“I don’t want to talk about it.” Nicole refused to meet Zaina’s eyes.
“Okay, a few years then.” Zaina pushed a little. “It’s healthy to want sex, you know?”
“It’s complicated, Zaina. My body…has been through things. You know that.”
Zaina put her arm around Nicole, “You of all people should know I believe scars only make us more beautiful. They’re proof of our resilience.”
Nicole grabbed a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “I don’t even know why I am crying.”
“My shop brings out emotions. It happens all the time, truly.” She gave Nicole a little squeeze.
“Still, I don’t need any sex oil. I don’t even know if I am going to try and meet him for tea.” Nicole bit her lip.
Zaina beamed, “So, you are going to reach out to him?”
“I think so. I’m not sure? Maybe?" Nicole pressed a finger to her lips in thought.
Zaina hopped up and down. “Come on, please? For me? What do you have to lose?” She stopped begging and said, “If you want, just tell me when you are planning to meet with him and I can go to the coffee shop early and stake the place out. Then if it’s bad news, you can give me a nod and I can rescue you.”
Nicole twisted her hair in thought. “I don’t know, this is all kind of overwhelming and I already told him no, so—"
Zaina gave Nicole puppy dog eyes.
Nicole rolled her eyes and relented, “Okay fine, but let me sleep on it. I don’t even know how to get a hold of him.”
“Just call the restaurant!” Zaina said quickly.
Nicole thought about it. “Okay I’ll call the restaurant tomorrow afterwork.”
“And then you’ll text me and Devin right away? This is what group chats are made for!”
Nicole laughed “Of course. You two will be the first, and let me add, only people who will find out how it goes.”
“I love it! I’ve got a good feeling about this, but I’ll hold off on the sex oil for now.”
Nicole nodded, “Yes, hold off on that for like, ever.”
“No way ma’am. You’ll be getting some right after the open house, I think."
"Hey, do you want me to read your cards? See where things are going?” Zaina reached under the counter for her favorite tarot deck and began removing the cards from their bag.
Nicole shook her head from side to side. “No way. First, you know I don’t believe. Second, the cards are vague, and I always assume the worst interpretation of the card.”
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Zaina said a little sharply, but she put the cards away. “Ready to go? I can give you a ride home.”
Nicole walked to the front of the shop, opened the door, and stepped outside. “Looks like the sun came out for sunset. I can walk home.”
Zaina and Nicole exchanged a hug, then Zaina pulled back and looked into Nicole’s eyes, “You can do this.”
“B-b-but,” Nicole began.
“Wait, I take that back. Nic, youdeservethis.” Zaina shook her lightly by the shoulders.
Nicole sighed, “I don’t know if I can accept it.”
“Promise me you’ll try,” she held out her pinkie, her pointy nails lacquered in black.
Nicole paused for a moment; pinky promises were a sacred trust between their group of three, never entered into lightly. She twisted her pinky with Zaina’s and they both sang "Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes.
