She joked, “Roberto, we can drop her off at home!”
Peaches cackled loudly. “Not without my Tomahawk!” She was starving and ready to eat. They laughed and sang along to whatever Roberto played up until they made it to lunch. Nina’s fingers were crossed that they weren’t packed and the food Gods were on her side. They were able to be seated upon arrival.
“So...” Peaches began.
Nina looked over the menu, not paying her much mind.
“What’s up?”
Peaches stared. “Nina…” She hated when she acted clueless.
“What?”
“Girlllll!”
Realization crossed Nina’s face. “Oh, Jio!”
She searched for the right words. “We’re doing good. I’m happy.”
“Is it different or the same?” she questioned.
“Different but in a super healthy reciprocated way.”
Peaches leaned back in her chair. “Now that’s a word I never thought I’d hear connected to Jio.”
Nina laughed. “I didn’t either.”
“So what changed?”
“I think the time apart was good for us. We both needed to see things without the other person blocking the view. He knows what he wants, and I know what I have to make time for.”
Peaches was a trusted friend and she knew Jio, so she could always talk to her with ease and without worrying about whether she was being judged or not.
Peaches nodded. “Yep, and no matter what, protect each other at all costs.” She had a front row seat to their lights being dimmed after they broke up, so she was super happy that they’d taken their time to reconnect. She hadn’t seen much of Nina since she popped up at the club a few months ago. However, she saw Jio on a weekly basis because he loved the strip club. She never brought Nina up if he didn’t. Peaches was a better listener than counselor when it came to being Jio’s friend. He was tight-lipped about Nina to everyone though. It was an unspoken rule to not speak on her name.
Peaches teased her, “Look at you smiling again.”
“Girl, I can’t help it,” she said unashamedly.
“You inlove-love.”
Nina opened her mouth to deny it before realizing how ridiculous that would sound.
She’d been in love with Jio since the first day they met. But what felt different was how she now felt safe to enjoy loving him without limitations.
“I'm happy,” she admitted instead.
Peaches reached over and squeezed her hand. “I can tell.”
The conversation drifted toward easier things like the latest club gossip. Nina didn’t pretend to remember any of the girls’ names or faces that Peaches worked with, but she alwaysenjoyed the stories. Her friend was the best storyteller. She told her that one of the dancers was currently fucking a well-known NBA player who was married. Nina was shocked at the name, she laughed until tears gathered in the corners of her eyes at the other updates in her life.
She’d forgotten how funny Peaches naturally was.
“How’s your friend doing? The one you brought to the club that night and she gave me a lap dance.”
“Danyelle,” she answered.
Nina smiled instantly. “I talked to her not too long ago. We’re going to do dinner soon.”
