Page 41 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

I shrugged. “About us.” I rubbed my arm, flattening the goose bumps that were prickling my skin.

Shawn piped up, surprising us. “What about the art-babe Rochelle, man?”

It seemed like any mention of Rochelle was a harsh awakening for me. This morning, her name was a slap. Why did Rochelle have to factor into this at all? I barely knew her. I could probably just cancel the plans I made with her for this Saturday and forget she walked into my shop at all.

But Lilly latched onto Shawn’s question. “You’ll dump her, right?”

I frowned. “Rochelle and I went on one date, Lil, and I didn’t know it was a date when I went. But I’ll cancel our plans and tell her that I’m not in on her deal anymore.”

Relief flashed across her features, and she smiled, backing up until her legs touched the couch. She squealed, jumped once, and collapsed onto the cushions. “I was right! I knew it, I knew it, I knew you liiiiiiiked Nikki!” She laughed and punched the air before bringing her breakfast bowl back to her lap.

I tried to at least look like I was annoyed, but I couldn’t. “Yeah, yeah. You were right.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I turned back to the counter. The shop was still closed, but it was almost time to welcome the flood of drowsy New Yorkers. Still, I had a few minutes to reply to Carlos’s messages.

C: Hey T, did I read that right? You’re going to the Briggs-Gallagher showing on Saturday?

T: Morning. I was going, but things have changed. I’m canceling.

C: Why?

I smiled as I typed.

T: It’s a girl. I think she’s the real deal.

C: Who? Rochelle? Isn’t that who you’re taking to the gallery showing?

T: No, not Rochelle. Remember that girl I told you about? My friend Nikki? I can’t see Rochelle if I want a real shot with her. Rochelle was a mistake. I’m not going through with any of that anymore.

C: Dude, you can’t be serious. That’s career suicide. Rochelle knows people, she’s a big deal.

I frowned.

T: How can a curator be a big deal?

C: My boss, Kenny, told me about her. She swims in a lot of circles, man. If you piss her off before you get your name out there, it could be bad for you.

T: If I just explain things to her, she’d probably understand.

C: Doubt it. She’s got a huge ego. Kenny told me to pass on a warning: pissing off Rochelle means trouble. Don’t cancel Saturday. Hey, ask if you can bring along your lifelong buddy?

I groaned.

T: Carlos, if this is your way of trying to get me to bum a ticket for you, I’m gonna be irritated.

C: C’mon T, I’d never do that. Kenny sounded serious. Rochelle’s a big-time egomaniac. Don’t fuck things up with her.

T: Okay… fine. I’ll figure something out.

C: Just tell your new gf about it. She’ll understand.

T: Yeah… sure she will.

A hot stab of frustration shot through me. What had I gotten into? Was Carlos right?

Lilly hummed as she passed me on her way by the counter, flipping our Closed sign to Open and unlocking the door. I pocketed my phone and pulled my black apron over my head.

I needed time to think this through. I wanted Nikki. I wanted to be with her. I didn’t want to be friends anymore; I wanted more than that. But did I want her at the expense of my goals?