue to stop myself from moaning. He smiles, “Well, I guess I better fix you up, huh?”
I nod and he walks around his desk and reaches underneath it. He pulls out a first aid kit and sets it down next to me. He opens it and digs around. His hands emerge with two things, an antiseptic wipe and a Band-Aid. He wipes the little cut with the antiseptic wipe, it stings a little but nothing enough to make me flinch. I had an eighteen hour natural birth! Nothing will ever be as painful as that.
Wiping the cut with gentle strokes, he blows on it and it makes my lady bits tremble. He smiles up at me and hands me the Band-Aid. I’m a little confused but I open it for him and see it’s a bright pink Barbie Band-Aid with flowers and hearts on it. I chuckle and hand it to him. He sticks it on and kisses my boo-boo gently.
