“You just ended the call? You didn’t say anything?” She asked incredulously
“What should I have said? Was it as good for you as it was for me?” I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“Okay, but you spoke to him today, right?”
This coffee was delicious. I took another sip.
“Nikki!”
“What?” I asked innocently. She made it sound as if there was a handbook for the aftermath of phone sex and I was the only person who hadn’t read the fucking thing.
“Avoidance isn’t the answer.” She scolded.
“Okay, oh wise one tell me what’s the answer then?” Go ahead, I’m listening A give it your best shot. She bit her lip as she contemplated. Yeah, I thought so.
“Let me ask you, where does Rico fit into this whole thing?”
“He doesn’t.” I sighed. “I think for the time being I should break things off with him. It’s not fair to him. We’ve been struggling for a bit and this isn’t making matters any better. When I’m with Rico all I can think about is Mikey. I’m fighting with him left and right. I don’t even remember the last time we had sex. He tried to the other night and I lost my shit. “
“So you’re going to break up with Rico to pursue Mikey?”
“No, I didn’t say that I’m not pursuing anyone. I’m just trying to figure this unattainable attraction thing out and put a fucking leash on it.” I sighed heavily and met my sister’s worried gaze. “I know getting involved with Mikey isn’t an option or even a good idea to consider. I’m not looking to play with fire really I’m not it’s just that I am worried I crossed a line and I can’t go back. “What will happen if this fucks up our friendship? You said yourself the day of his mom’s funeral that he needs a friend. I’m his friend. I don’t want to jeopardize that because as much as he needs a friend I’m starting to think I do too.”
“Then you need to talk to him. Friends cross lines every day mistakes are made, relationships are tested, but you can fix it. The longer you wait to talk to him the harder it will be.” She reached across the table and laid her hand over mine reassuringly.
I took a deep breath, knowing that she was right. It was time to face the music. It was time to face Mikey. I reached for my phone powering it on for the first time today. It took a moment for all the text messages and voicemails that I had missed to load up, most of them from Mikey. I didn’t even look at the texts or listen to the voicemails. I just drafted a text to him quickly.
Me: Can we meet up to talk?
I tapped send biting my lip nervously as I waited for him to respond. Adrianna’s eyes met mine her gaze comforting and reassuring. I wondered if I was too late if being a coward had already caused damage to whatever it was that Mikey and I shared.
Mikey: Good to know you’re alive. Where are you?
Chapter Twelve
I was in the middle of explaining what was expected of my newly hired staff when I spotted Anthony. I watched from the corner of my eye as he walked over to Victor and spoke in hushed tones so that whatever it was they were discussing could only be heard by them. I looked at the group of people in front of me hanging on my every word. I smiled at them for the first time since I had started my little lecture, explaining that my ass was on the line as well as theirs wasn’t easy. I didn’t like being in charge of anything let alone fifty people who I just met and I most definitely didn’t like relying on them to execute a successful grand opening.
“Okay, let’s break.” I said, automatically greeted by a bunch of mumbled sighs of relief. They were probably just as tired and drained as I was. I had started to hate the sound of my own voice an hour ago, so I could just imagine how they felt.